2007-06-08 20:54:53 · 22 answers · asked by carl 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
When God said let there be light. Was that just a symbol?
2007-06-08 21:08:50 · update #1
It cannot be known for certain the exact wording of His saying, but the meaning is clear:
That as this bread represents my body, which is broken for you...each one of you eat of it.....and as this wine represents my blood....each one of you drink of it....
Eating and drinking are what keeps us alive..and if we eat and drink of His body and blood...(live off of His teachings), we remember Him until He returns and assure ourselves of Spiritual Life.
Edit to Second question: Yes for HE is the LIGHT of ALL.
Some have taken this to mean that HE created HIMSELF which is paradoxical at best. Though there are many such seeming paradoxes surrounding the ONE.
2007-06-08 21:02:25 · answer #1 · answered by Seraph 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Jesus is God's son . He spent much of His time on Earth praying to His Father . When He said "this is my body " He was telling His disciples to follow the examples He set on Earth and to continue on with His work . I believe it was a symbolic way of saying don't forget that I am still a part of you even though I will be away from you soon.
2007-06-09 04:37:28 · answer #2 · answered by opinionated 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he said "This is my body. do it in rememberance of me."
it has a symbolic, yet literal meaning at the same time. sort of a supernaturaltype thing. when we take the Eucharist, we don't literally eat Jesus as a human.. as in, we don't like eat hm as we would chicken. BUT, spiritually it IS the Body of Christ. and we are to take it every week, unless we are doing so under major mortal unrepented sin, or if we don't feel worthy of taking it that week.
the Body of Christ is one of the most important parts of Christianity. and it's a shame that protestants have done away with it!
2007-06-09 04:05:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Luke 22:19
And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
1 Corinthians 10:16-18
Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread. Look at the nation Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar?
Edit: Protestants have not "done away" with communion. They usually have it only once a month, not at every service. It is symbolic of our identity and relationship in Christ, with gratitude for the grace God has given us through Him.
John 6:56
"He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him"
Do you really believe that Protestants are not abiding in Him, and that His Spirit does not abide within them? That they are not able to partake? Wrong... Take off the Catholic blinders for awhile and see the truth. We are ALL part of the body, we are all included in the new covenant purchased of His blood.
2007-06-09 04:04:17 · answer #4 · answered by Bill Mac 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
in the chapter of john 6, i forget the exact part, why did so many disciples leave jesus? why didn't he call them back saying "hey i was only being symbolic", in all of scripture this is the only time a multitude leave jesus over his teaching, the eucharist in no way is symbolic, it is truth. especially when revelations is symbolic and so many insist on taking it literally.
www.scripturecatholic.com has details on the scriptural basis for the eucharist, when you read it you clearly see that the bible both old and new testament is laced with references to teh eucharist. also read the early church fathers and see their take on the eucharist.
2007-06-09 04:09:50 · answer #5 · answered by fenian1916 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Matthew 26:26
As they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and asked God's blessing on it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, "Take it and eat it, for this is my body."
God Bless You
2007-06-09 04:06:59 · answer #6 · answered by B Baruk Today 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jesus is the son of God..How can bread be Jesus body it has to be a symbol of his body,He did say this is my body,but Jesus was known to talk in parables I dont think he meant bread is litterally his body...
2007-06-09 04:02:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
In my church it was always like this:
He took the bread, broke it and said to his disciples and said "This is my body, which will be given up for you."
*little bell dings*
Then he took the wine and once again he gave you thanks and praise, raised it to his disciples and said "This is the cup of my blood. The blood of the new and everlasting Covenant. This is shed for you in the hope that all your sins can be forgiven. Do this in memory of me"
It's been along time since I've been to church, but thats what I remember from our priest whenever he used to say it.
2007-06-09 04:06:59 · answer #8 · answered by autumnaloctober 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"This is my body."
HOWEVER.
When I gave my friend a book that she wanted to read, I told her, "Take GOOD care of it. This thing is my SOUL." The book was not, in fact, my soul. It was just an image that made it meaningful: a symbol. That's what I think.
2007-06-09 04:00:13 · answer #9 · answered by Wings 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He said This MEANS my body.
He did not mean for them to be cannibals eating human flesh and blood. In fact, in both the OT and NT consuming blood is specifically forbidden.
2007-06-09 10:05:40 · answer #10 · answered by grnlow 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