The crowd spoke up and asked, “The Law tells us that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
Because of the wrong thing one man did, all people were found guilty. But now, because of the right thing another man did, all people are declared not guilty and live.
We know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are governed by the law. Its purpose is to silence every excuse and hold the whole world accountable to God.
So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you’ll know that I am. You’ll also know that I don’t do anything on my own. I speak just what the Father has taught me.