John 6:62

“What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?”

Context:To understand the verse better, let’s consider the context. In John 6, Jesus feeds the multitude with five loaves of bread and two fish, which leads to a great crowd following Him. Jesus then delivers a lengthy discourse where He declares Himself as the “Bread of Life” and speaks about the necessity of eating His flesh and drinking His blood to have eternal life. This teaching is met with confusion and disbelief from some of His followers.

Son of Man:In this verse, Jesus refers to Himself as the “Son of man.” This title emphasizes both His humanity and divinity. It points to His role as the promised Messiah from the book of Daniel (Daniel 7:13-14) and also highlights His identification with humanity.

Ascending to Where He Was Before:Jesus makes a statement that may have puzzled His listeners. He asks, “What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?” This statement suggests that Jesus would return to the place He was before His incarnation. It alludes to His preexistence before being born as a human being. Jesus is implying that He came down from heaven and that He would eventually return there.

Significance:This verse highlights Jesus’ divine origin and His heavenly nature. He is not merely a human teacher or prophet; He is the Son of God who descended from heaven. Jesus’ statement points to His authority, His unique relationship with the Father, and His ultimate purpose on earth.

Challenging Beliefs:Jesus’ words challenged the beliefs and expectations of His followers. They struggled to understand how Jesus could come from heaven, and His statement seemed to conflict with their understanding of Him as a human being. This teaching pushed them to reconsider their perception of Jesus and evaluate their faith in Him.

Faith and Revelation:John 6:62 encourages believers to exercise faith and accept the revelation of who Jesus truly is. Jesus presents Himself as the divine Son of God who came down from heaven, and accepting this truth requires faith. It also reminds us that our understanding of Jesus and His teachings may not always align with our preconceived notions or cultural expectations.

Application:John 6:62 reminds us to continually seek a deeper understanding of Jesus and His nature. It calls us to examine our faith and confront any misconceptions or doubts we may have about Jesus’ divinity. It challenges us to place our trust in Him and embrace the truths revealed in Scripture, even if they stretch our understanding.

• Remember, studying the Bible involves exploring the context, considering other related verses, and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit to grasp the intended message fully.