Harsh Words
There are a number of stories, commands, and teachings of Scripture that embarrass the average American Christian. Everything from the idolatricide of the Canaanites to teachings on sexuality to the regulation of slavery (instead of its immediate abolition) to structures of authority in the home and society, some disciples of Jesus find certain parts of the Scriptures offensive. American disciples aren’t the first to be scandalized by God’s word.
After Jesus’ lengthy discourse on being the bread of life, in which he spoke of eating his flesh and drinking his blood, the disciples talk among themselves, saying, “This is a harsh word. Who can hear it?” The disciples in John 6:60 are not referring specifically to the Twelve as they did earlier in the chapter. This is a broader group of disciples who may have been the ones who followed him across the sea after he fed them earlier. Nevertheless, they are disciples, people who have committed themselves to the disciplines of the way of life taught and exemplified in Jesus. Now, they are rethinking their commitment.
Translations may lead us to believe that they didn’t understand what Jesus was saying. “This is difficult. Who can understand it?” But that is not what they are saying. They are saying, “This is offensive. Who can hear or obey it?” The one they wanted to seize to become king earlier talks of himself as a sacrifice that the worshiper must consume to have life. Kings offer sacrifices. Kings don’t become sacrifices. This harsh or offensive word was not merely a word that hurt their feelings, like they were a bunch of Western snowflakes. When Jesus asks, “Does this offend you?” he is asking, “Are you stumbling over my words so as to fall away? Have I become a stumbling block, a rock of offense to you?”
Jesus does nothing to relieve the tension. He follows this up by saying, “If you think this is harsh, what will you think when the Son of man ascends to where he was before?” Jesus is referring to his ascension as the Son of Man prophesied in Daniel 7, who receives dominion over all things, but as he spoke of earlier and as Daniel 7 itself speaks of, that ascension comes through and after suffering. The Son of Man must be lifted up as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness (Jn 3:14). What will you think when the Son of Man begins his ascension to the throne through the cross?
A great majority of the disciples turned away and walked with Jesus no more after this (Jn 6:66). Jesus didn’t chase them. He didn’t try to make his words more palatable. He let them go. And then he turned and challenged the Twelve who stayed with him with a question that could be understood as, “Surely, you don’t want to go away too, do you?” This was not for Jesus’ information. He knew who would stay and who would go. They needed to know where they stood. Jesus tells them that one of them will be offended like these other disciples and betray him, falling away. Commitment to Jesus is not a one-time confession but a way of life that perseveres to the end.
What, if any, are the harsh words of Scripture (which are Jesus’ words) that make you uncomfortable? Are they the words of condemnation of sexual immorality in all its forms? What about the imprecatory Psalms? Are they the words of forgiveness from God for people you wanted to see “get theirs?” How about the words to wives to submit to their own husbands as to the Lord? Are they the words that a husband and father is responsible for what goes on in his home? Are they the words that you have no one to blame for your sin but yourself? Does the command to forgive the person who sinned against you, putting away all bitterness, cause you to stumble? What, if any, is the harsh word for you? If you want to remain a disciple of Jesus and enjoy the promised life in the future, that’s the word you must accept and obey.
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