EATING FLESH & DRINKING BLOOD. WHAT?!

St. Charles | Bob Ingle
June 1, 2025
John 6:52-59

“Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.” John 6:52-59 (NIV)

1. A Squabbling CROWD

“Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’” John 6:52 (NIV)

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”” John 6:51 (NIV)

2. A Shocking COMMAND

“Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” John 6:53 (NIV)

-> Jesus is not speaking of COMMUNION nor CANNIBALISIM.

“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:54 (NIV)

“For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:40 (NIV)

“The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.” John 6:63 (NIV)

3. A Saving COVENANT

*Jesus Promises Every Person Who Believes & Receives Him:

#1: Eternal Life NOW.

‘Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood HAS eternal life…’ John 6:54a (NIV)

#2: Physical Resurrection LATER.

“…I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:54b (NIV)

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” Philippians 3:20-21 (NIV)

#3: Personal Communion FOREVER.

“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” John 6:56-58 (NIV)