THE SON OF MAN ASCENDS
Friday – February 1, 2019, Sh’vat 26,5779
Greetings dear friends and partners of this ministry and welcome back to this powerful Bible Study of the Book of John. And yes, it is still winter in Maine. If you are receiving this publication via Facebook please take a moment and hit the “like” or “love” button and also the “share” button. Also, don’t forget that the most reliable way to receive these teachings without fail is for them to go to your email inbox daily. Simply click on this link or copy and paste to your search line: https://threeminuteword.wordpress.com, and you will see a place on the right for you to provide your email address. Today we will be moving forward in our Bible text so let’s get right to it by reading our primary text aloud.
John 6:60-66 (KJV)
60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
Now that we have read our primary text let’s bring our focus to verse sixty-two.
John 6:62 (AMP)
62 What then [will be your reaction] if you should see the Son of Man ascending to [the place] where He was before?
Those gathered that day in the synagogue (Church) were offended, enticed to sin, to stumble, to turn away from Jesus. There are hard sayings that each of us come across in our Christian walk as well that we do not want to submit to and we are enticed to sin, to stumble, and to turn away. For example, one may not want to tithe, or give as the Lord speaks to their heart. Perhaps one does not want to turn away from fornication to marriage or turn away from adultery to honoring the marriage bed. Of course, this list can go on in many directions but the bottom line is, will we submit to the Word of God or not? It is only hard because we have not made the covenant commitment to love the Lord (be obedient to) no matter what. We have not developed the faith, the mindset, to understand that with faith in God, in the Word of God, and in the name of Jesus obedience will be easy and light (Matthew 11:30). Next Jesus challenges them as to whether their attitude will be any different if they see Him ascend back to Heaven. Of course, we know that in just a short time many gathered that day will indeed witness that wonderful event, necessary event.
Acts 1:9-11 (TLB)
9 It was not long afterwards that he rose into the sky and disappeared into a cloud, leaving them staring after him.
10 As they were straining their eyes for another glimpse, suddenly two white-robed men were standing there among them,
11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing here staring at the sky? Jesus has gone away to heaven, and some day, just as he went, he will return!”
As we look back at John 6:62 we find Jesus talking about ascending back to where He was before and referring to Himself as the Son of man. One might ask where was Jesus before? Before what? And was He known as Jesus before? Short answer is that Jesus was not known as Jesus, which means Jehovah saved (derivative of Joshua), before the womb of Mary but was known as the Word (John 1:1). If the Word was with God and was God then He had to have come from the Throne of God in Heaven. So, Jesus is saying when I leave here, I am returning to my Throne in Heaven. Let us consider the following passage which is the Father talking concerning the restoration of the man Christ Jesus following Calvary and the Resurrection as God (co-equal with the Father and Holy Spirit) to Heavens Throne.
Hebrews 1:8-10 (KJV)
8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
This preceding passage is so rich and I have covered it in some depth when I taught through the Book of Hebrews which you can find in my archives at WordPress. As we wrap it up what about Jesus calling Himself the Son of man rather than the Son of God? When the Word left Heaven for the womb of the Virgin Mary, He shed all that made Him God and became a man, 100% man just as you and I. All of the characteristics of God were restored at His Resurrection and we see a part of that in the Hebrews passage above. Jesus received a glorified physical body, of the earth, at the Resurrection so He was then all man and all God. He was all God before the womb of Mary, all man in His earthly ministry, and now all man and all God. The reference to being the Son of man emphasizes His humanity, identifies with us. The man part of the Risen Savior is our High Priest. Lord willing, I will pick up with verse sixty-three Monday.
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it by faith in Jesus name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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