In John 12 the Lord said, And I, if I, be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me. But this He said signifying by what manner of death He should glorify God. The lifting up of Jesus showed the true purpose Jesus came into the world. He came to die on the cross.
The Devil knew that it was God’s plan for Jesus to die on the cross, and the Devil will try to foul up any plan God may have, so he tried to thwart the plan to crucify Jesus by killing Jesus some other way.
The first thing the Devil tried was to kill Him by abortion. Caesar Augustus made a decree that all the world should be enrolled. This law made it necessary for Mary and Joseph to make a long hazardous trip that could cause a woman to lose the baby. The Devil had this in mind, but when an angel appeared to the shepherds as they watched their flocks by night near Bethlehem, and announced: There is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour who is Christ the Lord, the Devil knew his plan had failed, because Jesus got away.
Then the Devil tried to kill Him again in Luke 4 when He preached in His hometown of Nazareth, and told them the scripture was being fulfilled concerning His coming into the world as the Christ. This time they led Him out to the brow of the hill where their city was built to cast him down headlong without parachute, or bungy cord. At the last moment Jesus used His majestic power, and passing through the midst of them went His way. Again the Devil knew he had failed again, because Jesus got away.
Again the Devil tried to kill Jesus a third way in John 8, this time by stoning him. Jesus had identified Himself for who He really was when He said; before Abraham was born I AM. The chief priests knew exactly what He meant and, took up stones to cast at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the Temple. The Devil knew at that moment he had failed again, because Jesus got away.
Finally the Devil was sure he had won, when Jesus was crucified on the cross, and a spear pierced His side as sure fire proof that Jesus was in fact dead, and no one could say that He never really died, but merely swooned. But when He arose from the dead early on the third day and a delegation of the guards at the tomb came and reported to the chief priests that the tomb was empty, the Devil knew he had failed again, because Jesus got away.
When the Lord arose from the dead we remember that Paul tells us in 1st Corinthians 15 that Jesus was the first born from the dead, and the risen Christ could say in Revelation 1, I AM He that was dead, and now behold I AM alive forever more, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. Jesus can unlock every grave, and open every casket, and now the faithful Christian can remember as they eat of the loaf and drink of the cup; since Jesus got away; They can sing, Some glad morning when the sun shall shine, I too, shall get away. The Son of man must be lifted up.
Another reason Jesus said he would be lifted up was because the crucifixion it would draw all men unto Him. The power of the cross began to be shown even at the cross. One of the two thieves was drawn to Jesus by the cross. At the moment of His death the Roman Centurion said, truly this was the Son of God. Joseph of Arimathea a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews came to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, and there also came Nicodemus. Then it was only fifty days after the crucifixion on the Day of Pentecost, the story of the crucifixion drew 3,000 to accept the terms of pardon given that day as the New Covenant of salvation through the blood of Christ was revealed that would draw all men unto Him. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.
There is a gospel chorus the young people used to sing many years ago that glorified the lifting up of Jesus.
From sinking sand he lifted me;
With tender hand He lifted me.
From shades of night to realms of light;
Oh praise His name He lifted me.
And I, if I, be lifted up will draw all men unto me.