Today, focus is on the reactions to Jesus’ requiring that believers also must receive his blood and body. Jesus did not cancel the earlier meanings of Passover and covenant meals. Rather, heretofore hidden meanings and unseen aspects of Atonement, Redemption and Salvation are being unveiled. The Passover meal speaks to deliverance from condemnation, death, and wrath against sin as well as an entrance into covenant relationship with GOD through conditions of conformity, inheritance, and obedience before a proclamation of continuing sacred law. Both the meal that Esau received from his brother Jacob, and the meal Isaac received from his son Jacob, sealed the disinheritance of Esau and the election of Jacob, who later would be named Israel. The meal at Mizpeh shared by Jacob with Laban established the independence and integrity of Jacob critical to his becoming a nation fulfilling divine promise and covenant through Abraham. The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Bruce” (Level 7 with 108,493 points, a member since August 12, 2007) posted the following:
If Jesus' teaching about eating his body was a metaphor, why didn't he explain it when many disciples were leaving him?
John 6:53-55: “Most assuredly, I say to 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 him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed."
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?”
66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts? And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered. Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. (Malachi 3: 14-18, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Fed From The Altar? (06/19/2017); GOD’s Peculiar People (12/11/2016); Frequency of The Lord’s Supper? (10/30/2016); The Loaves and Fishes (08/09/2016); To Drink Holy Blood? (02/16/2015); Modern Communion? (08/11/2014); How Can Christians Believe? (08/12/2014)
“Bruce”, here are some points that many mature Christians have found helpful:
1. The ministry on earth of Jesus Christ was not only intended to re-awaken and spark interest in sacred knowledge and practices among the Jews that were being forgotten, supplanted and suppressed by both religious and worldly customs and traditions, an entirely new testament was being introduced capable of establishing a new covenant people.
2. It had been more than 400 years since Malachi, the “last” prophet after the model of Moses and Samuel. There were many immutable and unchanging principles and standards acknowledged as the “law and the prophets,” however, emphasis on interpreting and keeping of the law became a denial of imparted spirit, personal relationship where GOD is the Father, and the possibility of service to both GOD and mankind as sacred spokespersons (we say, prophets), rather than as priests having responsibility for making sacrifices.
3. The process for pubic ministry used by the Savior was not that for exchanging or transmitting secular information. Jesus provided proclamation (broadcasting official decrees), comfort, edification, exhortation, and prophetic demonstrations that used actions in place of words. Those who came to Jesus were led to discover their own commitment and faith on the basis of guidance and things revealed.
4. In the same way parables were used to identify the extent of preparation and understanding among the people within the crowds, Christ provided commandments, judgments, ordinances, and sacred practices (we say, sacraments) that would crystallize and make manifest hidden and unseen faith. Separation of the sheep and the goats are begun on the same platform as the separation from Eden: faith as ones own spirit content along with trust.
There is far more to be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, 5. Jesus did reveal that emblems of bread and wine were to be used by those on the earth to receive him into oneself. The divine triumph over death and sin requires operations of flesh and Spirit at the same time. There must be a complement and matching of Creator and created in oneness without sameness. Jesus is revealed as the divine High Priest during his last Passover supper with his apostles. The new testament with its peculiar gift of fulfilling sacred law through faith and righteousness is sealed through a covenant meal.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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