why does Jesus tell us in John 6 that to have eternal life we must eat his flesh and drink his blood?

Question

why did the jews leave who before this followed him? Didnt they also take him literrally which caused them to leave? Do you think Jesus didnt know about the chapter in Leviticus, of corse he did, but why was he setting them up like this? Why didnt he apostles leave also? Like us catholics, where else can we go Lord, you have the words of eternal life, and we therefore believe you!!

JESUS IS ALIVE, REMEMBER? WE EAT HIS RISEN FLESH UNDER THE APPEARENCE OF BREAD, EATING DEAD FLESH IS CANNABALISM CJ. THAT IS WHY WE NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT TO INTERPRET SCRIPTURE, AS IT SAYS "HOW CAN I KNOW UNLESS SOMEONE TEACH ME?"

John 6:32, 51-52: "Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say to you; Moses gave you not bread from heaven, but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven... I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread that I will give, is My Flesh, for the life of the world."

Answer 1

For those saying He was speaking figuratively, let's take a look at the language:

John 6:53 - 58 - Jesus does not correct their literal interpretation. Instead, Jesus eliminates any metaphorical interpretations by swearing an oath and being even more literal about eating His flesh. In fact, Jesus says four times we must eat His flesh and drink His blood. Catholics thus believe that Jesus makes present His body and blood in the sacrifice of the Mass. Protestants, if they are not going to become Catholic, can only argue that Jesus was somehow speaking symbolically.

John 6:23-53 - however, a symbolic interpretation is not plausible. Throughout these verses, the Greek text uses the word "phago" nine times. "Phago" literally means "to eat" or "physically consume." Like the Protestants of our day, the disciples take issue with Jesus' literal usage of "eat." So Jesus does what?

John 6:54, 56, 57, 58 - He uses an even more literal verb, translated as "trogo," which means to gnaw or chew or crunch. He increases the literalness and drives his message home. Jesus will literally give us His flesh and blood to eat. The word “trogo” is only used two other times in the New Testament (in Matt. 24:38 and John 13:18) and it always means to literally gnaw or chew meat. While “phago” might also have a spiritual application, "trogo" is never used metaphorically in Greek. So Protestants cannot find one verse in Scripture where "trogo" is used symbolically, and yet this must be their argument if they are going to deny the Catholic understanding of Jesus' words. Moreover, the Jews already knew Jesus was speaking literally even before Jesus used the word “trogo” when they said “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” (John 6:52).

John 6:55 - to clarify further, Jesus says "For My Flesh is food indeed, and My Blood is drink indeed." This phrase can only be understood as being responsive to those who do not believe that Jesus' flesh is food indeed, and His blood is drink indeed. Further, Jesus uses the word which is translated as "sarx." "Sarx" means flesh (not "soma" which means body). See, for example, John 1:13,14; 3:6; 8:15; 17:2; Matt. 16:17; 19:5; 24:22; 26:41; Mark 10:8; 13:20; 14:38; and Luke 3:6; 24:39 which provides other examples in Scripture where "sarx" means flesh. It is always literal.

John 6:55 - further, the phrases "real" food and "real" drink use the word "alethes." "Alethes" means "really" or "truly," and would only be used if there were doubts concerning the reality of Jesus' flesh and blood as being food and drink. Thus, Jesus is emphasizing the miracle of His body and blood being actual food and drink.

John 6:66-67 - many disciples leave Jesus, rejecting this literal interpretation that we must eat His flesh and drink His blood. At this point, these disciples really thought Jesus had lost His mind. If they were wrong about the literal interpretation, why wouldn't Jesus, the Great Teacher, have corrected them? Why didn't Jesus say, "Hey, come back here, I was only speaking symbolically!"? Because they understood correctly.

Mark 4:34 - Jesus always explained to His disciples the real meanings of His teachings. He never would have let them go away with a false impression, most especially in regard to a question about eternal salvation.

