John 6:53 - Unless you eat My flesh

http://proclaimingthegospel.org/equip/articles/47-john-6-53-unless-you-eat-my-flesh ^ | Unknown | Mike Gendron

[jodyel]

"Unless You Eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and Drink His Blood You Have No Life In You"

Are these words of Jesus from John 6:53 to be taken literally or figuratively? The Roman Catholic Church teaches the context of John chapter six and the above headlined verse 53 are literal. Thus Jesus is giving absolute and unconditional requirements for eternal life. In fact, this literal interpretation forms the foundation for Rome's doctrine of transubstantiation -- the miraculous changing of bread and wine into the living Christ, His body and blood, soul and divinity. Each Catholic priest is said to have the power to call Jesus down from the right hand of the Father when he elevates the wafer and whispers the words "Hoc corpus meus est." Catholics believe as they consume the lifeless wafer they are actually eating and drinking the living body and blood of Jesus Christ. This is a vital and important step in their salvation and a doctrine they must believe and accept to become a Catholic.

If priests indeed have the exclusive power to change finite bread and wine into the body and blood of the infinite Christ, and if indeed consuming His body and blood is necessary for salvation, then the whole world must become Catholic to escape the wrath of God. On the other hand, if Jesus was speaking in figurative language then this teaching becomes the most blasphemous and deceptive hoax any religion could impose on its people. There is no middle ground. Therefore the question of utmost importance is -- Was the message Jesus conveyed to the Jewish multitude to be understood as literal or figurative? Rome has never presented a good argument for defending its literal interpretation. Yet there are at least seven convincing reasons why this passage must be taken figuratively.

Counterfeit Miracle

There is no Biblical precedent where something supernatural occurred where the outward evidence indicated no miracle had taken place. (The wafer and wine look, taste and feel the same before and after the supposed miracle of transubstantion). When Jesus changed water into wine, all the elements of water changed into the actual elements of wine.

Drinking Blood Forbidden

The Law of Moses strictly forbade Jews from drinking blood (Leviticus 17:10-14) A literal interpretation would have Jesus teaching the Jews to disobey the Mosaic Law. This would have been enough cause to persecute Jesus. (See John 5:16)

Biblical Disharmony

When John 6:53 is interpreted literally it is in disharmony with the rest of the Bible. "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you," gives no hope of eternal life to any Christian who has not consumed the literal body and blood of Christ. It opposes hundreds of Scriptures that declare justification and salvation are by faith alone in Christ.

Produces Dilemma

It appears that the "eating and drinking" in verse 6:54 and the "believing" in verse 6:40 produce the same result - eternal life. If both are literal we have a dilemma. What if a person "believes" but does not "eat or drink"? Or what if a person "eats and drinks" but does not "believe?" This could happen any time a non-believer walked into a Catholic Church and received the Eucharist. Does this person have eternal life because he met one of the requirements but not the other? The only possible way to harmonize these two verses is to accept one verse as figurative and one as literal.

Figurative In Old Testament

The Jews were familiar with "eating and drinking" being used figuratively in the Old Testament to describe the appropriation of divine blessings to one's innermost being. It was God's way of providing spiritual nourishment for the soul. (See Jeremiah 15:16; Isaiah 55:1-3; and Ezekiel 2:8, 3:1)

Jesus Confirmed

Jesus informed His disciples there were times when He spoke figuratively (John 16:25) and often used that type of language to describe Himself. The Gospel of John records seven figurative declarations Jesus made of Himself -- "the bread of life" (6:48), "the light of the world" (8:12), "the door" (10:9), "the good shepherd" (10:11), "the resurrection and the life" (11:25), "the way, the truth and the life" (14:6), and "the true vine" (15:1). He also referred to His body as the temple (2:19).

