So both of you are arguing that he said it and he didn’t mean it. (For the record, Iscool, yes, the ministry of preaching is entrusted to those who give up all they have to become priests. So, yes, we believe he meant all those passages you claim we don’t think he meant.)
But see, here’s the funny thing. After a lot of Jesus’ figurative languages, when people are puzzled by what he means, he explains, if not to the entire crowd, then at least to his apostles. After every time he spoke of eating his body and drinking his blood, his audience cannot believe he could mean what he says. And he lets those who will not believe in what he says go away from him. And instead of telling people something else that he REALLY meant, he tells them how difficult it is to believe what he is really saying.
So, yes, you’re right: Not everything in the bible is meant completely literally. There are very few sane Christians with gouged eyeballs and severed tongues. But these passages, these he expounds on “Verily, verily I say unto thee...”
Like THIS one?
John 6:47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.
That's all. Whoever believes....
Wrong...Jesus meant every word of it...But he meant it spiritually, not physically...
Your religion worships physically...You eat a wafer...You call that worship...
Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
What kind of a relationship would/could you have with Jesus if you no longer had a Eucharist celebration or he was no longer perched in your monstrance???
Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
It's all spiritual...