There were many times when Jesus did not "clarify" his words and he used symbolic language in his teaching many times WITHOUT using parables. This was one such case. I kinda think he knew people understood his message if it was given to them to understand by the Holy Spirit. Even in John 6, Jesus says he knew already who would receive him and who wouldn't. Do you think the apostles who stuck around really imagined Jesus was going to lop off a piece of his body and give it to them to gnaw on? What, he was gonna slit his wrists to drain his blood into a cup right there so they could drink it? Again, these were ALL Jewish people who "got it" when someone spoke figuratively. Drinking blood was forbidden in the Old Testament as was eating human flesh. Such talk, if it WAS to be taken literally would have given the religious leaders real grounds to charge Jesus with blasphemy and violating the Law of Moses. They wouldn't have needed to trump up anything to execute him. As a matter of fact, when Jesus was taken before the Sanhedrin and later Pilate, they made no mention at all of it, did they?
Explain to me why it is ONLY in the Gospel of John that this subject was brought up. If it is such a critical doctrine to get right, why is it found NOWHERE else? We find Paul describing the observance of the Lord's Supper, the Love Feast as it was also called, but he said NOTHING about the bread and wine being literally changed into the flesh and blood of Jesus. In fact, if anyone wants to be honest about it, they know good and well that that piece of cracker NEVER physically changes. IT'S ALL SPIRITUAL! You are to imagine or have faith that it did, indeed, change from what it once was even though there is no observable change. Why can't this simple truth be accepted for what it is? Jesus was talking about his REAL flesh being broken and his REAL blood being shed for the propitiation of our sins but the participating in the communion service was to be an outward expression of what had been spiritually consumed - by faith. We eat and drink Christ when we believe in him, when we receive the gift of everlasting life by the grace of God through faith.
" Jesus was talking about his REAL flesh being broken and his REAL blood being shed for the propitiation of our sins but the participating in the communion service was to be an outward expression of what had been spiritually consumed - by faith. We eat and drink Christ when we believe in him"Fits right in with what Paul said and helps clarify how communion wishes us to comprehend what Jesus did for us at His crucifixion:
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.--Galatians 2:20Brings to mind this bit of Scripture:
At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.--John 14:20This is also the main scripture used to show how Christians have a PERSONAL relationship with God.
We are in Jesus and He is in the Father. What a great place from which to live our lives! Double wrapped in God.