Flesh and Blood

Soon after the miracle of the loaves and fishes Jesus, in John 6:25-65, when talking to the     multitudes, began making fantastic claims about Himself. It’s not the first time. He’s already said in John 5:19-30 that He was the Son of God, that He “gives life to whomever He wills” and that the judgment of sinners was in His hands. Now He claims He’s the Bread of Life, that He’s come from heaven and only He has seen the Father, that the Bread is His flesh which He will give for the life of the world and that no one could have any life without eating it or drinking His blood, and that whoever does and believes on Him will have eternal life and He will raise him from the dead at the last day.

Well, this was just too much. Even many of His own disciples found His words too offensive and stopped following Him that day. It was inevitable if one understands the Jewish mindset. Blood was sacred. Leviticus 17:11 says that the life of the flesh was in the blood. And it was the blood that made atonement for the soul. It was forbidden to drink blood. In fact, blood was reserved exclusively for God. Now Jesus was telling them they must drink His blood and eat His flesh. Did He really want them to violate the law? Not at all. What He was actually saying was so wonderful they just couldn’t grasp it right then. Jesus, as the Word made flesh (John 1:14), was telling the people that if they believed on Him and ingested His life-giving words and appropriated the saving merit of His blood they would have eternal life. And not only that, but that His life, the very life of God, would indwell them. It was simply too amazing to be believed!

But as amazing as it is, those claims are still valid today.  Think of it! Eternal life! Forever with our precious Lord in a world without sin, sickness, pain, sadness. A world filled with love and joy. And all we have to do is believe and receive. It’s so amazing and so easy. No wonder many still can’t believe it.

Until next time,

Sylvia