Ears to Hear
“He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me and I in him.” John 6:56 NASB
Eat/ Drink – Pagan religions of the ancient world believed that eating the flesh of an enemy or drinking the blood of an enemy transported the power of the enemy to the one eating or drinking. This practice continues even today in some parts of the world. If I want the power of a bull, I drink the bull’s blood. If I want to be a superhero of the comic book variety, I take a special pill or potion. The mythology of paganism continues.
But this is an abomination to any Jew schooled in Torah. The Torah specifically prohibits drinking blood or eating the flesh of another human being. Such actions would immediately signify that the person doing so was a pagan, an apostate or worse. Such a person would be under God’s curse. So when Yeshua speaks like this, it is little wonder that the majority of His followers turned away. They had to. No one who wished to be true to YHWH could possibly practice such things. If there were any remark that identified Yeshua as a false prophet, this was it. In spite of all His miraculous works, in spite of His compassion and care, to follow a man who suggested cannibalism or pagan blood rituals was just too much. If you were there when He spoke these words, you would have had the same dilemma. Twenty centuries later any Jew would still feel the same. No man who says things like this can be from God.
What, then, do we do with this statement? How can we reconcile this with the expressed Torah prohibitions? First, we must note that in spite of the popular idea that these verses are about the eucharist (the sacrament of communion), there is nothing in the Greek text that requires such an implication. Scholars such as Leon Morris flatly say that these words cannot be about the sacrament.[1] Morris points out that eating and drinking in Jewish thought are always connected to positive and blessed acts. Furthermore, the Greek verbs (trogo and pino) are aorist verbs indicating that this action is one time completed in the past. That hardly characterizes the sacrament or the idea of ordinary eating and drinking. Yeshua must have something else in mind.
This riddle (for that is what it is) is part of the teaching method of Yeshua. Learning from Him requires careful and deliberate thought. His words do not lie on the surface. They are invitations into parables, summons to searches, provocations to plumb the depths. The crowd with ears that did not hear only received the words carried lightly on the breeze. Those who wanted to know the truth had to dig deeper. What they found is a metaphor of personal application. Eternal life, the reward of eating and drinking once of the flesh and blood of Yeshua HaMashiach, comes from absorbing into my very person the substance of who He is. The faith demanded of our Savior is a faith that must be voluntarily consumed until it spread throughout the body. Once eaten, once drunk, once fully absorbed, then the participant abides, a verb form for continual action. The Jews who heard only the words forgot the rabbinic method. Those who remained discovered the truth. Under the words was a picture – a picture of full engagement, of feasting on the work and wonder of Yeshua. Faith is no casual occurrence. It does not come by sitting at the table. It comes by feasting on God’s glory found in the person of His Son.
Topical Index: eat, drink, trogo, pino, feasting, John 6:56
[1] Leon Morris, The Gospel According to John (NICNT), p. 376ff.
I was taught a lesson about faith (amon) the other day while playing with my one year old granddaughter, Emme Ann. Her little legs are fully capable of supporting her body’s weight and she can walk; that is she has learned to put one foot in front of the other and alternate her steps. What she has not learned to do is balance. That’s something I do for her.
So, with her arms stretched upwards I take hold of Emme’s hand and she is established in me; she is secure. Now we walk any where we want to go. We walk on carpet, tile, sidewalks, and grass. All the while her eyes are filled with wonder and she does not fear of falling; or failing.
I learned God does what I can never do, while I do what I’m fully authorized and resourced to do. Faithfulness is remaining established; remaining connected. Faithfulness says I can’t live on my own. Faithfulness is expressed in my relationship with the Creator and with His community; and they with me. “I Want to Hold Your Hand” has a whole new meaning now.
I’m on the page with you Roderick and I believe you are on to something.. – After all, we do live on the “parable planet.” We are to be followers of G-d “as dear children,” -and walk in love. I love the unspoiled “faith” of a little child. Emme Ann knows “one” she can trust and loves to walk with granpa. It is a delight for her (and for you!) to spend time together. What a delightful picture of faith, hope (confident assurance) and love!. Thank you for sharing and spending time with Emme Ann. We way we get to know each other is by spending quality time together. I’m thinking now of my own children’s grandfather and what a godly delight and influence he had on their lives as they matured. He is gone now (to his reward), but his memory (and legacy) remain with us still..
Children are notorious for creating unique names for their grandparents. Mine call me Grand-Ab. It’s a mix of English and Hebrew. I enjoy it 🙂
Awesome!
Great word today Skip! Thanks for the insights and thoughts. Very challenging , especially the departure from the traditional connection to communion/Eucharist. I hope I would have been one of those who stayed around long enough to hear him say, my words are spirit and they are life. Shalom to you.
God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” (1 Timothy 3:16)
This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Matthew 26.26)
“For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 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.” (1 Corinthians 11.23,24)
It is a great mystery indeed, for not only did the LORD Yeshua give Himself for His bride, but He also gave Himself to her the Ruach Hakodesh (Eliezer?) as a down payment(?) or maybe as token of His affection? We have been sealed by His Spirit, and for this we are truly grateful. We (us), make up (now, together), both the body and the bride of Christ. Great is the mystery of godliness! (Yes, it is deep indeed!), but we are “both” the present day body and the future one-day bride of Christ! Is this too much or this discerned and understood to the point of a hallelu Yah! Why is it we love Someone we have never ever seen? Yes, a mystery indeed!
“and when He had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” This was (yes, literally) the “last supper” the Son of Man was to eat with His talmudim. The Passover Lamb was about to be slain, and He knew it. It was the purpose to which He was born- “to give His life a Ransom for many..” Yeshua, through the blood of the covenant invites us to draw near. “Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?”
No dear brothers, -dear sisters, no explanation..- not from me, anyway.. – just enjoyment!- I’m so glad to be part of the family of G-d! I’ve been washed in the fountain.. cleansed by His blood. Joint-heirs with Jesus, as we travel this sod, for I’m part of the family, the family of G-d!