Why would Jesus want you to eat his body and drink his blood?

Question

Sounds like either cannibalism or satanism, doesn't it?

Answer 1

No, not satanism - Satanism is humanism and Satanism teaches absolute protection of animals and children, btw.

Symbolic consumption of a deity is very ancient. The Christian church/Jesus borrowed that from the prevailing pagan religions of the time. Several "savior sun gods" had transmutation as part of their worship. By consuming the symbolic flesh and blood, you took part of that deity and energy into you.

Answer 2

Yes, it can sound like that, but that's not what it is. The Eucharist is a sacrament, it is the substance of grace not seen. It is "an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace."

The outward signs are God's way of treating us like the human beings we are. He conveys His unseen grace into our spiritual souls through material symbols which our physical bodies can perceive—things and words and gestures.

It is the actual presence of Christ under the appearances of bread and wine.

But the reason we must "eat his body and drink his blood" is because he is the sacrifice for our sins. In the Old Testament the Jews made an actual sacrifice to atone for their sins. This meant they took the unblemished lamb, slaughtered it, burned it and then ate it. This was ALL part of the sacrifice and the rite of the atonement. Eating the sacrifice was necessary, if you did not your sacrifice was incomplete.

So, with Christ, he is our sacrifice. We must also eat his body and his blood in order for the atonement of sin to be complete. Jesus said, I did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. In him we have our sacrifice for sin. The Eucharist is the most wonderful miracle and it happens every day around the world in the Catholic Mass.

Answer 3

You need to be familiar with the history and tradition of Jewish Passover to understand the symbolism of the Communion (Lord's Supper.) Even if you have ever watched the movie "The 10 Commandments", you should be somewhat familiar with when the Israelites had to put the blood of the Lamb on their doors so the Death Angel would "pass over" their homes during the plague of the death of the first born. The eating of the Passover Lamb during this Feast was to symbolize this sacrifice and atonement to be saved from death. This event and the subsequent custom and feast was in fact a foreshadowing of Jesus' perfect sacrifice on the cross--He was as John the Baptist proclaimed the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world". So when Jesus partook of this feast with His disciples just before His death, He was showing how them the connection between the two events. Though Catholics (and maybe a couple of other Orthodox denominations)believe in "transubstantiation" that it actually does become the body and blood of Christ, most Christian faiths see it merely as a symbol of Christ's atonement and sacrifice. So unless you're Catholic, it's not "cannabilistic", it's merely symbolic.

God DOES require blood sacrifice for the remission of sins--this goes all the way back before Moses & even Abraham to where Abel's offering (animal blood sacrifice symbolizing faith and obedience) was accepted by God, while Cain's grain offering (symbolizing works) was not. It's also worth noting that God replaced the fig leaves Adam & Eve covered themselves with with animal skins (the first blood sacrifice for the sins of man). The life is in the blood and also the original sin of man. That's the reason for the Virgin Birth, the blood sacrifice, and also the reason why our incorruptible bodies in heaven will be "flesh & bone" but not "flesh & blood" according to Scripture.

Christians understand the necessity of the blood sacrifice of Christ, even if they find it gruesome; it is beautiful that Christ would give Himself to suffer so for our sakes though we didn't deserve it.

The reason it may sound "Satanic" is that all Satanic rituals are twisted perverse versions of Christian rituals, in an attempt to be the opposite of Christian.

To quote an old familiar and well-loved hymn...."What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus."

To those who aren't Christian and therefore don't understand, it may sound barbaric, but to those whom the Holy Spirit has revealed the truth, it is part of God's amazing grace for our salvation and cleansing from unrighteousness.

Answer 4

Remember that Jesus is a myth. There was no man named Jesus who asked people to drink his blood and eat his flesh.

The procedure was invented by priests for reasons unknown. It probably seemed to make sense at the time, but these days it's just plain silly...

Answer 5

Obviously figurative. He said, "This do in remembrance of me."
The Apostles were most likely puzzled by this statement, and it certainly catches the ear...eat His body, drink His blood?
But that was the idea I think. Certainly they would remember it.
This came near the end of their meal, which there are four cups passed. I have heard they never got to the fourth cup, Jesus saying He would no more drink of this until later...we believe at His wedding supper with His bride, the church.
The Last Supper was really an unfinished one, until later.

Answer 6

Did Jesus give his real flesh or his symbolic flesh for the life of the world? Real or symbolic?
Did Jesus say that the bread he would give us to eat, which, if we ate we would live for ever, was the flesh that He would give for the life of the world? Yes or no?
Did Jesus say that we had to eat His flesh and drink His blood in order to have eternal life? Yes or no?
Did Jesus say that His flesh was food indeed and that His blood was drink indeed? Yes or no?

Answer 7

Cannibalism, yes. Or Vampirism.

Satanists don't drink blood. They also don't believe in or worship Satan, like most ignorant people think.

Answer 8

I don't think o that jesus like that people eat hi body or drink his blood Jesus is so much kind so he is symbol of love and peace

Answer 9

That is metaphoric.

He wants us to be consume Him, take Him into our hearts and be driven by every word that He speaks.

Remember in Revelation, He says to eat the book, that does not mean to really eat the book, but do take it into to your system and digest its contents that we may know Him.

Remember it says that when you eat the book it will taste good going down, but then it will sour in your bellies. He means that we will look at the events with joy for ourselves, but then when we have time to ponder the fate of the unbeliever it will sour in our stomach.

In the days of the early church there were those who thought that Christians were into cannibalism because of those verses.

grace2u

Answer 10

It's because he really wanted to raise an army of ghouls and vampires to suckle him and go off to do his bidding...unfortunately, he had to settle for zombie Lazarus, wimpy demon spirits, and goody-goody apostles. Even the Son of God can't get everything he wants.....