John – Chapter 6:52-58
6:52 “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat” – We should not underestimate the scandal of Jesus’ words, as they quarrel angrily with one another. Their words echo the complaint of those in the wilderness (see Psalm 78:19-20). While some think the scandal is an act of cannibalism, the real scandal is that Jesus claims that He is the God of Israel who can and will prepare a new table for His people in the wilderness. 6:53-54 “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life” – Now Jesus introduces the drinking of His blood. The mention of blood next to flesh is to indicate that the “Living Bread” (6:51) is life-giving by way of the shedding of blood, a sacrifice. Faith unites itself to Christ where He is and where He works. There is no work of Christ where there is no flesh given and no blood shed. The only other mention of Jesus’ blood outside this context is in 19:34, with blood and water flowing from His side. The flowing of blood from Jesus’ side at His death is not only an indication of His physical death but also a depiction of the giving of Jesus’ blood for the life of the world. There is nothing in the story of the manna given to Israel in the wilderness to prepare them for the mention of “drinking” the “blood.” The Torah of Moses expressly forbade it (Deut 12:23). We are to recall the context of the Passover and the lamb. Jesus is the “Lamb of God” and the crucifixion occurs at the time of the slaughter of the lambs (Jn 19:14; 19:36; Ex 12:1-20, esp. 46). The sign of the blood freed Israel from death. We also recall the context of the “blood of the covenant” of Moses (Ex 24:3-8) and the promise of a new covenant (Jer 31:31-34). These two texts also lie behind the Words of Institution (Mt 26:28; Mk 14:24; Lk 22:20). Note also the variation in 6:51 with the title “the Son of Man.” The verb “to eat” is present tense, also pointing to the Lord’s Supper. And also in 6:54 those who eat and drink receive eternal life. The life given on the Last Day lies already in the voluntary sacrifice of Jesus, the life which the cross wins. 6:55-58 “He remains in Me…