12:34 the Law. One of the terms used for the whole Old Testament Scripture (10:34; 15:25). This is a possible reference to Ps. 89:36; 110:4; Is. 9:7; Ezek. 37:25; Dan. 7:14; Mic. 5:2.

the Son of Man. They understood this title to be a claim to be the promised Messiah.

lifted up. They understood this to be a reference to hanging or crucifixion, and on the basis of scriptures such as Ps. 89:36, 37 they could not reconcile Christ’s death with their view of the Messiah.