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A Bizarre Teaching

A BIZARRE TEACHING

John 6: 52-60

If you would look once again at verse 53 and 54. Jesus is in the synagogue speaking to the Jews and He says: “Truly, Truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

 That’s pretty bizarre sounding isn’t it, this “Eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Jesus?”

What does Jesus mean by it?

And it is important that we understand what He is talking about because Jesus says it is a matter of “eternal life and death.”

First of all, Jesus is not teaching or endorsing the practice of cannibalism.

Also, in Genesis 9: 4 and Lev. 17: 10-12, the Jews were explicitly forbidden to eat blood.

Now, many people think that Jesus is referring to the Lord’s Supper here, the taking of communion.

Well, notice vs. 54 once again. Jesus says:  “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life.”

And notice the word “eats” and the word “drinks” both words are in the aorist or past tense…that means all you would have to do is take the Lord’s Supper one time and you would have eternal life.

But, the truth of the matter is, eternal life does not come simply by taking the Lord’s Supper.

In Luke 22: 17-22 where Christ institutes the Lord’s Supper. He takes the bread and He says, “This is my body (not flesh…body is a completely different term than that used here in John 6).

And, not only that, in Luke 22: 17-22 where Christ speaks of His supper, He makes no reference at all to what takes place here in John 6.

So, what is Christ talking about when He says that we must “eat of His flesh and drink of His blood” to have eternal life?

Well, first of all let’s look at who Jesus is talking to in all of this. Let’s go back a little to verse 26.

Now, notice in verse 26, the kind of people that have followed Him. Jesus says: “Truly, Truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves, and were filled.”

 Now, notice verse 28: “They said therefore to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”

 And then verse 30: “They said therefore to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, that we may see, and believe You?”

 And then verse 41 and 52 speaks of the “Jews” who grumbled against Him.

Do you see the kind of people Jesus is speaking to?

In verse 29 He says: “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”

Vs. 35:  Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

36: “But I said to you, that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe.

40: For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

47: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.

Jesus is talking to a bunch of lukewarm disciples as well as His enemies…and all through this discourse His purpose is to get them to believe in Him…to trust in Him…because it is only by believing in Him that they can obtain eternal life.

Now, let’s go back to verse 53 and 54. In verse 53 Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourself. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Well, let’s compare these verses with what He has already said back up in verse 47. Notice what produces eternal life in this verse: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.”

Both.

Look at verse 34: “They said therefore to Him, “Lord, evermore give us this bread.”

 “I am the bread of life…”

Look what He says: “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”

Look at verse 47: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. 48 “I am the bread of life.

And now look at verse 51:  “I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he shall live forever;

And so, in verse 53 and 54 when Jesus says that we must “eat His flesh and drink His blood” He is telling these Jews that they must believe in Him or “trust” in Him or “rely” on Him in order to have eternal life.

Most people do not know or understand what it means to believe in Christ.

But this idea of “eating His flesh and drinking His blood” conveys more than that.

This idea of “eating His flesh and drinking His blood” conveys that believing consists of taking all of Christ in…and letting Him be a part of your very being.

This is not a passage on cannibalism.

There are 13 references in verses 26-58 to eternal life.

And this is a passage on how to obtain that eternal life.

And, it is allowing that belief to cause you to take Christ in…and be a part of your very being.

Now, let me ask, “Who or what are you eating of drinking of? Who are you taking in and letting them be a part of your being?”

Today, some eat and drink of some pleasure; or some entertainer; or some philosopher, or some author; or some group; or perhaps a sports team.

People eat and drink of these kinds of things and they walk away hungry and thirsty with no hope of eternal life…completely unfulfilled with life.

It is only when you eat and drink of the flesh and blood of Christ…only when you allow Him to change you, motivate you, guide you, and direct you, and let His values be your values that you will inherit eternal life.

Believing in Jesus is so much more than just saying, “I believe in Jesus.” A lot of people say that and simply because they are afraid of being lost…they want what Jesus can give them; while they want to give very little of themselves in return.

In this passage Jesus is speaking to some lukewarm disciples and to His enemies.

Most of His enemies refused.

What will it be for you today?