John Calvin Commentary John 12:34

"The multitude therefore answered him, We have heard out of the law that the Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?" — John 12:34 (ASV)

We have heard from the law. Their intention undoubtedly was to maliciously find fault with the words of Christ; and therefore, their malice blinds them, so that they perceive nothing amid the clearest light. They say that Jesus should not be regarded as the Christ because he said that he would die, while the Law ascribes perpetuity to the Messiah; as if both statements had not been expressly made in the Law: that Christ will die, and that afterwards his kingdom will flourish to the end of the world.

But they seize on the second clause and make it a ground for slander. The origin of their error was that they judged the splendor of Messiah’s kingdom according to their carnal views; consequently, they reject Christ because he does not correspond to their foolish notion.

Under the term the Law, they also include the Prophets. And the present tense—remains—is used, according to the Hebrew idiom, instead of the future tense, will remain.

Who is that Son of man? This is a reproachful question, as if that short refutation vanquished Christ so completely that he had nothing more to say. This shows how haughty their ignorance was, for it is as if they had said, “Go now, and boast that you are the Christ, since your own confession proves that you have nothing to do with the Messiah.”