“What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?”
The full verse · John 6:62 · KJV
What ye shall the of ascend he ?
Asked by
Jesus: the Son of God and promised Messiah, who had said He came down from heaven (John 6:38, 51)
Asked to
Disciples: "his disciples" (John 6:61), the many followers who murmured at His teaching about eating His flesh (John 6:60-61); Jesus said, "there are some of you that believe not" (John 6:64)
The Scene
Jesus has just asked His murmuring disciples, "Doth this offend you?" (John 6:61), in the synagogue at Capernaum (John 6:59).
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionJesus followed His first question with a second that pointed beyond the present moment. In the synagogue the Jews had stumbled at His claim to have come down from heaven (John 6:41-42) and at His words about His flesh (John 6:52), and now many of His disciples called it "an hard saying" (John 6:60). Barnes says, "Jesus does not say that those who were then present would see him ascend, but he implies that he would ascend." He adds that, "As Jesus was to ascend to heaven, it was clear that he could not have intended literally that they should eat his flesh." Gill also sees here proof that He came down from heaven, as He had said.
The Response
What Scripture recordsJesus answered His own question with the next words: "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63). He then named the deeper issue: "there are some of you that believe not" (John 6:64), and "no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father" (John 6:65). Many still went back (John 6:66).
Historical Context
The world behind the words"What and if" is older English for "What if." The sentence opens a thought and leaves it unfinished, letting the hearers supply the rest. The Greek verb for "ascend" (anabainonta) is a present participle, "ascending," which is why the ESV reads "ascending to where he was before."
Earlier in the chapter Jesus said the Son of man would give the meat that endures (John 6:27) and that one must eat the flesh of the Son of man (John 6:53).
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyThis question points to where Jesus came from and where He was going. He had said, "I came down from heaven" (John 6:38). Now He speaks of ascending "where he was before." If they stumbled at His coming down, His going up would show the truth of it.
It also helps explain the hard saying. Barnes reasons that since Jesus was to ascend to heaven, He could not have meant that they would literally eat His flesh. The life He offers comes through the Spirit and His words (John 6:63). Gill notes that His ascension would be seen by His apostles, as it was, and Barnes points to Acts 1:9.
Look Closer
Where did Jesus say the Son of man would ascend?
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Lord Jesus, You came down from heaven and returned there; what would change in how I hear Your hard words if I kept Your glory in view?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- Jesus pointed His offended followers to something bigger than their objection. What bigger picture helps you when His words are hard?
- Share how knowing where Jesus came from and where He is now has shaped your trust in Him.
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
When Jesus' words feel too hard, He points you to who He is. He came from heaven, and He returned there. His words come from that height, so it makes sense that they sometimes stretch you.
This question also guards against reading His words in only a physical way. The life He gives comes by the Spirit and through His words (John 6:63). Let His hard sayings send you to Him, the risen and ascended Lord, rather than away from Him.
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