Flesh and Food - John 6:47-71

©February 7th, 2021 by Rev. Rick Goettsche SERIES: John

This probably doesn’t come as a surprise to you, but I like food. I enjoy eating all sorts of different types of food. Eating is necessary for survival, but I enjoy eating for more than just the fact that it keeps me alive. I enjoy the various tastes and sensations that are part of the process. I’m amazed at how God has made something that is so essential to survival also be so enjoyable. I look forward to my next meal, because I always enjoy eating.

Maybe you’re in the same boat. Maybe you’re even salivating right now thinking about lunch! If so, I think you are well-primed to hear the message Jesus preached to his disciples in John 6 today.

In these verses we see Jesus giving his disciples a picture of what it means to truly follow Him. He uses the analogy of food, and how just as food is necessary to survival, our relationship with Jesus is even more essential to our survival. It was a picture that took them some time to unpack, but once they did, many who had been following Jesus decided they were no longer interested. Standing before them they had God in the flesh, the only One who could meet their true and deepest needs, and yet they chose to walk away from him. It was a truly sad day. Their negative example (and Peter’s positive example) can teach us a great deal about how we ought to live as well.

Body and Blood

Jesus starts by telling the people that they need to eat his body and drink his blood.

47 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. 48 Yes, I am the bread of life! 49 Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. 50 Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”

52 Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked.

53 So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. 54 But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57 I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.”

59 He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. (John 6:47-59, NLT)

Jesus had gained a significant following by this point. As we saw with the feeding of the 5,000, there were at least 5,000 (like 2-3 times that many) who came out to see Jesus on that occasion, and everywhere he went, he drew a crowd. Jesus knew that many of the people who were coming out to see him, however, were interested in the spectacle, not the Savior. They were not so much interested in following Jesus as they were in being part of the big thing that was happening. They didn’t want to miss out on seeing the miracles Jesus was known for. Jesus knew this teaching would upset some who were simply there for the spectacle, but He also knew they needed to hear the truth.

Jesus called himself the bread of life, indicating that He alone is the way to eternal life. He compared himself to the manna the Jews ate during their time in the wilderness. His point was that the manna was bread from heaven, but it was not living bread. The people had to go out each day and collect more and ultimately they still all died. Jesus contrasts that bread from heaven with the true bread from heaven before them now—himself.

Jesus then told the people that they must eat of this true, living bread from heaven to have eternal life. And he said that this bread is his flesh. Understandably, the people were confused. Apparently they began to argue amongst themselves as to what he meant by this. I suspect the people quickly concluded that Jesus wasn’t condoning cannibalism, and wasn’t telling them to literally eat of his body. But I also suspect there was considerable debate over what Jesus actually was saying.

Rather than answering all their questions, Jesus doubled down on his analogy. He reiterated that the only way to have eternal life is to eat of his flesh and drink of his blood. I suspect this didn’t help to clear things up for many of the disciples. I imagine the crowd getting quiet, but still exchanging puzzled looks with each other.

So what did Jesus mean by this? Was Jesus literally saying that we must eat of his flesh and drink of his blood in order to be saved? There are some do view this literally. They apply this literal interpretation to their understanding of the communion celebration. They conclude that during the communion celebration the elements (the bread and wine or grape juice) are transformed into the literal body and blood of Jesus Christ. They believe when we take communion we are literally doing what Jesus said in these verses; we are eating his body and drinking his blood. I don’t think this is the right understanding of what Jesus is teaching, nor the right understanding of the communion celebration.

Jesus often spoke in metaphors. Think of all the I Am statements we have already seen. They are not intended to be understood with wooden literalism. They are intended to be understood as metaphors that point to a much deeper reality. They are intended to help us understand Christ more deeply than we did before.

In these verses Jesus said he is the bread of life, he is the living bread, he is the true bread that came from heaven. It would be wrong for us to conclude that Jesus was saying he was made with flour and yeast and baked at 350 degrees! These statements are not intended to be taken literally. They are metaphors intended to help us see a deeper truth.

