32. *And I, if I be lifted up from the earth.* Christ here predicted that after His death on the cross (see next verse) He should become a centre of attraction, and draw all men (πάντας is the more probable reading, not πάντα), both Jews and _Gentiles_ to Himself. This marvellous prophecy began to be fulfilled in the centurion and his companions (Matt. xxvii. 54), and the rest of the multitude that witnessed the crucifixion (Luke xxiii. 48), and is daily receiving its fulfilment still. 33. Hoc autem dicebat, 33. (Now this he said, significans qua morte esset signifying what death he moriturus. should die.) 33. St. John here gives us an authentic interpretation. 34. Respondit ei turba: Nos 34. The multitude answered audivimus ex lege quia him: We have heard out of the Christus manet in aeternum; et law, that Christ abideth for quomodo tu dicis, Oportet ever; and how sayest thou: The exaltari Filium hominis? Quis son of man must be lifted up? est iste Filius hominis? Who is this son of man? 34. The multitude understood Jesus to speak of His death, or at least of His withdrawal from them, and object that He cannot be the Messias, who, as they understood the Scriptures (the law is here put for the whole Scriptures), was to remain for ever. They quote no single text, but probably they had gathered this idea from many passages; _e.g._, Isai. ix. 6, 7; Ps. cix. 4; Dan. vii. 13, 14, &c. It is not unlikely that they had the passage of Daniel specially before their minds, for there the power of the _Son of Man_ is described as “an everlasting power that shall not be taken away, and His kingdom (a kingdom) that shall not be destroyed.” Hence, they argued, if Christ was to die, He could not be the Messias, but must be some other _Son of Man_ than he spoken of by Daniel. 35. Dixit ergo eis Iesus: 35. Jesus therefore said to Adhuc modicum, lumen in vobis them: Yet a little while, the est. Ambulate dum lucem light is among you. Walk habetis, ut non vos tenebrae whilst you have the light, comprehendant: et qui ambulat that the darkness overtake you in tenebris, nescit quo vadat. not. And he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. 35. Christ might have easily replied, showing them from the same Scriptures that the Messias was to suffer and die (see, _e.g._, Isai. liii.; Dan. ix. 26); but probably because He saw that the motive of the multitude in objecting was not to seek light, but to disprove His claim to be the Messias, He did not vouchsafe a reply to their objection, but went on to exhort them to believe, for thus they should find a solution of all their difficulties.