Jesus Flesh

(The email below addresses whether the bread turns into the flesh - the physical human flesh - of Jesus or is intended to symbolize the flesh of Jesus broken for us on the cross. The Bible's reply to this 'Jesus flesh' question is further below.)

Regarding question 14 (see Jesus Bread Wine), I think your comments on this question is (sic) an insult to Catholics and Orthodox Christians, not to mention on Christ himself. In John 6:48-66, Jesus states six (6) times that unless you eat his flesh you will not have life within you. Notice that at the end (verse 66) - "Many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him." Did Jesus chase after them and say "Wait a minute - you misunderstood me. I didn't mean my flesh literally - it's just a symbol of what I meant." No - instead he asked the apostles if they would leave him too. But Peter answered "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We BELIEVE and know that you are the Holy One of God." (John 6:68).

There is only one other passage in the Bible that talks about anyone leaving Jesus - that was Judas and we know how things turned out for him.

For 2,000 years the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches have taught the real presence in the Eucharist. Any simple search of writings from the Apostles time on will show that.

The teaching of the Church on the Eucharist is not that His sacrifice is being made over and over, but that it is one continuous representation. That the consecration of the bread and wine join through time to Christ's death on the cross. In Revelation - it states that John saw the Lamb "looking as if it had been slain" (Revelation 5:6). A sign of the sacrifice that takes place each time on the Alter when the bread and wine are consecrated. God stands outside of time - He is not held to the same "limitations" that we are (for all things are possible with God).

Bill Wehnert
Racine, Wisconsin

GodVoter.org response:

Thank you for your email. During His earthly ministry, Jesus referred to Himself in many different ways, including "bread" (John 6:35), "light" (John 8:12), "door" (John 10:7) and "vine" (John 15:5), not because he was a plant or made of flour but to teach the people of the antiquity with references to which they could relate. If Jesus really wanted the crowd to eat his flesh as you state, He would have begun to slice off his flesh, or at least ordered the disciples to recover and eat his dead flesh after his crucifixion. Instead, Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven in his uneaten body. The "flesh" Jesus is referring to is His sacrifice for our sins on the cross that we must partake to be saved. Why did Jesus speak so forcefully in the passage you referred and why didn't He chase after the departing "disciples"? The immediately preceding passage (John 6:1-47) states that after witnessing Jesus miraculously feed thousands of people, the crowd had followed Him to "take Him by force and make Him king" (they wanted Him to lead a rebellion against the Romans). Jesus wanted none of it and wanted them to disperse, hence the forceful words.

Everyone, not just Judas Iscariot, left Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Roman Catholicism dates to the 6th century, when the bishop of Rome gained ascendancy over four rival bishops (of Jerusalem, Alexandria, Constantinople and Antioch) and claimed to be Peter's heir as means to justify his newly created position of "Pope." Orthodox and Roman Catholicism having taught a falsehood for 1,400 years proves its tragedy, not validity.

Jesus' declaration on the cross, "It is finished!" (John 19:30) precludes "continuous representation" of the Catholic Eucharist, which is a fallacy used to enforce Vatican's claimed monopoly access to Christ and salvation.

For Biblical truth, please set aside the Catechism of the Catholic Church and other "writings" by Catholic, Orthodox or other writers and read just the Bible. For some resources that can help, please click here. May the Lord bless you with His truth.