John 6:62
What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Jesus prophetically refers to His future ascension, fulfilling Daniel 7:13's prophecy of the Son of man coming with clouds to the Ancient of Days. The disciples wouldn't witness this immediately—only after resurrection and 40 days of post-resurrection appearances would Jesus ascend (Acts 1:9-11). The ascension became crucial to early Christian theology: Christ's glorification proved His claims, His session at God's right hand demonstrates His authority, and His heavenly ministry as High Priest and Mediator continues (Hebrews 7:25). For John's audience decades later, Christ's ascension was historical fact, confirming His divine origin and current reign. The ascension also resolved the scandal of eating His flesh—believers don't physically consume Christ but spiritually participate in Him through faith and the Spirit.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Christ's ascension vindicate His claims about being from heaven?
- What is the relationship between Christ's physical ascension and spiritual feeding on Him?
- How does Christ's present session at God's right hand affect believers' daily lives?
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Analysis & Commentary
What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? This rhetorical question intensifies rather than resolves the offense. If eating His flesh offends them, witnessing His ascension to heaven will offend even more. The phrase 'where he was before' (hopou ēn to proteron) clearly asserts Christ's pre-existence—He existed before His incarnation. The 'Son of man' title, drawn from Daniel 7:13-14, identifies Jesus as the divine-human figure who approaches the Ancient of Days to receive everlasting dominion. The ascension will vindicate Jesus's claims, prove His heavenly origin, and confirm that His death (the flesh to be eaten) was substitutionary sacrifice, not tragic defeat. Yet the ascension will also deepen the scandal—how can disciples eat His flesh if He's ascended to heaven? The answer: spiritual feeding through faith, not physical eating. Reformed theology sees here Christ's session at God's right hand, from which He rules and through His Spirit applies redemption's benefits.