Expert: Cooper P. Abrams III - 10/23/2010

Question
Dear Mr. Abrams,
I have been having trouble comprehending the meaning of this passage: John 6:51-58. Since we are supposed to interpret scripture literally, what does this mean? It seems to refer to the Lord's Supper scene (Luke 22:19-20, Mark 14: 22-25, Matthew 26:26-29)where Jesus tells the Twelve that bread and wine ARE his body and blood, and to do it in remembrance of him...
Help please.
                     -Confused in PA

Answer
Hi Rob,
   Thanks for your question.   The following is from my commentary on John 6.   I think it will explain the passage to you.


====================
     The Jews were rejecting Jesus as the Messiah in spite of His miracles and message.   Therefore He makes it emphatically clear that everlasting life was only to those who believed on Him, because He was God’s promised Messiah, the “bread of life.”   Peter proclaimed this truth to the Jews later after Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.  “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

  “Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 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, which I will give for the life of the world.”  (John 6:49-51)

  The Jews could not have misunderstood the meaning of Jesus’ words.   The bread He was referring to gave and sustained spiritual and everlasting life and  He declared, “I am the living bread.”   The illustration of the manna was that it was material and sustained them in the wilderness wanderings and those that ate it eventually died. (Exodus 16:15-35) Also the daily manna decomposed and had to be replenished each day.   In comparison Jesus said the one who ate the bread He offered, which was Himself, (verse 48) would  not die and live forever.   The Jews knew that all men died, therefore His saying that one would not die could only could refer to spiritual life and heaven.    His statement “and the bread that I will give is my flesh” of course referred to His sacrificial death on the cross.   Once again Jesus denotes the scope of His sacrifice as being for the whole world.      

  “The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”  (John 6:52)

  Although the Old Testament prophesied of a suffering Messiah but the Jews did not understand what seemed like an unreasonable statement.   Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53, being Messianic prophecies,  foretold the suffering of the promised Messiah.   The nature of the Jew’s response was one of bitter strife because it seems they now saw the spiritual implications of Jesus’ words and were offended by them.   Robertson defines the word “strove” as being a term referring to combat.    It is a truth that when most men are confronted with their sins and lostness they response bitterly.

  “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.”   (John 6:53-59)    

  The word “verily” is the word “amen” and is a strong affirmation of the truth of the statement substantiates.  John always uses the word twice, emphasizing the authority of Jesus’ words, whereas the in the Synoptic Gospels it is used only once.    Christ answers their question as to how they might eat of his flesh by making the emphatic statement it is essential to receiving everlasting life.  He was telling them they must receive Him spiritually in belief, but they,  blinded by their worldliness,  only saw His statements in a material sense.   The Jews were rejecting Jesus Christ Himself who was presenting Himself as their spiritual Messiah, but the Jews would not accept that.

  Jesus added to His prior statements concerning His being the life giving bread, that in order to have eternal life once must also drink of His blood.   Many modern liberal churches and cults shun the preaching of the fact that salvation is found in the blood atonement of Jesus Christ when He shed His blood for the remission of sin.  Paul made it starkly clear that Jesus said He shed His blood for our atonement.    “. . . This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.” (1 Cor. 11:25b)   (See also Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20)   Note the following verse that affirm this truth:

  “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God” (Romans 3:25)

  “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” (Romans 5:9)

  “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace”  (Ephesians 1:7)

  “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins”  (Colossians 1:14)

  “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”  (Colossians 1:20)

  “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”  (Hebrews 9:14)

  “Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”  (Hebrews 9:18-22)      

  “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot”  (1 Peter 1:18-19)

  “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”  (1 John 1:7)   

  As Hebrews states “. . .without the shedding of blood is no remission.”    Jesus was the Christ,  God incarnate in man, perfect, holy, and absolute in His righteousness.  Only God Himself, being perfect and sinless, could atone for sin.  Thus Jesus came and gave Himself,  who is the bread or substance of life that gives salvation.   God who came from heaven made the atonement.    

  Note Paul’s statement to the Romans.  “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”  (Romans 10:9-10)  The shed blood of Jesus Christ emphasizes His absolute death that was required for the atonement of sin.   The body must have flowing blood to live and if one’s blood is shed and no longer present in the body the person dies.    When a lamb was sacrificed its blood was drained and it died.   Through His shed blood He experienced death and the penalty of sin so that men could by trusting alone in His death and atonement be saved.   The importance of the blood of Christ cannot be missed in salvation in that it is Christ alone who is the perfect and spotless lamb offered for the sins of the world. (John 1:29)

  It must be addressed that Roman Catholic rite of their Eucharist in the Mass is a gross false doctrine.  The Roman Catholic Church proclaims that their Eucharist is a sacrament that when preformed takes away sins.  They teach what is called transubstantiation which means that a miracle takes place when the wafer and wine are taken in communion and it literally becomes the actual blood and flesh of Jesus Christ.   Without question Jesus was speaking not of literally eating His flesh and drinking His blood, but of spiritually receiving by faith the truth He was revealing to them.   The cannibalistic interpretation of the Roman Church is ridiculous and contradicts God’s own word.   They have the same mind set of the worldly self righteous Jews who though some work or ritual of themselves could be offered for atonement of their sins.  The Catholic Eucharist is a work, a ritual and an act of man and no such work of man atones for sin as Ephesians 2:8-9 state: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”  (Ephesians 2:8-9) Thus the Roman Church blasphemers God and makes a man’s religious ritual a part of man’s atonement.  This discourse of Jesus Himself make it abundantly plain that salvation is wholly of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.
   
  “These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.” (John 6:59)

  The inhabitants of Capernaum where given a unique opportunity in that Jesus made the city His headquarters and frequently lived there in His three year ministry.   This important discourse that was made in the synagogue at Capernaum was early in Christ’s ministry showing a consistence message of His proclaiming Himself to be the Son of God, come from heaven the only source of salvation and the promised Messiah.     

    I hope this helps, but if you have further questions please write.
Cooper Abrams
Romans 12:1-2