John 8:28 NRSV
Y'shua's words, according to the author of the Gospel of John, were part of his journey toward the cross. In reflection, the author referred to an Ancient Near Eastern tradition: Ben Adam (adam means "humanity;" ben indicates a "specific person") was a loaded idiom for, variously, a king, judge, suffering servant, anointed one -- Messiah in Hebrew, Christos in Greek. So the author used that phrase to suggest that Y'shua knew he would suffer a horrible death and be raised in resurrection. The author continues with Y'shua saying that one day you (who persecute me) will realize that "I Am." (NRSV adds "he" which dilutes the concept that Y'shua is "I Am" -- Yahweh -- Divine.) Y'shua tried to break through the listeners' thick-headed minds caught in the struggles of living from day to day. "To lift up" was an idiom to raise the eyes into the spirit, such as when Abraham "lifted up his eyes" to see the promise. The people needed to "lift up" this human, that is, see him in the spirit. They needed only to understand that the wonderful signs he did were being done by the Holy One, who was standing there talking to them. The New Testament clearly identifies the only "Son of Man" as Y'shua of Nazareth. Unless a person wrestles in the spirit with the Divine Human, he or she will not realize (see) the Glorious Holy One.
Shalom, Mother BE
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