Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM.” English is like the Greek in that the word translated as “lifted up” can have dual meanings. It means the physically act of raising something. It also can mean to praise or to exalt. St. John plays with both of those meanings. On the one hand Jesus is talking about being lifted up in the crucifixion. On the other, through his death and resurrection Jesus is the exalted one. That reminds us that even the seeming tragic things we have to go through in our lives can have another side to them. God uses everything, even negative things, to help us grow in grace and love.
APRIL52022
By Church Staff
