The apostle John wrote how Jesus told the people looking for Him, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye 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. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, dwells in me, and I in him. As the living Father has sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eats me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eats of this bread shall live for ever. These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Does this offend you?”, and in chapter six and verse sixty-two of his book, John shared how Jesus asked His disciples, “What and if you shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?” where we read:
What and if you shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
The verse reads, “What and if you shall see the Son of man ...”. John began with the words, “what and if ” or “then what would happen whether” “you shall see” which means “you, disciples, will observe, perceive, notice and discern” “the Son of man” or “God's Son Jesus Himself” doing the following. John shared how Jesus began to ask His disciples what they would do should they observe Him performing the following act.
The verse goes on to say, “... ascend up where he was before?” John continued with the words, “ascend up” which means “arise, climb or go up to” “where he was before” or “the place Jesus was prior to and in advance of coming to the earth”? John shared how Jesus questioned His disciples as to what they would do if they were to “observe” Him “ascending” to the place from which He came.
When we consider John's words in this verse, we see how Jesus was turning His disciples' attention toward “spiritual” things rather than physical. When He spoke of “eating His flesh” and “drinking His blood”, they they thought He was speaking “literally”. Jesus knows the “physical” life is limited to time and space, and the eternal “spiritual” life is unlimited. Jesus spoke of returning to where He was previously because He existed with the Heavenly Father prior to coming to the earth. His purpose for coming was to offer “salvation” through the death of His body and spilled blood upon the cross. He rose from the dead “three days later”, and now every person who yields their life to Him will be forgiven of their sins and receive everlasting life with God. Let all who consider Jesus' words determine what they would do if they saw Him “rise”.
Next time John shares how Jesus tells His disciples, “it is the spirit that quickens”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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