"Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life..."

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 “ Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell 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 them up at the last day.
On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”  Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?  From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.  Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”    [John 6:53-54,60-61,66-69]

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"Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life..."

Jesus’ words in this passage about eating flesh and drinking blood can be understood in the metaphorical sense of feeding on the spiritual nourishment that only he can offer.

Many times Jesus spoke in parables or illustrations that challenged people. In this passage, many of the fringe followers of Jesus decided to turn away.  Their faith dedication extended only so far. It was cool to watch Jesus heal people, amazing to watch him feed the masses with just a handful of fish and bread. But stick with Jesus when his teaching required trust in him vs. trust in his miracles? That separated the casual from the committed.

It separates us too. The Bible’s words not always clear at first glance. Phenomenal truths do not always jump off the page. Instead, sometimes we’re invited to ask questions and check out resources that explain Bible texts. Sometimes we’re nudged to move from the fringe of faith—but always toward God and not away from him.

"The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.  Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” [John 6:63,64]



 

"I AM the Bread of Life..."


"This is the bread that came down from heaven..."

 “For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.  Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.  This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” [John 6:55-58 ]