Similarly, when Jesus said we must eat of his flesh and drink of his blood, he didn’t mean that the disciples should take out their dining utensils and carve up his body. Nor do I think that when he told his disciples at the last supper that “this is my body” (referring to the bread) and “this is my blood” (referring to the wine), he was saying these things were literally his physical body for them to consume. These were metaphors, designed to drive us deeper.

So what do these statements mean? What deeper truth is He communicating? Think about what food means to us. We need to eat and drink daily. A person can survive for a while without eating and drinking, but they will not last long without it. The only way to function as we are intended is to eat and drink properly and regularly. This, I believe, is the key to what Jesus was saying. He was saying that food is essential, and most of us would rarely fail to miss a meal, but a living and vibrant relationship with Him is even more vital than food.

Listen to what James Montgomery Boice says about these verses:

Is he as real to you spiritually as something you can taste or handle? Is he as much a part of you as that which you eat? Do not think me blasphemous when I say that he must be as real and as useful to you as a hamburger and french fries. I say this because, although he is obviously far more real and useful than these, the unfortunate thing is that for many people he is much less.[1]

Jesus’ point is that we need to be as dependent upon Him as we are upon food and drink. We must recognize the constant need we have for Him. We ensure we eat and drink regularly yet we fail to do the same with Christ. We go days without reading the Bible, without prayer, without taking time to seek Him, hear from Him, or worship Him at all. Without the living bread of Jesus, we will decay and ultimately die spiritually. Jesus says the true believer understands their need for Him and will seek Him just as fervently as they would seek food or water.

Similarly, we are reminded that eating is an active endeavor. We must actually take the teachings of Christ into us and use them. Boice uses another example I think is fitting. He says you can sit down at a feast and marvel at the food that is there. You may know all about what is served. You may be able to name the ingredients, give the French name for the dish, and explain how each dish is prepared. But if you never actually eat the food, it does you no good! The same is true with Christ. We can have all the information in the world, but the only thing that can save us and sustain us is to actually feast upon His word, internalize Him in every facet of lives, and depend upon Him wholly.

Though this teaching is, in some ways, difficult to understand, in other ways, it is really quite simple. And this was a problem. As the people began to understand what Jesus was saying, their perspective on Him began to change.

Hard Teachings

Listen to the response of the people to this teaching,

60 Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?” (John 6:60, NLT)

The New Living Translation says they said it was hard to understand, but that’s not the best translation. They were saying it was a difficult teaching. They understood it, but thought it was hard. They asked how anyone could accept it. Their issue wasn’t that they didn’t understand it, it was that they did and they didn’t like it!

I believe this is the most common objection to the teachings of Christ, even in the modern time. I do not think people actually find most of the teachings of the Bible hard to understand. The issue is that we do understand them and don’t like them. We read the Bible and say, well that can’t be what it means! We object to the Bible not because it’s hard to understand, but because it’s hard. 100 years ago, G.K Chesterton arrived at the same conclusion. He said,

The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.[2]

That was the case for many of the disciples of Jesus. They understood what He was saying, but they didn’t like it. It seemed far too hard.

Jesus did not apologize or water things down, but he pushed back.

61 Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again? 63 The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.) 65 Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”

66 At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. 67 Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” 68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.” 70 Then Jesus said, “I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.” 71 He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, who would later betray him. (John 6:61-71, NLT)

Jesus’ statement was that they wouldn’t believe no matter what he said or what they saw. Even if they saw Jesus ascend to heaven, they still would not believe. They were not struggling because they didn’t understand, they were struggling because they didn’t want to embrace what He was saying. He was speaking truth and life, but they refused to believe.

At this, many of Jesus’ followers stopped following Him. They went home disenfranchised because they didn’t get what they wanted from Jesus. It wasn’t because Jesus wasn’t able to give them what they needed, but because he didn’t give them what they wanted. They wanted someone who would entertain them, who would make their lives easier, who would make them feel good about who they were. They were ok with Jesus telling other people to do things that were difficult, but the moment he brought things down to them and told them what was necessary to be his follower, they were no longer interested.