Words Were Spiritual

Jesus ended this teaching by revealing "the words I have spoken to you are spirit" (6:63). As with each of the seven miracles in John's Gospel, Jesus uses the miracle to convey a spiritual truth. Here Jesus has just multiplied the loaves and fish and uses a human analogy to teach the necessity of spiritual nourishment. This is consistent with His teaching on how we are to worship God. "God is Spirit and His worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). As we worship Christ He is present spiritually, not physically. In fact, Jesus can only be bodily present at one place at one time. His omnipresence refers only to His spirit. It is impossible for Christ to be bodily present in thousands of Catholic Churches around the world.

When Jesus is received spiritually, one time in the heart, there is no need to receive him physically,

[terycarl]

God can do anything He likes. There is however no scriptural precedence for the Catholic mass. We know these things because the Spirit gives us wisdom to rightly discern in these matters. If one has not the Spirit, then one will believe anything.

where on earth did you get a book which taught you that???? Oh wait, you got it from the Catholic Church and, other than the books you removed, it is pretty much the same....amazing.

[terycarl]

This is also done in Baptist and other Protestant denominations with crackers and grape juice if one is a member of the church. It is called the Lord’s Supper and is done in remembrance of the Lord’s sacrifice. But everyone understands it is symbolic, not anything to do with the physical or actual body of Christ.

you are correct, in the protestant denominations it is grape juice and crackers....however, in the Catholic Church it is the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ our Lord.....He said so.

[Greetings_Puny_Humans]

“there are consequences for refuting Christ’s church..”

---

If it can be “refuted,” then it can’t possibly be Christ’s church.

[Alamo-Girl]

We Christians know God's voice when we hear it. He authenticates His own words:

And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. – John 10:4-5

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: - John 10:27

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned. - I Cor 2:15

Those without “ears to hear” cannot hear Him, they don’t know the difference between the words of God and the words of men. In the following passage, the people were physically hearing Jesus directly (sound or pressure waves) - but they could not spiritually hear Him:

Why do ye not understand my speech? [even] because ye cannot hear my word. – John 8:43

Signs and reason will not do, one must be given the gift of “ears to hear:”

And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land; The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles: Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day. And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot. - Deuteronomy 29:2-5

Again, God’s words are not like the words of mere mortals.

For one thing, they are creative which means He cannot lie. When He says a thing, it is. It is because He said it. He said "Let there be light" and there was light.

For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. - Psalms 33:9

Moreover, His words are not dead letters like the words of men. They are alive, they enliven us.

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. – Matt 4:4

Give us this day our daily bread. – Matt 6:11

I am that bread of life. – John 6:48

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life. - John 6:63

God preserves His own words.

The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. - Psalms 12:6-7

The mortals He chooses to be scribes, compilers, keepers or even speakers of His words are every bit as irrelevant as the media by which He conveys His words. He has even used pagans and non-believers to declare what He wanted said:

Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.

How great [are] his signs! and how mighty [are] his wonders! his kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion [is] from generation to generation. – Daniel 4:1-3

Give GOD the glory, not man, never man. And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, [saying, It is] the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. But the word of God grew and multiplied. – Acts 12:21-24

His Name is I AM.

[terycarl]

Joh 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

If Jesus turns into flesh and blood, you haven't been thirsty a day in your life since you became a Catholic... oh come now, if you eat of the flesh and drink of the blood, you shall not hunger nor thirst for Christ.....not soda and popcorn..

[.45 Long Colt]

FRiend, I’ve thought about it for decades. I know you want to believe that, but it’s a grand lie, the lie of the ages really. Don’t be deceived. I know what the Bible teaches and I know what Rome teaches. They are not one in the same.

The following is what Paul wrote of his fellow Jews in and it is most apt for the vast majority of Roman Catholics today...

“For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” (Romans 10:2-3)

Do you know THE GOSPEL? Not the one Rome touts, but the biblical gospel, the only one that saves the souls of wretched sinners like me? Don’t presume anything. Your soul is too valuable and eternity too long. Has God worked a miracle in your heart? Are you a new man?

