Norwegian 2018 (Bibelen - Guds Ord Hverdagsbibelen (Hermon Forlag))
Mange av dem som fulgte etter Jesus, hørte dette og sa til hverandre: «Dette var for mye! Hvem kan holde ut å høre på slikt?» Men Jesus visste med seg selv at disiplene Hans klaget, og derfor sa Han til dem: «Er dette problematisk for dere? Hvordan vil dere da reagere når dere får se Meg stige opp til Himmelen, der Jeg kom fra? Dere trenger Guds Ånd inni dere for å forstå hva Jeg har sagt, og for å motta liv fra Gud. Det kan ikke forstås med menneskelig forstand. Dette er åndelige sannheter og må forstås med Ånd, og da gir de liv. Men det er noen av dere som ikke vil tro.» Jesus visste hele tiden hvem det var som ikke trodde, og hvem det var som ville forråde Ham.
What Does This Mean?
This verse describes a group of Jesus' disciples reacting to something He said. They found His words difficult to understand and accept, questioning if anyone could really follow such teachings.
Explained for Children
Imagine your teacher gives you a really hard puzzle that seems impossible to solve. That's how some people felt when Jesus spoke—like they couldn't figure out what He meant.
Historical Background
John wrote this Gospel around the end of the first century, likely for early Christian communities in Asia Minor who were facing challenges understanding and following Jesus' teachings. The audience was familiar with Jewish traditions but also had to navigate new spiritual insights brought by Christ's message.
Living It Out Today
In modern terms, when we face complex theological ideas or moral standards set by religion, it can feel overwhelming. For instance, a person might struggle with the concept of unconditional forgiveness and question how to apply such an ideal in real life.
People might struggle because Jesus' teachings often challenge conventional thinking or require significant personal change, making it hard for them to accept or follow.
How can we better understand challenging Bible verses like this one?
To understand challenging verses, reading the context, studying commentaries, and discussing with others who have deeper knowledge of the Bible can be helpful.
What does 'who can hear it?' imply about Jesus' teachings?
It implies that Jesus' teachings are profound and not easily comprehended by everyone, suggesting a selective understanding based on openness to spiritual truth.
How did this event influence early Christian communities?
This event likely led to discussions and debates within the community about the nature of faith and how to interpret Christ's teachings, fostering deeper theological reflection.