READ: John 6:47–59 … He … abides in Me, and I in him.
After correcting the grumbling Jews, Jesus continues teaching about Himself. He reiterates what He previously said: everyone who ate the manna eventually died, but whoever eats the living bread from heaven—Himself, Jesus—will live forever.
Now He speaks even more specifically about His body—His flesh and blood. The bread He gives is His body; by eating it, one receives true life. Eating His flesh and drinking His blood gives eternal life; such a person will be raised from the dead on the last day! Speaking of His flesh and blood points to His death.
It is not just a death that happens to Him, but a death in which He actively offers His body and blood as a sacrifice. The Lord is intentional in His offering.
We must remember that Jesus is speaking just before the Passover lamb is sacrificed. That lamb commemorates the atonement of sins and the deliverance from Egypt, including the sparing of the firstborn Israelites from death.
Jesus is the true Passover Lamb, who takes away not only Israel’s sin, but the sin of the whole world—as John the Baptist declared. Yet the Jews cannot accept this (v.52): “How can He give us His flesh to eat?” Jesus sees in this their unwillingness to understand Him and warns: “Unless you eat My flesh and drink My blood, death awaits you.” But whoever does this has eternal life.
Jesus’ flesh is thus the true food, and His blood the true drink. By partaking of this, one enters into eternal communion with Him: you remain in Him, and He remains in you (v.56).
How is this possible? Everything comes from the living Father: Jesus’ life and, through Him, the life of believers. It all begins with accepting that Jesus was sent by the Father to give His life for His own. For those who believe this, everything changes—forever.
Do Jesus’ words relate to the Lord’s Supper? Explain.
Sing: Ps. 25:7