You can believe “is” means “represents”, but that is not what Christ said.
Actually, ... (and forgive me if I haven't been clearer in past statements) ... I believe that Jesus is our spiritual bread ... through which we receive spiritual life.
I don't believe that Jesus is physical bread.
I believe that Jesus is our spiritual Light.
I don't believe that Jesus is physical light.
I believe that Jesus is our spiritual Door (into the Kingdom of God).
I don't believe that Jesus is a physical door.
I appreciate your sticking on this topic. It is important.
Let me try to understand your context.
If, using your interpretation, when Christ said “For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink”, he meant spiritual or symbolic food.
So, according to your context, Real = Spirit = Symbolic
Questions:
1.Spirit is never used to mean “symbolic” anywhere in the Bible. Please show me an example if I missed one. How do you make this connection?
2.Do we get any benefit besides the physical nutrition from the bread, or a nice warm feeling from sharing the bread at the Lord’s supper?
3.Is it necessary to participate in the Eucharist?