The Offense of Christ

Offense happens to all of us, whether name-calling, criticism, disrespect or false accusation.  Maybe you have been hurt by a racial slur, branded as a rebel, a perverted person, or someone worthy of disdain.  The sticks and stones adage went down the tubes a long time ago. 

But, not all offenses are the same.  It is easy to brush off an offense committed by a stranger. It is harder to ignore an offense against you by someone you know. It is hardest to deal with an offense committed by someone you love.  These are the kinds of offenses that incite a reaction—sometimes an act of violence.  When a loved one offends you deeply, it can end a relationship or lead to divorce.  Sometimes, it has resulted in murder.  When Cain felt disrespected by Abel, he killed him.  When Amnon violated his own sister, Absalom hunted him for two years and finally had him killed. When the Haman thought Mordecai insulted him and the king, he orchestrated a plot to hang him. 

In our socially turbulent times, we deal with an over-the-top reaction to offenses through what we call political correctness.  Offensive people have been court ordered to undergo sensitivity training.  State and local governments have passed laws outlawing “hate speech.”  We hear references to the “thought police.”  Sports teams have been told they can no longer use certain names or mascots because they are offensive to some groups.  A high school student was reprimanded for including a reference to “Jesus Christ” in his graduation speech.  Whether you agree with any of these things or not, it still points up the visceral human reaction that many people have to offense. 

John the Baptist, Christ’s forerunner, was a good man.  He preached repentance, he had disciples and he baptized his converts to the message of repentance.   Yet, for all his goodness and right intentions, he was denied the spotlight.  He asked Jesus what was going on.  Jesus affirmed his calling and then said, “And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.“  

Jesus made sure that his disciples understood the seriousness of His mission.  You see, when you get out on the battlefield, when you find yourself in life or death situations, when you suddenly realize how high the stakes really are, then your carnal feelings go out the window and you understand the reality of your relationship with God.   

Jesus deliberately used offensive language.  He said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.” John 6:53-55.  Nothing could have been more repulsive to the Jews than cannibalism or drinking human blood.  We know that these were metaphors about His crucifixion as a sacrifice for sin.  But Jesus didn’t put it in soft, persuasive, easy language.  He laid it out there in the boldest terms possible. Jesus never misled or deceived His audience.   

There are four reasons why people were offended by the message of Jesus. 1) He claimed to be the Almighty God. 2) He demanded to become the Lord of every person’s life.  3) He professed to be the Savior of the World. 4) He demanded that each believer change his identity.  Exploring all these claims in the scriptures confirms their veracity.

Now, let’s go back to this verse, “And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.” If you can believe that Jesus is God and not be offended, you are blessed. If you can believe that Jesus is your Lord and not be offended, you are blessed. If you can believe that Jesus is the only Savior and not be offended, you are blessed. If you can believe that the new birth is the way to salvation and not be offended, you are blessed.  Committed Christians rejoice in knowing that the blessing outweighs any offense!