In Matthew 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22, Jesus says of the bread, "This is my body." He says of the wine, "This is my blood." Not "this is symbolic of," or "this represents," He says "this IS." In John 6, He repeats Himself, like He does nowhere else in Scripture, to emphasize the fact that He expects us to eat His flesh and drink His blood and that His flesh is real food and that His blood is real drink.
Anyone who says He is speaking symbolically, and not literally, simply is refusing to look at all of the facts. Fact #1: The Jews took him literally, verse 52. Fact #2: His disciples took him literally, verse 60. Fact #3, the Apostles took him literally, verses 67-69. If everyone who heard him speak at the time took Him literally, then my question is: Why does anyone today, 2000 years after the fact, take him symbolically?
Also, in verse 51, Jesus says that the bread which He will give for the life of the world is His flesh. When did He give His flesh for the life of the world? On the cross. Was that symbolic? If you think Jesus is speaking symbolically here when He says that we must eat His flesh and drink His blood, then you must also conclude that Jesus' death on the cross was symbolic...it wasn't really Jesus hanging up there...it was symbolic flesh and symbolic blood.
Jesus is clearly talking about the flesh that He gave for the life of the world...He did that on the cross. Those who believe He is talking symbolically here in John 6, have a real problem when it comes to John 6:51. Did Jesus give His real flesh and blood for the life of the world, or was it only His symbolic flesh and blood?
2006-06-16 14:05:51 · 16 answers · asked by enigma21 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
simmy: We are only to eat the fesh and drink the blood of Jesus.
2006-06-16 14:10:07 · update #1
Nikkii : it was the Command of Jesus, He repeated himself over and over that is was his real flesh in John 6. If he was talking in parables, why did he allow all his disciples to leave?
The difference is one is his real flesh that brings life and the other is just bread.
2006-06-16 14:13:35 · update #2
Luckyme: I meant some Christians. Try show the Truth.
2006-06-16 14:20:42 · update #3
Cookie 777:Jesus says EAT MY FLESH AND DRINK MY BLOOD. Why can't you accept the Words of Jesus. He meant it! read John 6.
You believe Jesus is God and you can't believe he gave us his flesh to eat in the Eucharist!!
2006-06-16 15:39:08 · update #4
Do you sincerely believe literally that Jesus was holding His own flesh and blood?
a little more study of Scripture might help here.
2006-06-16 14:09:28 · answer #1 · answered by n9wff 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This is the bread which came down out of heaven ...
Does this cause you to stumble? ... It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.
John8:58,61,63
If the disciples understood Jesus to mean that they are to eat literal flesh and drink literal blood, then they would have done so. They didn't, so that's not how they understood it.
In the beginning was the Word...and the Word was God.....and the Word became flesh...John 1:1,14
The Words of Jesus would become (as) rivers of living water, and whoever drinks would never thirst again...John 4:10, 14.
Such language is common in John's gospel, and such symbolism is also very powerful in John's Revelation.
2006-06-16 14:39:30 · answer #2 · answered by tennisman1954 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, the Christians I have known do believe the bread and the wine (communion) to literally represent Christ body and blood, respectively. Where most Christians including myself disagree with your thesis, I believe, is in the fact that the actual physical body of Jesus was only a temporary abode for His soul. Just like everyone who ever lived. God the Father changed His Son's body to an eternal one upon His Ascension. Jesus earthly body was as imperfect as anyone else's. His death on the cross proved that.That's the reason Jesus told His disciples "Touch me not, for I have not yet ascended unto my Father in Heaven".
This was after His resurrection from the dead (i.e.,Post the Last Supper). Again His physical body (although as precious to Him as the physical life it represented) was not perfect and should not ever be mistaken for His perfect spiritual body or His soul.
2006-06-16 14:31:44 · answer #3 · answered by thermos51 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sym·bol·ic [sim bóllik]
or sym·bol·i·cal [sim bóllik’l]
adj
1. of symbols: relating to or typical of symbols
2. using symbols: using a symbol or symbols to represent something else
3. representing something else: acting as a symbol
a gesture symbolic of repentance
The problem is, you do not understand the word symbolic.
Did the Disciples eat Jesus, or drink His blood? Of course not, it is symbolic.
The real fact is that Jesus was speaking to the faithful regardless of whether they were Jew or gentile. The symbolism is that Jesus offered it, food, drink and His death, freely.
2006-06-16 14:15:57 · answer #4 · answered by bond_adambond 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK, let's suppose I buy it. So you're saying it's a good thing to munch on your god and drink his blood. How entertaining that must be.
And if I read you correctly, this is not just symbolic, but real flesh and blood. Then this really divine meal wends its way through one's digestive tract the way any other real flesh and blood would. And then ......
Please, please, tell us how this ends. I am sure it's going to be something very real, not some symbolic cop out.
2006-06-16 14:40:05 · answer #5 · answered by JAT 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus is speaking spiritually. whilst you're taking this passage actually then what approximately Jesus asserting the flesh income no longer something in verse sixty 3? It additionally states that the Spirit provides existence, so how might the flesh? on the time Jesus pronounced this, the Lord’s Supper had no longer yet occurred, so why might he reference some thing that had yet no longer occurred? throughout the Lord’s Supper, Jesus pronounced try this in remembrance of me. It would not impart existence, it particularly is a memorial. in case you suspect that eating Christ’s flesh and eating His blood will shop you, then the place does grace are available in? you are able to’t have it the two techniques. eating His flesh is participating in the notice of God, we are fed by utilising the Bible.
2016-12-08 21:48:01 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sigh. Most children past the age of 7 or 8 understand pretty well what symbols mean. How old are you again?
2006-06-16 14:30:57 · answer #7 · answered by Cookie777 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the jews took him literally?? they didnt accept Him..He spoke in Parables to his disciples, is that symbolic or literal??? and what difference does it make if i imagine im eating the literal meat off jesus' body or im eating a piece of bread that Symbolizes his body as long as i remember what He did when i do so??? twisted ideas of the catholics, ugh
2006-06-16 14:09:38 · answer #8 · answered by Nicole 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't understand what your point is. I do understand that Jesus died for us on the cross and shed his blood in the process. We take communion (the bread represents his body, the wine his blood) to remember that he died for us.
Your explanation above us too long and complicated.
2006-06-16 14:11:23 · answer #9 · answered by xxtra chocolate 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus, in many other instances, was not understood by the people around him, even the disciples. What makes you think he was not once again speaking of something metaphorically which the people of that time could not comprehend from their perspective?
2006-06-16 14:11:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