When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all.
The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
In what is perhaps the scariest passage in all of the bible.. for religious people anyways.. Jesus speaks of Judas. Here is a man who by every single "appearance" seemed to be a true follower of Christ. It shakes me to think that some who seem to be so religious do not even believe at all. Does it shake you? I wonder if Judas was listening at all when Jesus was speaking of some (I think that means more than just Judas) who do not believe. Such has been, and is, the state of religious groups. A mixture of believers and unbelievers.
Religious people are often very happy and comfortable to speak of the outward things - like helping the poor or raising money for this or that. Yet these, like Judas, take offence when they are confronted with spiritual things. Back then they took offence when the Lord spoke of eating his flesh and drinking his blood because they were blinded to the spiritual aspects of what he was saying. Even today they make something carnal from that which is spiritual. Understandable because it is the Spirit who gives life and the flesh is no help at all.
Help me to never be offended by your words Lord. Teach me your ways.
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