Note 6 at Jn. 8:28: This is the second of three times that Jesus spoke of Himself being "lifted up" (1st--Jn. 3:14; 3rd--Jn. 12:32-33). As the scripture explains in John 12:33, this was a reference to crucifixion as the means of His death.

Note 7 at Jn. 8:28: As stated in Luke 2:52, "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature." Jesus had to be taught the things of God (Jn. 8:28). This looks contrary to Colossians 2:3 which says that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Jesus. If Jesus was God manifest in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:16 - see note 1 at Jn. 1:1, p. 2), why would He have to learn or be taught?

The harmony between these apparently opposite statements is that Jesus' spirit man was 100% God and had all of the wisdom and understanding of God in it, but it was manifest in natural flesh. It wasn't sinful flesh but it was flesh, nonetheless, and had to be educated. Jesus was not taught by man, but He was taught by the direct revelation of the Holy Spirit (see note 1 at Lk. 2:26, p. 22; see note 6 at Mk. 2:8, p. 90). The knowledge was within Him but it had to be drawn out.

At the new birth, a born-again man's spirit "is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him" (Col. 3:10). "We have the mind of Christ" (1 Cor. 2:16), and "an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things" (1 Jn. 2:20). All of these things are a reality in our spiritual man. However, just as Jesus had to be taught, so we must draw this wisdom and knowledge out of our spirits and renew our minds with it (Rom. 12:2). This is one of the main ministries of the Holy Spirit to the believer (Jn. 14:26; 16:13-15; 1 Jn. 2:27).