John 12:32

And I -I" is very emphatic in opposition to -the ruler of this world." The glorified Christ will rule men's hearts in place of the devil.

be lifted up Raised up to heaven by means of the Cross: we need not, as in John 3:14 and John 8:28, confine the meaning to the Crucifixion, although the lifting up on the Cross may be specially indicated. The words -from the earth" (literally, out of the earth) seem to point to the Ascension; yet the Cross itself, apparently so repulsive, has through Christ's Death become an attraction; and this maybe the meaning here. For the hypothetical form - ifI be lifted up," comp. - ifI go," John 14:3. In both cases Christ is concerned not with the timeof the act, but with the consequencesof it; hence He does not say -when," but -if."

will draw There are two Greek words for -draw" in the N.T., one of which necessarily implies violence, the other does not: it is the latter that is used here and in John 6:44; the former is used Acts 14:19; Acts 17:6. Man's will is free; he can refuse to be drawn: and there is no violence; the attraction is moral. We see from John 6:44 that before the -lifting up" it is the Father who draws men to the Son.

all men Not only the Jews represented by the Twelve, but the Gentiles represented by these Greeks.

unto me Better, unto Myself, up from the earth.