What did Jesus mean by 'If I be lifted up' in John 12:32?

from the old testament

• The reference Jesus makes to being lifted up is linked to the incident described in Numbers 21:8–9: “And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.’ So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.” The link between the two passages is repentance and the faith people put in what God has lifted up.
• Isaiah 52:13 is part of what is known as the “suffering servant” passage that prophesied Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and exaltation: “Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted.” Jesus was lifted up in humility on the cross, but then glory in His resurrection, ascension, and exaltation.

from the new testament

• In John 12:32, Jesus says, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” Jesus' crucifixion physically lifted Him on the cross and spiritually lifted Him in exaltation as He completed the work of defeating Satan and redeeming His people. This phrase might also call to mind Jesus' ascension after His resurrection (Acts 1:6–11).
• Jesus' physical and spiritual raising up is discussed by Paul in Philippians 2:8–9: “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name.” Paul encourages humility in the Philippian believers, using Jesus’ humility in dying on the cross as an example.
• The writer of Hebrews 12:2 explains that believers should be “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Once again, we see the concept of Jesus’ physical raising on the cross resulting in his spiritual exaltation at the “right hand of the throne of God.”

implications for today

Humility is not popular or often encouraged by modern cultures. Advertising slogans appeal to our egos by telling us we’re “worth it” and we “deserve it.” Selfies are standard on social media pages. Many want to elevate themselves; few want to be last or lowest. But Christians are called to pattern their lives after Jesus, living God’s ways and allowing Him to form our identities. We aren’t to live for self-aggrandizement or chasing after fleeting pleasures (1 John 2:15–17). Instead, we are to live as servants of God and self-sacrificially love others (Mark 10:42–45; John 13:34–36; 1 John 4:7–12). As His disciples were disputing about who was the greatest, Jesus brought a child near Him and instructed, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great” (Luke 9:48).

Jesus exemplified confidence in God, self-sacrificial love, and what it looks like to be a servant (John 13). God the Son humbled Himself by taking on the form of a man (Philippians 2:3–11). He was “lifted up” on the cross, a humiliating death reserved for criminals. But His being raised up in humility was temporary: He was also lifted up by being resurrected, ascending to heaven, and being placed in honor at the Father’s right hand. To be saved, we must show humility by looking to the cross, which involves repenting of our sins and placing our faith in Christ. We must humble ourselves in acknowledging that salvation is entirely a gift of God’s grace, not something we deserve or earn (Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:1–10). Gratitude for God’s astounding gift of salvation (Ephesians 1:3–14) and love for Christ should lead us to glorify our Lord through our lives (Matthew 5:16; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Romans 12:1).

If you’re a Christian, does your life show your gratitude to Christ? If you’re not a Christian, are you willing to humble yourself to acknowledge Christ as King of your life? The cross is there for any who will look upon it in repentance and faith. Our hope is grounded in the “lifting up” of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:54–57 Colossians 2:9–15).