John 6: Clarification?

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I pretty much understand John 6 up to verse 61. Can anyone explain to me what is meant by the following:
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 Then many of his disciples who were listening said, "  This saying  is hard; who can accept it?"  Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this,  he said to them, "Does this shock you?  What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?  It is the spirit that gives live, **while the flesh** **is of no avail**.  **The words I have spoken to you are spirit** **and life**.  But there are some of you who do not believe."
In particular I don’t understand what is meant by, “…while the flesh is of no avail.” Also, what is meant by, “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”? Finally, what is the significance of him asking, “What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before.”?

Thanks for any light you can shed on this. KGM
 
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KGM:
In particular I don’t understand what is meant by, “…while the flesh is of no avail.”
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What it doesn’t mean is that eating his flesh is of no avail. That would make his preceding command to eat his flesh nonsense. When the Bible speaks about “the flesh” it is usually talking about wordly things (see John 3:6; John 8:15; Romans 7:5; 8:4-13). Jesus was saying we have to judge what the says by *God’s * standards, not the world’s.
Also, what is meant by, “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”?
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Same as above: Jesus is emphasizing the importance of seeing thru God’s eyes, not our own. Some Protestants think that by “spirit” Jesus means “symbolic,” but the Bible *nowhere * interprets “spiritual” this way.
Finally, what is the significance of him asking, “What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before.”?
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If his listeners could not accept that he could give him his flesh to eat in the Eucharist, could they believe even harder things, like he rose from the dead and ascended to heaven? Good question for Protestants, as well.
 
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KGM:
Also, what is meant by, “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”?
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I think that Jesus is saying that the flesh He refers to is flesh born of spirit (see John 3:6).
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KGM:
Finally, what is the significance of him asking, “What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before.”?
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I think He is saying that you will understand that His flesh is born of spirit and He is indeed the bread from Heaven. Some may better understand this when He returns to Heaven.

“The Word became flesh…” Jesus came from God.

“…ascending to where he was before.” Jesus returns to God united with flesh. Flesh is reborn.

Greg
 
Thanks Greg. My question has been answered. That was a great thread to learn from. No more clarification needed.
 
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