in 12:34 does not suggest that they equated ‘lifting up’ with crucifixion. At the least, they sensed a contrast between ‘lifting up’ and ‘remaining forever’. They appear to equate ‘the Son of Man’ and ‘Messiah’ to some extent, while treating ‘lifting up’ and ‘remaining’ as opposite actions.37 This suggests that ‘lifting up’ in 12:34 refers to some sort of departure which may or may not include death. The following verses 12:35–36 further add to this idea of departure with Jesus’ statement that he