Jesus said: He who does not eat my flesh and drink my blood can have no life in him. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood will have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
Jesus said: I am the vine.
Jesus said: ...lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...
Jesus said: ...drink the water I give you and never thirst again.
Jesus said: You blind guides...
Jesus said: You vipers...
Jesus said: You whitewashed tombs...
Jesus did NOT say: Thomas; now that you've stuck your finger into my wounds; lick them.
In John 4 He told the Samaratan woman, “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24 NASB
In John 4:39-42 John records many believed in Him....many more believed because of His word....It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.
In John 5:24 Jesus told the Jews....“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. NASB
No mention of needing to eat flesh or drink blood.
In John 6 Jesus continues with His theme of believing in Him but the unbelieving Jews misunderstand Him and think He's talking about literally having to eat and drink the flesh and blood.
At the end of the discourse He asks the disciples a very important question.
66As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. 67So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?”
68Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.
69“We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”
We come to Christ through faith.
That is a clear teaching in the New Testament.
Or else Jesus did not tell Nicodemus, the Samaritans or anyone else He spoke to prior to John 6 the truth on how one comes to faith in Him....and we know He did not tell a lie.
Paul was clear on this necessity of faith as he wrote in Romans.
9that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
10for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
11For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”
12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;
13for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”
There is no requirement in any of these passages about having to eat and drink flesh and blood.
Of all the errors of Roman Catholicism the notion of having to literally eat and drink His flesh and blood for salvation is the biggest and is not supported by Scripture.