CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – , “If you should see the Son of Man” – John 6:62

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?” (John 6:62)

The phrase “if you”, as it applies to you (and me) as a disciple of Jesus, appears one hundred twenty-four times in the English Standard Version (ESV) of the New Testament.

First, we will be confronted with various situations and circumstances from the Bible and, we will discover how we are to respond in these examples. Secondly, I have personalized (rephrased) our study verses for you to memorize. By this, we can bring the Gospel to life as we go and defeat sin along our way.

Today we, as Christians, are confronted with questions about how we should deal with matters such as doubt, disbelief during trials, when the Words of God don’t seem to make sense to you, when everyone else quits on you.

“What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?”. (John 6:62).

IN CONTEXT

“I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats from this bread, he will live forever; and the bread which I will give for the life of the world also is My flesh.

“Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” So, Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, the one who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. This is the bread that came down out of heaven, not as the fathers ate and died; the one who eats this bread will live forever.”

“These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.

^“So, then many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This statement is very unpleasant; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, aware that His disciples were complaining about this, said to them, “Is this offensive to you?

“What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before?

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh provides no benefit; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit, and are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray Him. And He was saying, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”

“As a result of this, many of His disciples left, and would no longer walk with Him.

“So, Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to leave also, do you?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. And we have already believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”  (John 6:51-69).

REPHRASED and personalized to memorize:

“What then will I think if I should see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again? “So, Jesus said to me, “You do not want to leave also, do you?” I answer Him, “Lord, to whom shall I go? You have words of eternal life. I have already believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”  ” (John 6:62, 67-69)

COMMENT

The Bible tells us that Jesus ascended into heaven only once, and He will return in the same way as He ascended (see Acts 1:11). Then, at that time, the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet blast, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.” (see Matthew 24:30-31)

If you cannot believe that Jesus is who He says He is and has done what He says He has done – and that His flesh is the bread of life and His blood is true drink that gives forgiveness of sins and eternal life, how is seeing Him ascend or descend into heaven going to make any difference? How is seeing miracle after miracle going to make any difference?

Believe. Believe in the face of doubt. Believe when the world is saying it is not possible. Believe because God says it is true. Believe and you will see. Say aloud, “I have already believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God”.

Believe and GO – Anyway!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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“And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me, Go therefore…” (Matthew 28:17-19).