The Lord has said: “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26)

Be honest with yourself and consider whether or not God has given you a new heart. The Bible tells us to examine ourselves to determine whether we are in the faith. (2 Cor 13:5) You can fool me and other men, maybe even yourself, but you certainly can’t fool God.

Remember what Christ himself declared: “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

Have you been born again?

The Gospel of Jesus Christ
www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=61000231635

In Christ Alone
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=6308143576

I will pray you can be honest with yourself.

[terycarl]

Also, Talisker, I don’t consider Catholics to be Christian

now that is funny...really funny, but pathetic.

read your bible, look at it, touch it, memorize it.......where do you think it came from, Luther....no, Wesley....no, Calvin....no, Henry VIII...no, Knox....no......it came to you through the courtesy and l,600 years of extremely hard work by the CATHOLIC CHURCH....do you ever read a history book????

[terycarl]

“please pay attention as this IS another mystery of our faith. It IS His Body and Blood.” No, it is not. And until you are born again, this will never be clear to you.

why on earth would you assume that Catholics are not born again....we are....and we were the first ones to have done so....1,600 years before protestants existed.

[terycarl]

I have claimed no sect or denomination How I wish just one of you would come with an open heart and truly ask Him if what we say is true!

if you belong to no sect nor denomination (I believe that) then who is the "we" that you refer to???

[terycarl]

Everything good in Protestantism was brought from The Holy Spirit

which was delivered to whom and when, and how.....Luther in the 1,600's...????

[terycarl]

I stand by what I said before...no true believer stays in a Catholic church once born again

ALL Catholic believers are "born again" and have been so for 2,000 years. Where have you been and how do you get to make the rules of Christianity???? We, Catholics were here for 1,600 years and then along you came, reinterpreting scripture (with which the Catholics provided you ) and remaking the rules...great gig if you can get it!!!

[terycarl]

You may feel free to put my name at the top of the list. I left the Catholic Church due to poor Catechesis and became a prot. After sitting down and reading the Bible and being challenged by a very knowledgeable Catholic I found my way back to Jesus in the Catholic Church and have been in full communion ever since.

a wise and blessed move!!

[Alamo-Girl]

Jodyel: I don’t consider Catholics to be Christian

I would not make such a global condemnation because I do know quite a few Spirit-filled, Christ loving people who are also Catholic.

That does not mean that I think all Catholics are Christian or that all Christians are Catholic or that everyone who says he is a Christian, is.

Catholicism, like Judaism, is both a faith and also a culture.

Peter, for instance, who was obviously a Spirit filled, Christ loving Christian also was Jewish by faith and culture and birth. Whereas that fact got in his way more than once (e.g. the sheet visions and being sent to Cornelius, a Gentile) - it didn't take much to get back on track.

Bottom line, I do know quite a few Catholic Christians who would have answered your challenge about what is most important to them with "I love Jesus" instead of "I love my Church."

God's Name is I AM.

[terycarl]

I fear greatly for one particular uncle who is in his late 80’s and closing in on his last days. He is a thoroughly decent man by the standards of this world — loving husband and father, upright and moral, helps others, successful businessman, veteran, friendly and kind, but at the same time he is hopelessly lost. He has broken off fellowship with his own daughter because after God graciously saved her she began to witness to him. He simply refuses to even

the uncle is right, the daughter trying to draw him from Christ's church should be ashamed of herself...

[terycarl]

Depends on your definition of Catholic. The current crop have only existed since Vatican II. They change as often as their traditions do.

nonsense...ruberics and otherinternal changes make no difference to the Catholic Church...no beliefs, traditions, teachings were changed at all. Mind you I was not happy with some of the changes, but they did not change the religion one iota.

[Doomonyou]

That is symbolic, not literal.

This is also done in Baptist and other Protestant denominations with crackers and grape juice if one is a member of the church. It is called the Lord’s Supper and is done in remembrance of the Lord’s sacrifice. But everyone understands it is symbolic, not anything to do with the physical or actual body of Christ.

