John 6:61, 66 KJV

61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?

66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

I have said for years there is an epidemic of offense in the church. It seems that almost everyone is offended about something. I’ve heard many, many times, “But you just don’t know what they did to me.” It is usually downhill from there for the offended person.

In our scriptures above Jesus has been sharing with the people about him being the bread of life. Some did not understand what he was saying and began to murmur and complain. In v. 61 he asked them, “Doth this offend you?” Murmuring, griping, and complaining, always accompany offense. Be careful when you go from praising to pouting!

The word “offend” means “to entrap, cause to stumble, or to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert someone whom he ought to trust and obey.” Offense begins when you see in another what you dislike or what displeases you. When you choose to become offended, and it is a choice, you will begin to make decisions based on your feelings instead of your faith. In short, offense is a great separator. When you become offended it will separate you from those God has placed over you in authority and from those God has called to be in your company. When this takes place, satan, the divider in chief, has you right where he wants you.

V. 66 tells us, “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” Their offense separated them from following Jesus, the bread of life. It doesn’t get much worse than that! 

The greatest danger of offense is that it will separate you from all that God is and all that God has for you!

I would ask you today, “Are you offended?” If so, are you sure that’s the path you want to take? It will bring nothing but separation and destruction in your life! Don’t forfeit God’s best in life by placing your feelings over your faith!