How do you understand : "I am the bread of life" John 6, 22-71?

Question

[...] 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. [...] 60 Then many of his disciples who were listening said, "This saying is hard; who can accept it?" [...] 66 As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. [...]

I am a catholic. I believe that the bread we eat during mass is Jesus' flesh. I am wondering how you people (especially protestants) interpret the verse 66 of this passage? If Jesus' speech about eating His flesh was only symbolic, why didn't Jesus tell His disciples that it was symbolic and that they didn't need to go away? Why did He let them go?
Many thanks for your answers!

To : Mollyismydog
I also am favorable to the unity of Christians.

To : JESUS IS LOVE
Jesus said to the apostles in John 20, 22-23 : ""Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."

CleverGal :
I agree with you that Jesus was not preaching canibalism.

CatholicChristian :
I do agree with you. Thanks for the correction.

JESUS IS LOVE :
Protestants have communion but they do not believe that Jesus is really present in the Communion (Eucharist) as catholics do.
The representation of Jesus has become acceptable starting with the Incarnation. Since Jesus became a man, it became possible to represent Him.

Answer 1

Please remember that we do not eat bread at Mass.

It is no longer bread after consecration and we should not refer to it as "bread" but as the "Holy Eucharist".

You are right we do receive Jesus' Body AND Blood when we accept the Holy Eucharist.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the bread CEASES to be bread and becomes the Holy Eucharist, i.e. the Body and Blood of the Risen Jesus.

"This saying is hard; who can accept it?"

We Catholics accept it. We accepted it then and we accept it today.

For the answer above:
"It would be hard to eat His flesh today since He and His flesh are in heaven!"

Jesus is not only in Heaven but EVERYWHERE. He is omnipresent. But he is SUBSTANTIALLY present in the Holy Eucharist.

Jesus said "And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."

The Holy Eucharist is the MAIN way He IS with us.

Answer 2

I believe it is totally symbolic. Jesus talked in parables and said things to the disciples that sounded very mysterious and impossible. I think that is where faith comes in for both the Christians today and the disciples. I think what Jesus was saying is I must dwell inside you, you have to accept me and partake of me. I am like bread and wine (food and drink) you need me to survive, if not you will perish. He is referred to as: The Word, and as we know you cannot live on bread alone, but you also need the word of God... that is the flesh. The blood, is the blood he shed at the cross that everyone needs to accept in order to gain salvation. In my opinion (this is definitely not putting down catholic beliefs) the idea of actually eating flesh and blood (cannibalism) is completely against the teachings of the Bible. In fact, we are told not to drink the blood of animals... so even if it were possible, I do not believe Jesus would ask us to drink his blood and eat his flesh. It is just a symbolism of his sacrifice... what he was getting ready to do on the cross and how it would sustain our souls after wards.

Answer 3

I'm protestant. I believe that that verse is symbolic and that Jesus is not talking about his literal flesh. I would guess that Jesus didn't tell them flat out that it was symbolic because he wanted them to actually think about it. Much of what Jesus says in the NT is symbolic. Sometimes he gives the meaning, and sometimes he doesn't. In addition, Jesus was about to be betrayed. He didn't have time to say "Wait, come back. Let me explain everything I just said"

But this is just all a matter of opinion. If we can agree that Jesus was crucified and resurrected and that he is the son of God, then that is good enough for me!

:-)

Answer 4

Well to my knowledge most protestant churches practice the Holy Communions, which is the eating of the bread(body of Christ) and the drinking of the wine/grape juice(blood of Christ). I am Baptist and we do this every month.

The bible also said not to make any graven images of anything on earth, in heaven or in the seas, yet the catholic church does this and pray before them(there should be no statues of Jesus, Mary or any other saints. The bible also said only God can forgive sins, yet the catholic churches encourage it's members to seek forgiveness from the priests in confession. Confessions are to be made to God not to man.

Answer 5

It would be hard to eat His flesh today since He and His flesh are in heaven! Either he meant that we are to see the bread at communion as symbolizing his flesh, or all we need is Him in order to live.

I don't like to get hung up on technicalities. I feel like that kind of thing is an influence from Satan trying to bring division to Christ's church. A house divided cannot stand...

Answer 6

The Lord's Supper is a participation in the emblems of the body and blood of Jesus as an expression of faith in Him, our Lord and Saviour. In this experience of communion Christ is present to meet and strengthen His people. As we partake, we joyfully proclaim the Lord's death until He comes again. Preparation for the Supper includes self-examination, repentance, and confession. The Master ordained the service of foot washing to signify renewed cleansing, to express a willingness to serve one another in Christlike humility, and to unite our hearts in love. (1 Cor. 10:16, 17; 11:23-30; Matt. 26:17-30; Rev. 3:20; John 6:48-63; 13:1-17.)

Answer 7

This is a great question. I'm also a Catholic and I never understood how someone could not believe this is Jesus, especially when he says, "My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink."

Answer 8

I also believe the Host is the flesh of Christ. I also believe what He said" It is not what goes into a man's mouth that defiles him, but what comes out of him.

He spoke in parables so that "In not seeing you might see" . He wants us to find answers for ourselves. Jesus used symbols to make us curious to find what is true for each of us. He said,"Let those who have ears, hear". So I guess those people in verse 66 were not able to accept what He said. It says they did not accompany Him, not that they were condemned.

He lets us all go our way, asking us to "have mercy, not sacrifice" and to "love one another".

Answer 9

It is a symbol. Like many rituals in the church. It does not have any bearing on your salvation. If it did, well then the thief on the cross was lied to when Christ said he would be with him in paradise. He did not have the chance to take communion, get baptized, etc.

Answer 10

Jesus was speaking symbolicly about this as he did about many things. He put complicated concepts in terms people could understand. Jesus was NOT promoting canabalism.

I understand these scriptures to mean that we must accept the life of Christ, the fact that He physically existed in bodily form as the Son of God and we need the blood of Christ, as in His sacrifice and shedding of His blood for our sins, in order to have eternal life. The bread and wine we take is meant to remind us of this. "This do in remembrance of me".