Jesus had just miraculously fed about 20,000 people from a boy’s lunch, then they said to Jesus, “Lord, give us this bread always.” (John 6:34) This was Christ’s response, “I am the LIVING BREAD which came down from heaven. If anyone EATS OF THIS BREAD, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is MY FLESH, which I shall give for the life of the world.”
The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “HOW CAN THIS MAN GIVE US HIS FLESH TO EAT?” (John 6:51-52) Jesus was speaking METAPHORICALLY; to consume means to “take in” so we TAKE Christ’s teaching INTO OUR HEARTS. Verse 63, He explains, “It is the Spirit who GIVES LIFE; the flesh PROFITS NOTHING. The words that I speak to you ARE SPIRIT, AND THEY ARE LIFE.” (John 6:63) A metaphor is a figure of speech that describes an object or action in a way that ISN’T LITERALLY TRUE but helps explain an idea or make a comparison.
Well, they just did not understand what Jesus was talking about! They said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” (John 6:60)
From that time many of His disciples went back and WALKED WITH HIM NO MORE. Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:66-68) This must be what Jesus meant when He said, “…many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham