The people answered him,— The people, on hearing Jesus affirm that he was to be lifted up, told him, that was inconsistent with the character of the Messiah, who, according to the law, (so they named the whole of their sacred writings,) was never to die. Who then is this Son of man? "What sort of a Messiah must he be, who is to die, in immediate contradiction to the voice of the prophets? (See Psalms 89:29; Psalms 110:4.Isaiah 9:7. Daniel 2:44; Daniel 7:14.)—Is he a different person from the Messiah whom we have been taught to expect, under the title of the Son of man?" This was a real and important difficulty; but it was fit that some obscurity should for the present be left upon it, lest the plainness of the prediction should have prevented its accomplishment. Our Lord therefore gave the discourse a useful turn, and a few days more proclaimed the mystery which he had before revealed to his apostles in private, when he sat out on his last journey to Jerusalem. See Matthew 20:18-19. Ch. John 8:12 John 11:9-10 and Romans 11:25.
Related Commentaries of John 12:34
John 12:34-36
34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou,The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
35 Then Jesus said unto them,Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.