John 6:66-67: Life Giving Offense:
After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” [1]
The last blog discussed Christ compassion for an oppressed crowd. [2] But in this passage, many of Jesus’ followers, who were miraculously fed by him, [3] are offended by His teaching and leave. Is the problem with the Son of God or the people? If we say Jesus is the issue we commit blasphemy. [4] The problem must rest on the so called “disciples.” But why were the people offended? Because Christ communicate that He is the only way to salvation since they cannot save themselves. [5]
Truthfully, Jesus’ message should have made the people glad [6] because God’s promised means of deliverance from sin was standing before them. [7] But for people unchanged by the Holy Spirit, Christ’s words bore the “fragrance” of death. [8] Sinful ears take no pleasure in words that destroy self-reliance and affirm human insufficiency. [9] While the Gospel should be articulated carefully to avoid unnecessary offence, the Gospel will always offend because it portrays people as we really are. [10] If we are offended by Christ’s words, we need to repent. Whether you are repenting for the first time in a cry for salvation, or as a believer who has returned to trying to save yourself, please repent with me rather than trusting in any other thing. Things that cause us to be offended by Jesus lead to our death.
This blog was written by Seth Dunn
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (Wheaton, IL: Standard Bible Society, 2016), Logos Bible Software 6.
[2] Please see blog on Matthew 9:36-38.
[3] Matthew 14:13-21; 15:32-39, Mark 6:32-44; 8:1-30, Luke 9:10-17, and Tenney, Merrill C. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary with the New International Version of the Holy Bible in Twelve Volumes, Volume 9 (John-Acts). General Editor Frank E. Gaebelein. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1981), 71.
[4] 1 John 2:22-25; 3:5, Acts 4:12, Matthew 1:21, John 14:6.
[5] See John 6:22-65 and Tenney, Expositor’s, 80.
[6] Calvin, John. Commentary on the Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ According to John. Trans. William Pringle. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1981), 276.
[7] John 6:35; 48; 51, 8:12, 9:5, 10:7; 9, 10:11; 14, 11:25, 14:6, 15:1, Luke 24:44-49, Matthew 1:21, Hebrews 8-10.
[8] 2 Corinthians 2:14-16.
[9] Romans 8:7-8, 5:6-11.
[10] Calvin, Commentary, 277. See also Matthew 5:10-12, 10:22, and Luke 21:17.