What does John 6:62 mean?

Explanation

John 6:62 poses a rhetorical question that touches both on the literal event of Jesus' ascension (as described in Acts 1:9-11) and on the deeper nature of Christ's pre-existence.

In the verse, Jesus challenges His audience, who might find His previous teachings difficult to accept, with something even more extraordinary, His ascension to heaven.

The verse points to the divine origin of Jesus and affirms His claim of having descended from heaven. This reflects the theological claim that Jesus has a heavenly, pre-earthly existence, and that His authority and identity are from above, not derived from earthly origins.

Historical Context

The Gospel of John was written in a context where early Christians were defining their beliefs in relation to Judaism and the growing Roman Empire's pantheon of gods.

It was also a time of significant theological debate about the nature of Jesus Christ, His divinity and humanity. The Gospel was likely written between 90-100 AD and reflects the beliefs and debates of the early churches, especially those surrounding Christ's nature.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse speaks to several key Christian doctrines: the incarnation (that Jesus was God made flesh), the ascension (that Jesus was taken up into heaven), and the preexistence of Christ (that He existed with God before His earthly ministry).

It challenges the reader to transcend a purely human understanding of Christ and to accept His divinity.

• Incarnation: The verse implies that Jesus has a heavenly origin, which is foundational to the doctrine of the incarnation.
• Ascension: This refers to Jesus' bodily ascent to heaven, indicating His return to His divine glory.
• Preexistence: It presupposes that the "Son of Man" existed in a divine form before His earthly life.

Practical Applications

The verse encourages believers to trust in the divine nature and wisdom of Jesus, even when His teachings or the circumstances of life are hard to understand.

It teaches the need for a heavenly perspective on earthly matters and provides hope that, like Christ, believers have a destiny beyond this life.

Cross-References

• Preexistence: John 1:1-2 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
• Incarnation: John 1:14 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us..."
• Ascension: Acts 1:9-11 "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight."
• Divinity of Christ: Philippians 2:6-11 "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God..."

Language Study

The Greek term "υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου" (huios tou anthropou) translates to "Son of man," a phrase that Jesus often uses to refer to Himself, emphasizing His role as the representative human yet having an extraordinary origin and destiny.

The Greek word "ἀναβαίνω" (anabaino) used for "ascend" carries the idea of going up, often used literally, as in ascending a hill, and metaphorically, as in obtaining a higher state.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of a deity descending from and ascending to heaven is not unique to Christianity and can be found in other religious and mythological narratives.

For example, the Greek god Dionysus, the Egyptian god Osiris, and the Mesopotamian god Tammuz all have stories involving death, descent to the underworld, and subsequent ascent.

While each narrative has its particularities, they echo universal themes of death, resurrection, and ascension.

Scientific Perspectives

The ascension as described in the New Testament does not correspond with the modern scientific understanding of heaven as a physical place within the cosmos.

Instead, it may be viewed as a theological statement on Jesus' return to a transcendent state outside the physical realm.

Science generally does not attempt to explore or provide evidence for such metaphysical claims.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians provide different perspectives on this verse:

• **Raymond E.

Brown**, a prominent New Testament scholar, would place this verse within the larger context of the "discourse on the Bread of Life" in John 6, seeing it as part of John's high Christology that asserts the divine nature of Jesus.

• NT Wright, an Anglican bishop and theologian, might argue that the ascension signifies the kingship of Jesus and His authority over both heaven and earth.
• William Barclay, a theologian known for his accessible commentaries, might emphasize the need for spiritual understanding to comprehend the full significance of the ascension.
• Leon Morris, within his commentary on the Gospel of John, argues that this rhetorical question challenges believers and skeptics alike to consider the miraculous and heavenly validation of Jesus' teachings and works.