Offending People

“On hearing it, many of his disciples said, ‘This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?’  Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, ‘Does this offend you? Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before!  The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.’ 

For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.  He went on to say, ‘This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.’ From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.” (John 6:60-66 NIV)

I sometimes wonder how Jesus would have fared in our culture, because He never seems to care if people are offended by His words. He doesn’t go out of His way to offend or use offensive language merely to get attention, but He doesn’t shy away from speaking truth regardless of what people might think, those opposed to Him (Matthew 15:7-14) or even those devoted to Him.  

Imagine the tweets or blog posts if Jesus were to say no one could have a relationship with God apart from a relationship with Him (John 14:6).  Imagine the reaction if He said a woman should forgive her rapist or a child the murderer of his father (Luke 6:37).  Imagine the fallout if He said we should love those who hate us and do good things for them (Luke 6:35).  

We naturally like to hear what validates our views and feelings, but that isn’t always what we need.  Yet, our fallen natures often react very negatively to the truth.  We often are offended by what we need to hear. In our culture, “offensive speech” is considered one of the worst transgressions a person can commit.  I don’t think Jesus would have cared.  He would still speak the truth because that is what people really need, even if it isn’t what they prefer.  And, likely, He would be crucified for it.  

Today, recognize following Jesus means speaking the truth He has given us through His Word.  Like Him, we don’t share it harshly or in a mean-spirited way, but we share it because that is what people need to hear.  So what if they are offended?  That didn’t seem to bother Jesus.  

© Jim Musser 2017