John 12:32

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, etc.] The death of Christ is here signified by his being “lifted up from the earth”, in allusion to the lifting up of the brazen serpent on the pole; and shows, that his death would not be natural, but violent, and would be public, and not private; and fitly expresses his mediation between God, and men, being lifted up between the heavens and the earth; and points out the death of the cross, as is intimated in the next verse: and the “if” here does not suppose that his death, and the manner of it, were uncertain, for it was determined by God, agreed to by himself, predicted in the Scriptures, signified by types, and foretold by himself, and was…”

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me--The "I" here is emphatic--I, taking the place of the world's ejected prince. "If lifted up," means not only after that I have been lifted up, but, through the virtue of that uplifting. And truly, the death of the Cross, in all its significance, revealed in the light, and borne in upon the heart, by the power of the Holy Ghost, possesses an attraction over the wide world--to civilized and savage, learned and illiterate, alike--which breaks down all opposition, assimilates all to itself, and forms out of the most heterogeneous and discordant materials a kingdom of surpassing glory, whose uniting principle is adoring subjection…”

“Be lifted up - See John 3:14; John 8:28. Will draw - John 6:44. The same word is used in both places. All men - I will incline all kinds of men; or will make the way open by the cross, so that all men may come. I will provide a way which shall present a strong motive or inducement - the strongest that can be presented to all men to come to me. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Lifted up from the earth - This is a Hebraism which signifies dying. Death in general is all that is usually imported. But our Lord made use of this phrase, rather than others that were equivalent, because it so well suited the particular manner of his death. I will draw all men - Gentiles as well as Jews. And those who follow my drawings, Satan shall not be able to keep. John 12:34”

“12:32-34 when I am lifted up from the earth (see 3:14; 8:28): The crowd did not understand what Jesus meant. The Greek verb refers to being exalted (Matt 23:12) or honored (Luke 10:15). In John, the cross was not a place of shame and disgrace for Jesus, but the place where Jesus’ true glory was shown.”

“if: Joh 3:14, Joh 8:28, Joh 19:17; Deu 21:22, Deu 21:23; Sa2 18:9; Psa 22:16-18; Gal 3:13; Pe1 2:24, Pe1 3:18 will: Joh 6:44; Sol 1:4; Hos 11:4 all men: Joh 1:7; Isa 49:6; Rom 5:17-19; Ti1 2:6; Heb 2:9; Jo1 2:2; Rev 5:9 John 12:33”