28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up[328] the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am _he_, and _that_ I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. [328] chaps. 3:14; 12:32. 29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. 30 As he spake these words, many[329] believed on him. [329] ch. 10:42. =28-30. When ye have lifted up the Son of man.= The phrase Son of man was used by the rabbis, who borrowed it from David, for the Messiah (see Matt. 10:23, note). The Greek verb here rendered _lifted up_ (ὑψόω) is used by John only with reference to the crucifixion (chaps. 3:14; 8:28; 12:32, 34), but everywhere else in the N. T. is used in the sense of _exalted_, and is so translated except in James 4:10. See Matt. 11:23; Luke 1:52; Acts 2:33; 5:31, etc. This fact is of itself an indication that John’s Gospel was written after the cross had been seen to be the means by which Christ was himself exalted, his glory, not his shame. It is the cross which has led to his recognition among men as the Son of God (Mark 15:39; 1 Cor. 1:23, 24); to his exaltation by the Father (Phil. 2:8-10); to his adoration in heaven (Rev. 5:12).--=Ye shall know that I am.= See on ver. 24. The passion and death of Christ is the attestation of his divinity (Mark 15:39).--=I do nothing of myself; but as the Father hath taught me I speak these things.= In Christ’s time the things _done_, _i. e._, the miracles, were recognized as signs of divine presence and power; more and more the _words spoken_ are recognized as still greater signs of the divine presence and power. The word is more than the external work, the truth is greater than the miracle.--=He that sent me is with me.= The Son is a manifestation of the Father, because the Father is ever in and working and speaking through the Son. He is not merely an ambassador sent by, he is a tabernacle in which dwells, the Eternal King. So Christ, who sends forth his disciples (ch. 17:18), is ever with them (ch. 14:17, 23; Matt. 28:20).--=The Father hath not left me alone; for I do those things that please him always.= _Always_ is emphatic. In this uniformity of obedience to the Father’s will is the secret of the abiding of his presence; it is true for us, as for Christ, that doing the Father’s pleasure secures the divine fellowship (chaps. 14:21; 15:10).--=Many believed on him.= Comp. ch. 12:42. Faith, like knowledge, is of different degrees, and the quality of this faith is not indicated. It may have been like the seed received on stony places (Matt. 13:20, 21). But beware of understanding here, or anywhere, by this phrase a mere intellectual belief in Christ as either Rabbi, Prophet, or Messiah. To _believe on_ always signifies an emotion or heart action. “Our Lord’s words did not appeal to the understanding;