Offensive

John 6:61 (NASB)

Is this offensive to you?

The Greek word for "offensive" in this verse is "skandalazio," which roughly translates as "offensive" or, more accurately, "a scandal." When the Lord Jesus Christ preached that unless we eat of His flesh and drink of His blood, we have no part in Him, not only was such a teaching radical, but it was also scandalous. The Jews were being taught up to that time that the "Mashiach" or Messiah would come and set Israel free from all its enemies and usher in universal peace. This is the reason why the Jews, even today, say "this fellow is not the Messiah." They were taught that the Messiah would come as a conquering king to deliver them, which is why they welcomed Him on Palm Sunday. But the kingdom Christ came to establish was not of this Earth. To belong to it, one has to eat of His flesh and drink of His blood. There is no salvation apart from consuming the body and blood of the Lord in remembrance of Him.

What was offensive to the disciples who deserted Him then is still true today. Many "Christians" don't believe in a literal hell or a six-day creation. They don't believe in miracles, divine healing, being baptized in the Holy Spirit, a literal heaven, and so on. The blood and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ have been replaced with a civilized religion devoid of all power and omnipotence. The gospels are no longer taught literally but allegorically. Christianity has become a feel-good religion when it is anything but. Followers of the Nazarene are not civilized academics but those who are cursed, spat upon, insulted, misunderstood, ridiculed, and in some cases martyred. We are an offensive stench to the world but a fragrant incense to God.