- Originally by Leonardo Da Vinci from Wikimedia Commons,
What did Jesus mean?
Whoever Eats My Flesh And Drinks My Blood
These words are found in John's Gospel record where we read:
"Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him."
First of all we note the importance of Jesus' command to his followers. If we obey this instruction we can have a special relationship with him and the prospect of eternal life, but if we ignore it the opposite is implied.
The day before Jesus spoke these words, we are told that he had miraculously fed 5,000 people with a few loaves and fish. The people acknowledged this great miracle saying:
"This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."
They saw him as the promised Messiah and wanted him to be their king and overthrow their Roman oppressors. This was the hope of all those who understood the Old Testament scriptures. The words of their prophets had foretold the coming of Messiah to reign on David's throne in Jerusalem, but Jesus disappointed them by saying:
"... you seek me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal on him."
Confused, they asked him how they could labour (work) to please God. He replied:
"This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he sent."
Misplaced enthusiasm
Jesus was a hero to many in the crowd because he had fed them, but he discerned something very wrong with their misplaced enthusiasm. They only wanted the physical bread that he provided – bread that they did not have to work for.
Wanting the blessings that Jesus provides is not the same thing as believing in him. Indeed, Jesus had come to give them bread from heaven but not the kind of bread that they were expecting. In order to test them he began to say things that sounded very strange. He told them that he was the true bread from heaven that gives life to the world and whoever eats this bread will live forever. He said, "... the bread that I shall give is my flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world."
At first reading this might sound like Jesus was advocating cannibalism. His listeners were very puzzled and argued among themselves about the meaning of his words but he pressed it even further:
"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed."
The record in John tells us that many of his disciples completely misunderstood what Jesus was saying and they:
"... walked with him no more."
John 6.66).
So what did he mean?
The importance of belief in Jesus
It is clear from a careful reading of this chapter that Jesus' words about eating his flesh and drinking his blood should not be taken literally. The spiritual meaning can be discerned if we consider what Jesus said. Moses had indeed given them:
"bread from heaven to eat"
But Jesus was offering them something far more satisfying, if only they could see it:
"I am the bread of life. He who comes to me shall never hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst."
"... this is the will of him who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."
For the followers of Jesus, eating is believing and drinking is believing. He offers spiritual food and drink which is able to give eternal life to those who believe in him.
The people had witnessed a great miracle that had satisfied their immediate hunger. But apart from this, there was no lasting benefit for the people who listened to his words, no promised overthrow of their Roman oppressors. Instead he offered them a hope of salvation from death itself, based on bodily resurrection "at the last day".
What does it mean to believe in Jesus?
Just before he ascended to heaven Jesus told the apostles to go into all the world and preach the gospel, the good news concerning the coming kingdom of God on earth. He added these words:
"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."
Believing the gospel and baptism are essential if we are to become disciples of Jesus – there is no other way! Belief or faith in Jesus, means a full acceptance of the divine plan centred in him. By the giving of his body and the spilling of his blood he made the supreme sacrifice for sin and because of his sinless life, God raised him from the dead to die no more (see Romans 6.9). Through belief in his saving work and a commitment to following him we can obtain forgiveness of sins and have hope of unending life in the kingdom of God.
As we learn from Genesis chapter 3, Adam and Eve introduced sin into the world in Eden. All their descendants from that time till now have inherited their nature and die because of sin (see Romans 5.12). But belief in the saving work of Jesus gives us a hope of deliverance from death. This is confirmed by the Apostle Paul who reminded the Christians at Corinth that:
"... as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the first fruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him."
- 1 Corinthians 15.22-23 NIV
- Photograph by James Coleman from unsplash
- The bread reminds us of the flesh (body) of Christ and the wine reminds us of the blood of Christ.
A very important command
The instructions that Jesus gave to believers include a very important command to remember him in a special way. We read in the Gospels how Jesus shared bread and wine with the twelve apostles just before his crucifixion. You may be familiar with this event which is known as the Last Supper. Luke's account records these words of Jesus:
"... With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it, until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God"
Then:
"And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me”. Likewise he also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you"."
The deeper significance to believers was emphasised by the Apostle Paul:
"The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?"
Paul also reminded the Corinthians to do this as often as they could:
"For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till he comes"
The Acts of the Apostles records how the believers came together regularly on the first day of each week to remember Jesus in this way (see Acts 20.7).
By carrying out Jesus' command, believers associate themselves with his death and resurrection. It is a way of demonstrating to Christ and to others our understanding of his saving work and our commitment to him. It is a joyful and solemn occasion that necessitates self-examination by believers before sharing the bread and wine as symbols of Jesus' sacrifice on their behalf (see 1 Corinthians 11.27-29
The example of the first century Christians
The example of the immediate disciples of Jesus is recorded in the book of Acts for the benefit of all those who truly wish to become associated with him. The Apostle Peter preached to the crowds assembled in Jerusalem and his words are no less applicable to those who want to be disciples of Jesus today:
"Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers."
There is an important order of events as seen in the conversion of those first century disciples of Jesus. Belief of the gospel was followed by baptism. Then they shared fellowship with other believers by holding to the Apostles' doctrine and they faithfully carried out their Lord's command to break bread and drink wine in memory of him. True Christians need to follow this example if they wish to receive the reward of eternal life.
Conclusion
When Jesus referred to eating his flesh and drinking his blood he was referring to the need for belief in his mission as a saviour and a commitment to live our lives following his example and faithfully observing his teaching. True followers of Christ will ensure they meet together to share bread and wine as often as they can in remembrance of his sacrifice. In so doing they look forward in hope to the fulfilment of his promise:
"Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
Author Stephen Bonner
Source Light on a New World reprint from Volume 29.1
| 
