I don't believe Jesus needed to make a "disclaimer". In fact, I absolutely believe what he said that we MUST eat his flesh and drink his blood or we cannot be saved. Yet, Roman Catholics interpret this to mean that somehow the bread and wine (now just bread) is mysteriously and miraculously changed into Jesus' actual flesh and blood and even though the "elements" do not appear to be changed, they just are. And that everyone MUST physically eat and drink these elements in order to be saved. Also, that doing this once is not enough to be saved, it must be repeated as often as one can, but that even if they do it every day, it STILL isn't enough if good works are also not accompanying it. Plus confession, plus penance, plus beatitude, plus...
On the other hand, I said I agree that we MUST eat and drink Jesus' actual flesh and blood in order to be saved. But I differ from the RC line. First, I believe as Jesus said we should, that BELIEVING in Him IS RECEIVING him. We ARE in this sense eating him and drinking him as he stated repeatedly we must believe that he is God, believe that he saves us, believe that he is our redeemer, believe that his body and blood were the sacrifice for our sins. I also believe Jesus that we WILL never die - and that of course MUST mean SPIRITUAL death. We receive him and we ARE saved. We WILL NOT come into condemnation, but HAVE passed from death unto life. That is why I do NOT believe that observing the Lord's Supper/Communion/Eucharist is propitiatory. It is done in REMEMBRANCE of him, what he did, what he gave us - eternal life.
I wish you a peaceful and blessed night.
****I don’t believe Jesus needed to make a “disclaimer”.****
Let me ask you this then....
Many who heard what Jesus said walked away and Jesus let them knowing why they left. But, He does not turn to the Apostles and disciples who remained and then explain.
No, He admits this is a “hard saying” and asks them if they too will leave. The Apostles never question this, though they must have been very concerned, for it was a hard saying and a hard thing to grasp.
But, they knew Jesus and had walked with Him and believed Him. They knew that He would reveal how this was to be and He did at the Last Supper.
The Apostles seemed to get it. Paul warns against receiving Him unworthily or without discerning the Lord. He also says, “As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord, until He comes in glory.”
It is obvious from the NT that the Christian community met often to “break bread” and that the receiving of it was reserved for those who believe.
I understand what you believe and why, but I trust the words of the Apostles and there is no where in the NT where anyone says the Lord’s Supper is symbolic. Not even Jesus.
You speak for me as well.