“Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you”
Are these words of Jesus from John 6:53 to be taken literally or figuratively? The Roman Catholic Church teaches the context of John chapter six and the above headlined verse 53 are literal. Thus Jesus is giving absolute and unconditional requirements for eternal life. In fact, this literal interpretation forms the foundation for Rome’s doctrine of transubstantiation — the miraculous changing of bread and wine into the living Christ, His body and blood, soul and divinity. Each Catholic priest is said to have the power to call Jesus down from the right hand of the Father when he elevates the wafer and whispers the words “Hoc corpus meus est.” Catholics believe as they consume the lifeless wafer they are actually eating and drinking the living body and blood of Jesus Christ. This is a vital and important step in their salvation and a doctrine they must believe and accept to become a Catholic.
If priests indeed have the exclusive power to change finite bread and wine into the body and blood of the infinite Christ, and if indeed consuming His body and blood is necessary for salvation, then the whole world must become Catholic to escape the wrath of God. On the other hand, if Jesus was speaking in figurative language then this teaching becomes the most blasphemous and deceptive hoax any religion could impose on its people. There is no middle ground. Therefore the question of utmost importance is — Was the message Jesus conveyed to the Jewish multitude to be understood as literal or figurative? Rome has never presented a good argument for defending its literal interpretation. Yet there are at least seven convincing reasons why this passage must be taken figuratively.
Counterfeit Miracle
There is no Biblical precedent where something supernatural occurred where the outward evidence indicated no miracle had taken place. (The wafer and wine look, taste and feel the same before and after the supposed miracle of transubstantion). When Jesus changed water into wine, all the elements of water changed into the actual elements of wine [grape juice].
Drinking Blood Forbidden
The Law of Moses strictly forbade Jews from drinking blood (Leviticus 17:10-14) A literal interpretation would have Jesus teaching the Jews to disobey the Mosaic Law. This would have been enough cause to persecute Jesus. (See John 5:16)
Biblical Disharmony
When John 6:53 is interpreted literally it is in disharmony with the rest of the Bible… “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you” …gives no hope of eternal life to any Christian who has not consumed the literal body and blood of Christ. It opposes hundreds of Scriptures that declare justification and salvation are by faith alone in Christ.
Produces Dilemma
It appears that the “eating and drinking” in verse 6:54 and the “believing” in verse 6:40 produce the same result – eternal life.
Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:54
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:40
If both are literal we have a dilemma. What if a person “believes” but does not “eat or drink”? Or what if a person “eats and drinks” but does not “believe?” This could happen any time a non-believer walked into a Catholic Church and received the Eucharist. Does this person have eternal life because he met one of the requirements but not the other? The only possible way to harmonize these two verses is to accept one verse as figurative and one as literal.
Figurative In Old Testament
The Jews were familiar with “eating and drinking” being used figuratively in the Old Testament to describe the appropriation of divine blessings to one’s innermost being. It was God’s way of providing spiritual nourishment for the soul. (See Jeremiah 15:16; Isaiah 55:1-3; and Ezekiel 2:8, 3:1)
Jesus Confirmed
Jesus informed His disciples there were times when He spoke figuratively (John 16:25) and often used that type of language to describe Himself. The Gospel of John records seven figurative declarations Jesus made of Himself — “the bread of life” (6:48), “the light of the world” (8:12), “the door” (10:9), “the good shepherd” (10:11), “the resurrection and the life” (11:25), “the way, the truth and the life” (14:6), and “the true vine” (15:1). He also referred to His body as the temple (2:19).
Words Were Spiritual
Jesus ended this teaching by revealing…..
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63
As with each of the seven miracles in John’s Gospel, Jesus uses the miracle to convey a spiritual truth. Here Jesus has just multiplied the loaves and fish and uses a human analogy to teach the necessity of spiritual nourishment. This is consistent with His teaching on how we are to worship God.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24
As we worship Christ He is present spiritually, not physically. In fact, Jesus can only be bodily present at one place at one time. His omnipresence refers only to His spirit. It is impossible for Christ to be bodily present in thousands of Catholic Churches around the world.
When Jesus is received spiritually, one time in the heart, there is no need to receive him physically, over and over again in the stomach.
Conclusion
Few Catholics think about this. The reason is, that most Catholics are not aware that the Catholic Church teaches that the Mass is an actual sacrifice. They know that the rite is called the Sacrifice of the Mass, that it is performed by a priest, that the congregation assembles before an altar, and that the consecrated bread wafers are called hosts. Nevertheless, most Catholics do not seem to realize that the Church teaches that the Mass is a real and true sacrifice, that a prime function of the Catholic priesthood is to offer sacrifice, that an altar is a place of sacrifice, and that the word host is from the Latin word hostia, meaning sacrificial victim.
The Lord Jesus Christ is not a continuous victim on the cross any longer! Jesus is glorified and a resurrected Savior which is at the right hand of the Father.
The Lord’s Supper Is An Ordinance
And A Memorial –figuratively speaking
It was designed to commemorate the death of Christ: “This do in remembrance of me.” In this ordinance Christ ratifies his promises to his people, and they on their part solemnly consecrate themselves to him and to his entire service. And largely to indicate and to promote the communion of believers with Christ, not literally, and to represent the mutual communion of believers with each other.
The elements used to REPRESENT, not become, Christ’s body and blood are bread and wine, which is grape juice. Christ used unleavened bread simply because it was at that moment on the paschal table. Wine, and no other liquid, especially alcohol, is to be used (Matthew 26:26-29). Believers “feed” on Christ’s body and blood, (1) not with the mouth in any manner, but (2) by the soul alone, and (3) by faith, which is the mouth or hand of the soul. This they do (4) by the power of the Holy Ghost. This “feeding” on Christ, however, takes place not in the Lord’s Supper alone, but whenever faith in him is exercised.
For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. [20] When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. [21] For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. [22] What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. [23] For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: [24] And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. [25] After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, IN REMEMBRANCE of me. 1 Cor. 11:19-25
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God,
who also maketh intercession for us. Romans 8:34
For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that
he liveth, he liveth unto God. Romans 6:10
Where Is The Real Jesus Then?
Jesus Himself told us who He is, and where He is. Are you ready to find the ‘Real Jesus’?
He is the “the bread of life” (figuratively) Jn. 6:48, “the light of the world” Jn. 8:12, “the door” Jn. 10:9, “the good shepherd” Jn. 10:11, “the resurrection and the life” Jn.11:25, “the way, the truth and the life” Jn. 14:6, and “the true vine” Jn. 15:1. He also referred to His body as the temple in Jn. 2:19, not the hostia, or ‘host’. He is at the right hand of the Father.
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Romans 8:34
How about you? Will you ask the Lord Jesus Christ to get you out of your hopeless situation? Without Him, you are already condemned, and on your way to a literal eternal hell.
Can you honestly say that if you were to die today, that you would go to Heaven? And what will you say to the Lord as you face Him on the judgment day?
Friend, please consider your eternal destiny. We are giving you the ONLY way into Heaven right now. Please don’t reject Him.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
Tell Jesus today that you realize that you are a sinner in need of Him alone. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins and that you know that He is the Son of God which died and rose again to save you from your sins. Then ask Him to show you how to live and maintain a Holy and consistent Christian life.
For more information on how to become a Christian
stop by for a visit or call the number below…