This should cause us to take a long look at ourselves and see where we might have similar attitudes. Is there an area where you know the Bible speaks clearly but you are unwilling to obey? Is there some area you are unwilling to surrender to Christ? What might you be holding on to that Jesus says you must let go of? When we choose to ignore his teaching, we too are walking away from Him, and we are depriving ourselves of the food we desperately need. Please think this through. Weigh the consequences of your actions. There is a lot at stake.

Jesus wasn’t surprised people left Him. He knew it would happen. But it is still one of the saddest stories in the Bible. These people had the bread of life in front of them and left the food that could save them and fulfill them on the table untouched and untasted.

Jesus then turned to his disciples and asked a question that also makes me sad: “are you also going to leave?” I think he knew the answer to the question, but it was important for the disciples to decide whether they believed Jesus enough to follow Him or not. As sad as Jesus’ question makes me, Peter’s answer makes me even more happy.

68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69, NLT)

Peter declares that going anywhere else would be foolish, because Jesus alone is the One who has the words of life. He knew that Jesus was “the Holy One of God.” What a bold declaration! And if we can make such a declaration, then we will reach the same conclusion—there is nowhere we should turn to besides Jesus, because He alone has the answers. If we truly believe that, then we will do what Jesus said—we will seek after him as fervently as a hungry man seeks food.

The concluding verses of chapter 6 are a prophecy of what is to come. Jesus tells the disciples that though he chose 12, he knew that even among them one would abandon him. John helpfully reminds us that this was in reference to Judas Iscariot, who would eventually betray Jesus. This is a reminder that just because someone is in the church it doesn’t necessarily mean they are a true follower of Jesus. There will be some who are simply going through the motions, who will not ultimately entrust their lives to Jesus. We should not be surprised by this. But we should examine our own hearts carefully to see where our true allegiance lies. Don’t follow the path of Judas or the disciples who left—follow the path of Peter instead.

Conclusion

If I am honest, I feel somewhat like Jesus’ disciples did in reading these words. Many times I do not seek Jesus with the same fervency that I seek food and water. This passage should serve as a corrective. In reading it, I am reminded of the truth of what Jesus says. He alone has the words of life, and looking to anywhere or anyone else for the satisfaction, direction, or hope that Jesus alone can provide is a fool’s errand. My hope this morning is that you will recognize the truth of what Jesus says as well and then embrace it.

Let me challenge you to look at your life and ask what are the areas where you are shutting Christ out? Often we like things the way they are, and when Christ tells us we need to change, we resist. But we should remember that He is always working for what is best for us. I have heard the analogy of a person with a closed fist, holding tightly onto something. As long as we hold on tightly to the things we have now, our fist is closed and there is no room for God to give us something better. But if we open our hands to let go of what we hold dear and trust that God is working for good, we will find that God replaces those things we treasure with something far better.

What are you holding on to? Is there an attitude you know God wants to change, but you don’t want to? Are you refusing to cede control of your life to Christ? Is there something you know He wants you to do, but you resist because you are scared of what might happen? Are there teachings you ignore just because they are hard? Are there areas of your life where you have forgotten about the Lord altogether? My challenge to you today is to remember that though these teachings of Jesus are hard, they are also true. He alone is our hope, our strength, and our power. We can walk away from Him unchanged, but to do so is to leave the greatest feast uneaten. I implore you to seek Him, to take Him into you, to eat and drink deeply of the person of Jesus. If you do, I believe you will find a level of satisfaction and peace you never knew was possible.

©February 7th, 2021 by Rev. Rick Goettsche SERIES: John

[1] Boice, James Montgomery. The Gospel of John: An Expositional Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2005.

[2] Chesteron, G.K. What’s Wrong with the World. Dover Publishing, 2007