It is not the way of receiving Jesus.....the only way to receive Jesus is by placing your trust in Him, repenting of sin, and being filled with the Holy Spirit. It is done one time and one time only and not over and over again thru the taking of bread and wine.

As a Southern Baptist, that's what I was going to say. Thanks. After a prayer for the Lords Supper, our pastor says,

"Remember" to signify the sacrifice Christ made for our sins.

That is what the Lords Supper, or communion, is all about. To remember that Christ died for our sins.

[Iscool]

oh come now, if you eat of the flesh and drink of the blood, you shall not hunger nor thirst for Christ.....not soda and popcorn..

Sorry, won't work...That's not what the verse says...You have to stick with the script, not make up your own...

But either way, it's a metaphor isn't it...

Joh 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

No one is thirsty for Jesus...They're thirsty for liquid...No one is hungry for Jesus...People are hungry for hamburgers...Something to satisfy their stomachs...

IT'S A METAPHOR for something spiritual...

[Greetings_Puny_Humans]

You sure?

[cva66snipe]

It would be very safe to say that for 2000 years there has been a substantial Non Catholic following of Jesus Christ. Likely they came from ones who were near Jerusalem and left when the persecution of the believers began. They could have went into Asia or northern Europe. By the way. GOD's Word is GOD's Word. It is not dependent upon any church for survival or even existance. Much of the early churches for that matter had no written Bibles. So how did they survive? better yet who taught the preachers? Amazing isn't it? Paul was preaching within days after his conversion and one on one with Christ.

Looking in The Old Testament blood is never to be drank. In ceremony or observances is to be applied to either an object or the "OUTER" portion of a person but never ingested. So where is the blood of Christ applied then? It is spiritually applied to our hearts once we believe and receive Him as Lord and Savior. It is a Spiritual Baptism and cleansing. The Lord's Supper is a Remembrance a symbolic act for us to remember The Blood Covenant of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ for all time is The Sacrificial Passover Lamb. Was the blood of the Passover Lamb drank? No it was sprinkled. In the same manner the blood of The Passover Lamb's Blood on the doorway saved Israel from GOD's judgment of Egypt the Blood of Jesus Christ saves us from the judgment of our sins. GOD sees the blood of His Son.

Drinking actual blood was a serious sin in The Laws of Moses. Serious enough that ones who did such were to be cut off from the community.

Jesus blood was spilled literally as a sacrifice for our sins and accepted by GOD. Christ Blood was applied spiritually to our hearts/soul/eternal spirit being. That was what most could not comprehend. They had been taught taught Ritual rather than Spiritual salvation. Thus the New Covenant and the New Spiritual Church built not on traditions man could not uphold but revelation but The Holy Spirit as Peter received his knowledge when he said Christ is the Son of GOD. That is the new church and as such it has no denominational name. The fact any church has kept writs for centuries means nothing when The Holy Spirit is the ultimate teacher or truth and guide.

Jesus Christ even after entering into the heavens still talked to persons. It didn't take a Priest. It didn't take The Lord's Supper each time. The Word was given to the twelve not by Temple Priest but by The Holy Spirit. In the same manner Jesus revealed to others as well The Gospel and instructions.

The Lord's Supper is a remembrance observance. Just as The Passover Feast after the exodus was also a remembrance observance. To understand The Lord's Supper or communion fully it takes understanding the Passover.

Matthew chapter 24 Christ says 35Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will remain forever.

Indeed they still remain but not because of man. Yep The Catholic Church kept writings. So did others and the scrolls and documents are located every now and then in the Middle East. Think about it.

[C. Edmund Wright]

I agree:
God loves to use figures of speech, types and shadows, etc. Taking the Bible “literally” - as we read it today in English, which is a language totally different than the very creative and expressive Hebrew or the very technically strident Greek, is to be lost in details of pharisaical self righteousness.

I take the Bible VERY seriously. It is not just a book of stories or allegories, but God uses many many hundreds of figures of speech.