Did some of them leave because of it? Where does it say that in the Bible?
2007-09-13 10:38:08 · 11 answers · asked by bandycat5 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes, they did.
John 6:60-66.......As a result of this, many (of) his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.
His listeners were stupefied because now they understood Jesus literally—and correctly. Notice that Jesus made no attempt to soften what he said, no attempt to correct "misunderstandings," for there were none. Our Lord’s listeners understood him perfectly well. They no longer thought he was speaking metaphorically. If they had, if they mistook what he said, why no correction?
On other occasions when there was confusion, Christ explained just what he meant (cf. Matt. 16:5–12). Here, where any misunderstanding would be fatal, there was no effort by Jesus to correct. Instead, he repeated himself for greater emphasis.
This is the only record we have of any of Christ’s followers forsaking him for purely doctrinal reasons. If it had all been a misunderstanding, if they erred in taking a metaphor in a literal sense, why didn’t he call them back and straighten things out? Both the Jews, who were suspicious of him, and his disciples, who had accepted everything up to this point, would have remained with him had he said he was speaking only symbolically.
But he did not correct these protesters. Twelve times he said he was the bread that came down from heaven; four times he said they would have "to eat my flesh and drink my blood."
"The words I have spoken to you are spirit" does not mean "What I have just said is symbolic." The word "spirit" is never used that way in the Bible. The line means that what Christ has said will be understood only through faith; only by the power of the Spirit and the drawing of the Father .
2007-09-13 10:43:57 · answer #1 · answered by SpiritRoaming 7 · 7⤊ 2⤋
The Jews of his time would have seen it as canabalism. To them, there was no body/soul separation; you are you, and that "you" is your body. What you put in your body or did to it affected you. For example, if you ate garbage, you were practically considered to be garbage. So what Jesus was saying was shocking and disturbing. No, he didn't cut a chunk out of his arm or anything, but to even imply eating of human flesh was considered to be anathema. I'm not sure where you are going with the rest of your quesiton, though.
2016-05-18 22:57:04 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus was being LITERAL when he told his disciples that they had to drink his real blood and eat his real flesh. Notice that it is in John "6:66" when they leave him. Notice that when they left him, Jesus didn't say "hold on, I'm only being symbolic", because Jesus spoke the truth and they wouldn't want to hear it. God bless!
2007-09-13 10:46:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Yes, some of his followers left Him because they thought He was talking about His body and blood as many still think today. Jesus was talking about the Words he spoke, the Words where spiritual food for our spirit, Jesus said "the Words I speak unto you they are spirit they are life.
It is the Words He spoke that make us clean, the churches preach their own words, not the true Words of Jesus the Christ.
Jesus said if you love me keep my commandments; ever hear Jesus speak of the wise man who built his house on a rock, read this passage.
2007-09-13 10:49:50 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
The only person who didnt participate was Judas Iscariot, he had other things to do. The disciples didnt understand to begin with, but got the message later.
2007-09-13 10:42:37 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
John's Gospel, chapter 6.
2007-09-13 10:44:06 · answer #6 · answered by wefmeister 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Jesus may also have been testing his followers to see who would be true to him and who wouldn't. It basically means I think that you have to eat, live and breath (these are metaphors) Jesus Christ to be saved.
2007-09-13 10:54:41 · answer #7 · answered by Pal 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Metaphor - One thing conceived as representing another; a symbol: a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable
2007-09-13 10:43:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 4⤋
It was not his disciples, but it was some Jewish leaders, when He was teaching in the synagogue about Himself being the Bread of Life.
2007-09-13 10:44:22 · answer #9 · answered by exodust20 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋
John 6.
It was symbolic, and the reason they left was because Jesus was calling them to a life following Him, that would be hated by the unsaved world. That's why they left. He didn't literally mean to play pretend that some crackers physically become Him. That wouldn't cause anyone to leave LOL
2007-09-13 10:43:44 · answer #10 · answered by CJ 6 · 2⤊ 9⤋