Flesh and Blood

In John 6:53 Jesus said "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." This was a defining moment for his disciples and for the course of his ministry from this point forward. Although Jesus went on to explain in verse 63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words I have spoken to you are spirit and are life." many disciples withdrew from him and did not walk with him anymore. He also said in verse 47 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who beleives has eternal life."

He was trying to tell them 1.) that he had to give up his flesh and his blood at the cross. This is the bread of life he was discussing. In 1Corinthians 11 at the last supper Jesus broke the bread and said "this is my body which is broken for you" and in the same way he took the cup and said "this cup is the new covenant in my blood"; and 2.) he was trying to tell them that by beleiving in his words we all may partake in his flesh and his blood. After many of his disciples left him he turned to the 12 and asked them if they wanted to leave too. Peter answered "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life".

John Chapter 6 was the subject of our study last night at the "Greene Flock". We also shared communion together in remembrance of the Lord's giving of his body and his blood for us.