It seems like everyone is offended these days. Whether social media, talk shows, news programs or the print media, the self-appointed politically correct police are always on the lookout for someone to vilify over a slip of the tongue, or worse yet, a statement they disagree with.

So what does the Bible have to say about “offense”?

In John 6, Jesus is telling His followers a solemn truth:

“I am the living bread come down out of Heaven. If a man eats this bread, he shall live for ever. Moreover the bread which I will give is my flesh given for the life of the world.” (John 6:51 WNT)

How did the crowds react?

This led to an angry debate among the Jews. “How can this man,” they argued, “give us his flesh to eat?” (John 6:52 WNT)

Did Jesus apologize? No. He doubled-down:

“In most solemn truth I tell you,” said Jesus, “that unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no Life in you.” (John 6:53 WNT)

Even some of His disciples began grumbling among themselves.

But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this?” (John 6:61 ESV)

Choosing to take up offense rather than embrace an uncomfortable Truth, many left Him.

John 6:66 says: After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.

As often as I have read this passage, I reasoned that those who left Jesus did so because they were offended by the notion of eating His flesh and drinking His blood. Certainly Jesus’ words were no more appealing to the twelve than they were to the Jews and disciples who left Him. So why did the many leave, while the twelve remained with Jesus?

There are 2 differences between those who left and the twelve.

The twelve were drawn by God to Jesus. About that, Jesus said:

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him” John 6:44 (ESV).

Also “No one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father” John 6:65 (ESV).

To the twelve Jesus said “Did I not choose you, the Twelve” John 6:70 (ESV)?

The twelve had revelation from God concerning Jesus identity. About that, Peter said:

“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69 ESV)

In fact, when Peter first confessed that Jesus was the Son of God, Jesus attributed Peter’s confession to revelation from God the Father, saying:

“Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17 ESV)

As for those who left Jesus, they were neither drawn by the Father to Jesus, nor did they have revelation from the Father about Jesus identity. They had simply followed their stomachs to what they hoped would be a “free lunch” after Jesus had fed them the day before.

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.” (John 6:26 ESV)

Apart from being drawn by God and receiving revelation from God, they were deaf to the spiritual truth Jesus conveyed and could only respond in the flesh with offense at Jesus.

“The spirit is the one restoring to life, the flesh does not benefit anyone; the sayings which I speak to you — they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63)

Concerning the flesh, Paul wrote “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, they are opposed to each other.” (Galatians 5:17 ESV)

Certainly those who left and the twelve were in the same boat, so to speak. All heard what Jesus said. All were born under and followed the Law of Moses. Yet the former took offense and left, while the latter did not take offense and remained. Can it be said then that the difference between being offended or not, amounts to whether someone is responding in the flesh or in the Spirit of revelation?

“Blessed is the one who is not offended by me” said Jesus in Luke 7:23 (ESV).

If ever we are to enter into unity with Christ and thereby one another, we must lean into the Spirit to remain in Christ and resist the fleshly urge to take up offense with Him and each another. Offense separates us from Him, separates us from the Truth and from one another.

As for the perpetually offended in this world who assert themselves as the conscience of society through their vociferous objections to our freedoms, may they come to know the peace and unity that comes only from revelation of the Son of God.

About our freedoms, Paul concluded: “Why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience?” (1 Corinthians 10:29 ESV)

Indeed, my liberty is determined by the Son of God.