1. 1. John 6:51-58 I am the living bread from heaven. My flesh and blood are true food and drink. Eat and live forever.
2. 2. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world. 52 The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, How can this man give us (his) flesh to eat? 53 Jesus said to them, Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever. Catholic Lectionary. 2009. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
3. 3. At the beginning of this chapter Jesus had multiplied enough loaves and fish to feed 5,000. The miracle is documented in all four gospels. Jesus had given them natural food but now He would tell them about Spiritual food. It is very important to note that the Jews took Jesus literally and said, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? (Jn. 6:52) Some people interpret this passage as a metaphor, meaning that Jesus was speaking in symbols and didnt mean to be taken literally.
4. 4. The error in that thinking is that Jesus did mean exactly what He said. How do we know that? The Jews took him literally and thus raised their question. If people misunderstood Him why didnt Jesus correct, or further explain Himself? There is no need to explain oneself when people correctly understand your meaning. Jesus then goes on to explain that you need to drink His blood. Jesus continues to reaffirm His statements. In verse 66 we read, After this many of his disciples drew back and no longer went about with him.
5. 5. The Question If Jesus didnt mean to be taken literally why then didnt He clarify or at least soften His statements. Why did He allow disciples to leave Him. The only logical explanation is Jesus meant exactly what He had said, and both Jews and his disciples understood what He meant, but without knowing how it was done. Jesus will show the Apostles exactly how eating His flesh and drinking His blood would be accomplished at the Last Supper.