QUESTION #23 Does this offend you?

  QUESTIONS JESUS ASKED BIBLE STUDY

 

     Read John 6:25-69 KJV: 

 

  Doth this offend you? (John 6:61)

  What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? (John 6:63)

  Will you also go away? (John 6:67)

 

TO WHOM SHALL WE GO?

Reference: John 6:25-69

 

After Jesus returned to the city of Bethsaida near Capernaum, He did not have very much time to Himself. Some from the massive crowd that He had fed miraculously from five loaves and two fishes had finally found Him. The discussion that followed between them and Jesus was all about eating bread. What a fitting topic – bread! They had eaten bread and so Jesus taught that He was the Bread of Life. (Read John 6:25-69)

 

He started with the manna that had come down from heaven when the Israelites were in the wilderness on their journey out of Egypt. It was good food to keep one physically alive. But it was worthless food for providing eternal life because those who ate the manna in the wilderness died (John 6:49). But Jesus’ bread was different. Jesus’ bread was Himself. He was the true bread from heaven (John 6:32-35). Jesus declared that those who come to Him will not hunger. He was the Bread of Life! Those who “ate” Him would live forever (John 6:47)! To those listening this was a disturbing statement.

 

Jesus ended His teaching with an opportunity to say that one must also eat His flesh and drink His blood. It was a figurative expression referring to His future death. Here is Jesus’ statement, “Verily, verily, I say to you, except you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoso eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:53-54).

 

Jesus’ point was that it is not enough to listen to His teachings and be impressed with His miracles. One must accept His physical death and His return to life in order to be forgiven of one’s sins. Otherwise, one will not live forever with God (John 6:53). This was a radical concept for anyone who was listening.

 

When Jesus’ disciples heard this, they were troubled. Listen to their words, “Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” (John 6:60). For those who were standing there and listening, we can understand why this was difficult to hear. What would you think if a man talked about eating His flesh, drinking His blood, being the Bread of Life, and giving you eternal life? Many would struggle with such words. But Jesus used such illustrations to get people to think, and the people were thinking.

 

But Jesus, conscious that His disciples murmured at this, said to them, “Does this offend you? What and if you shall see the Son of Man ascend up to where He was before?” (John 6:61-62).

 

Jesus’ question must have surprised them. How did He know, and how would they respond? Notice how Jesus referred to Himself. He calls Himself the Son of Man. Jesus is emphasizing His humanity – His fleshly body and His return back to heaven. Yes, He was a man but He was also God.

 

Those who had found Jesus’ words difficult did not understand the divine message. Jesus explains, “It is the Spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him (John 6:63-64). Those who struggled with Jesus’ words were those who did not believe. 

 

Notice that many of the crowd left Jesus, “His disciples turned back, and walked no more with Him”. Today, this would be devastating to many preachers, teachers, pastors, and churches. To see “many” leave would be crushing. That would be total rejection. They would most likely wonder what they did wrong. But Jesus ignored such self-centered concerns. He spoke the truth and He realized some would respond negatively. Some did, and they left. This is an important example for every church leader and member. Never avoid the truth but teach it with grace and compassion.

Read Jesus’ last statement to the Twelve, “Will you also go away?” There is emotion in those words. I have to wonder how Jesus felt? “Will you leave too?” It is emotionally difficult when people leave for the wrong reasons.

Then Peter encouraged Jesus with these words, Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. We have believed and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:68-69). 

“To whom shall we go, Lord?” As far as Peter was concerned, there was no one else. We have believed! The Greek word for “believed” comes from the verb PISTEUO. It is in the perfect tense. This implies that the disciples had already believed and were still believing. 

This is the mark of a true follower of Jesus Christ. One who truly believes will never stop believing. 

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