John – Chapter 6:59—7:1
6:59-62 “This teaching is offensive” – The note about the synagogue reminds us that Jesus is explaining the Torah. This discourse is a sermon expounding the OT texts. The gift of manna was set within the drama of Israel’s repeated grumbling and disobedience. Now the same murmurings confront Jesus in the synagogue. For many Jesus’ teaching was “offensive” and impossible to accept. In rejecting what Jesus had said, they are also rejecting Jesus as the interpreter of Scripture. A Christological interpretation of the Scriptures would produce division within the synagogue and apostasy among the followers of Jesus (Jn 5:39-40; Acts 9:20-22; 13:16-47). The story of the rebellious wilderness generation was a type of the opposition He now faced. Those who rebel against the Word of God and forget His mighty acts exist in every generation. Offense and the cross go together (1 Cor 1:23). The language of the Son of Man’s ascent is not simply synonymous with His cross. Rather, the goal is expressed by the words “where He was formerly” (6:62). The interpretative key is John 20:17, “For I have not yet ascended to the Father.” Jesus’s ascent prepares for the new community of the faithful who can now call the Father of Jesus their own Father. And within this community, Jesus comes for the life of the church with the gifts of salvation: peace, joy, the Spirit, and the forgiveness of sins (Jn 20:19-23). They will believe themselves to be children of the Father (Jn 1:12-13), for they will be begotten from above, through water and the Spirit (Jn 3:3-7).Only by faith given can they “see” this reality and not be scandalized. v. 63 “The Spirit is the one who gives life; the flesh is of no benefit” – This passage’s interpretation is complicated by its use in doctrinal debate. However, the context eliminates many possible interpretations. 1) The contrast between the Spirit and the flesh is not between Christ’s divine nature and His flesh. 2) This is not a general, universal, and abstract idea, e.g. the universal spirit or the natural life-giving of man. 3) It is not a contrast between the metaphorical (Spiritual) and literal (fleshly) interpretation of Jesus’ words. 4) Nor is the contrast between the flesh of Jesus given on the cross and the work of the Spirit, who gives life based on Christ’s Ascension (not narrated in this Gospel)….