Answer 2

You are very close - it is indeed the teachings - if you keep the teachings and keep the words of the Messiah who did everything our Creator Yahweh told him to do and speak - then you have the living words - the flesh and blood of messiah in you. If you reject the teachings - you have rejected the truth and do not have Yahshua living in you. You referred to Matt 4:4 and I was amazed how close you were to what was being said. You stated messiah was the bread of life - he is ... so, what the Messiah was saying (other than quoting that of Deuteronomy - as it was a direct quote from the so called "Old Testiment" that the cristian world for the most part has rejected and therefore lost the foundation of all truth ...) - messiah said: You cannot live by the Messiah alone ... you cannot live by bread alone = messiah alone - But; you MUST live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of Yahweh - and that is what brings life ... So - Messiah was saying that you cannot believe him if you do not believe Yahweh by being obedient (worshipping) him only (Yahweh only - by living by his every word ... as also shown in I Yahchanan (I John) 2:3-7). Also found in the book of Yahchanan (John) 5:44-end of chapter - Messiah says it even more clear - he says you cannot even understand a word that the messiah has spoken ....: If ... If you do not believe EVERYTHING THAT MOSHEH (MOSES) WROTE ... and of course you cannot believe what Mosheh wrote - if you DO NOT LIVE BY IT ... If you don't live by it ... then you cannot understand a word the Messiah spoke - as you have a different language ... SIN ... and not TRUTH that the bread of life told us to take into ourselves ... by eating the flesh and drinking the blood ... the very essence of the teachings. It was not an act of cannibalism ... Yahshua spoke EVERYTHING in parables - so only the believers can hear and understand it. Hope this helped. Peace; Aintmyfault

Answer 3

It's not that we actually eat his body, but rather bread to put in its place.
In my religion, this is what i'd call the sacrament. Meaning,
the sacrament is an ordinance in which Church members partake of bread and water in remembrance of Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice.
*The broken bread is a reminder of His body and His physical suffering—especially His suffering on the cross. It is also a reminder that through His mercy and grace, all people will be resurrected and given the opportunity for eternal life with God.
*The water is a reminder that the Savior shed His blood in intense spiritual suffering and anguish, beginning in the Garden of Gethsemane and concluding on the cross.
*Through the shedding of His blood, Jesus Christ saved all people from what the scriptures call the "original guilt" of Adam's transgression
I hope this helps you.

Answer 4

Man does not live by food alone but by every word from the mouth of the Lord. Jesus is the "bread" that gives our spirits life.

Answer 5

Hey there hun.
Well, first of all Jesus was talking symbolically when he said "we must eat his flesh and drink his blood". This is referring to communion. When we take communion, we are remembering that we Jesus bled and died. Through his stripes we received healing and through his broken body, we received life both eternally and the abundant life he was talking about in John. This is a solemn remembrance of what He did for us. For more questions or comments, write to me or IM me. :-) ~Juli

Answer 6

Why did Jesus say that? Because he KNEW there were those who were following Him who did not have the faith to accept Him at His Word, so He challenged them. After those who "turned and walked with Him no more" were gone, He turned to the Twelve and asked, "Will you also leave?" He challenged them too - without explaining it as figurative - and let them choose to continue following Him. He tested their faith, and they passed.

Answer 7

Jesus said do this in rememberance of Me. He also said man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, Jesus is the word of God. He also said drink this cup of wine the cup of the new covenent, which represents His blood. Peace!!!!!

Answer 8

It is figurative language for what our soul does, represented by what our body does.

There is nothing carnal about it. It is spiritual.

The doctrine of transubstantiation makes it carnal, when Jesus didn't mean it that way. That is the way the carnal Jews took it.

The Lord's supper had not been instituted yet, so it is not a reference to the memorial that we are supposed to perform of him giving his body, and shedding his blood for us on the cross.

Answer 9

The pagans had to be brought into christianity somehow - what better way. Obviously he was having problems with the Jews.

Answer 10

Now here's the devil's plan... he tells the human race that he can give them eternal life... but the Jesus character is to come and tell the human race the devil's deception... you see he could't give humans eternal life.... so when the humans started questioning after death was still occuring the devil said That's not what I mean.. it's eternal life after you're dead.. and the dumb people accepted that... there is no life after death... so now no one can complain.... back to that man... the devil wants him dead so much he wants to make sure he's dead.. drink his blood eat his flesh.. make sure he don't get up... that's the sentiment... and if you christians would know Jesus.. you would be the ones to murder him... because his message is to destroy all religions especially yours..