John 6:61 meaning
In this passage, we see a poignant moment where Jesus addresses the dissatisfaction among His followers regarding His difficult teachings, particularly about consuming His flesh and blood. The underlying tension speaks to the broader theme of spiritual versus earthly understanding. Many of His disciples found His words offensive, highlighting a critical juncture where superficial interest in Jesus clashed with the deeper spiritual truths He proclaimed. Jesus, aware of their murmuring, posed a challenging question: “Doth this offend you?” This indicates that His teachings were not only misinterpreted but also deeply misunderstood, as His message transcended the physical realm.
His query foreshadows an even more profound revelation he would make, referring to His eventual ascension. The fear and offense taken at His words reflect a common struggle in the journey of faith, where the flesh does not profit unless the spirit is engaged in understanding the life-giving essence of His message. This moment serves as an essential reminder of the nature of true belief and the offense that often accompanies the call to a deeper spiritual life, as found in John 6:61.
Other Relevant Commentaries:
- Matthew 27:57-61 meaning. The Burial of Jesus: Matthew explains how the Messiah’s body was hastily buried before the Sabbath. A rich man named Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate to request Jesus’s body, which Pilate granted. Joseph then wrapped Jesus’s corpse in clean linen cloth and laid it in his own nearby tomb and rolled a large stone in front of it. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary saw where His body was laid. Matthew’s explanation is also a reference to a Messianic prophecy in Isaiah 53:9.
- John 1:10-11 meaning. John states two dramatic ironies: 1. The Creator came into the world He had made, but was not recognized by the world. 2. The Messiah came to His own people, but was not received by them.
- John 1:17 meaning. John 1:17 demonstrates the surpassing greatness of Jesus Christ in relation to Moses and the Law. While the Law was delivered through Moses, its foundation of grace and truth originated with the Logos, Jesus Himself.