I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. ~ John 6:51-59

In the reference above, Jesus uses very strong language, a language that would make the causal, uncommitted follower very uncomfortable. He speaks of eating his flesh and drinking his blood. Jesus did not mean this literally, but figuratively. And even in a figurative manner, it was more than many of the Jews could handle.

Eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of man is a call to commitment. Often Jesus would say and do things on purpose to test the hearts of the people, to prove their motives, and to weed out those who were not committed to him.

The faith Jesus calls us into is an “all in commitment” to follow him. Eating his flesh and drinking his blood represents complete faithfulness to him. Many of the Jews in John 6 were interested in following Jesus as long as he was doing miracles and keeping them fed, but once the call to commitment was issued, many turned away.

Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. ~ John 6:60-69 

Jesus’s word’s regarding eating his flesh and drinking his blood had a true deep spiritual meaning, yet they were said in such a way that they would drive away those who were not completely committed to Jesus. Because of this hard saying, many of those who had followed him “casually” or not with their whole heart, were offended and turned away, but the 12 disciples (except for Judas) remained faithful. I am certain (based on the whole narrative of the gospels) that Peter did not yet understand the depth of meaning within the words of Jesus regarding eating his flesh and drinking his blood. It didn’t matter, because Peter was his disciple, and he knew that Jesus had the words of eternal life. In due time the meaning would be understood.

The sad reality is too many Christians have not yet learned the lesson contained in these verses. Eternal life is in Jesus, and when I say eternal life, I am not referring to punching your ticket to Heaven. I am talking about a walk of faith that is so dependent on Jesus,  it is as if you are actually eating his flesh and drinking his blood for your spiritual well being.

We eat physical food to nurture our physical bodies because our physical life depends on it. In like manner, Jesus is the true bread which came down from heaven, and spiritual life is dependent on him. Without Jesus, i.e., without fellowship with the Son of God we cannot maintain good spiritual health and continue good spiritual growth.

Jesus is the bread of life and the table is set before us. Thus the call comes to us all to come and partake of him who gave his flesh and whose blood was shed for us.

May God give us all understanding.