Unless, of course, he said something different.
Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have not life in yourselves.- He does not here say "pretend to eat", etc.
"Take, eat, do this in memory of me." -Does your translation say "Take, eat, do a symbol of this in memory of me."
For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
Are you a Literalist?
>> “Unless, of course, he said something different.” <<
.
He said when asked for clarification “it is spirit.”
Take, eat, do this in memory of me is a symbol. Don’t tie your tongue in knots to mock our savior.
“Are you a Literalist?”
Yes! (Except for figurative prophecy)
“And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
(Mat 26:27-29)
The real question is, do you believe Jesus when He called the cup, which you say was transubstantiated into blood, the “fruit of the vine,” which He declares He will not drink again until He reunites with the Apostles in heaven? The wine would have ceased to exist once the prayer was uttered, and would be considered really and truly the body and blood of Christ. Furthermore, you would have us believe that Christ ate and drank His own body and blood. Why would He do that? Is Christ in need to cannibalize Himself? And where is it written in the scripture that it is lawful at all to eat and drink another individual’s flesh and blood?
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.