Eat my Flesh, Drink My Blood

Mark Brumels
(Based in part on a message given by Adrian Despress 7/24/97)

Introduction

John 6:53-58 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever."

What does Jesus mean here when he says that we must eat his flesh and drink his blood? Why would he use an illustration like this?

There was a time I would have thought that Jesus was talking about communion. But if we look at what has happened before this I think that we will get a better understanding of why he used this illustration and what he is talking about.

1. Why Follow Jesus - John 6:2-13

Why did the people follow Jesus in vs. 2? (Because of the show?)

Why do people follow Jesus today? Why do you follow Jesus?

Do people ever come to church just for the show?

We come to church to be blessed, right? NOT

The reason to go to church is to glorify God; to give Him the blessing; to give him pleasure. Church is like an orchestra; the pastor is the conductor, the people are the instruments, and God is the audience.

Jesus decides to spend some time with his disciples to teach them. But the crowd comes along. So Jesus uses this as an opportunity to teach his disciples.

How does he teach them? (By testing them, by showing them his power, showing them to care for the needs of others.)

Don’t you just love it? Look at poor Philip. There were 5000 men, plus women and children. Some have estimated that there may have been as many as 15,000 people. And Jesus tells him, "Philip you feed them."

For whose benefit do you think this miracle was done: the people or the disciples?

How many baskets were left over? How many disciples were there? One basket for each disciple. Do you think that the disciples learned anything? (Who do you go to when things look impossible? JESUS!!)

Many times God will bless your socks off because the next day you are going to be challenged.

(vs. 16-21) That very night they were alone in the middle of the sea of Galilee, with a overwhelming storm, and the boat was starting to sink. They were scared. They needed the lesson they had seen earlier in the day. (This is where Jesus comes to them walking on the water.)

2. Free Food! - John 6:14, 22-31

What was the people’s response to Jesus miracle? FREE FOOD! Let’s make this guy king!

(22-25) The next day they go searching for him.

(26-27) Jesus sees right through them. You want free food.

What does he tell them they should be looking for? What does he mean by that?

(28-30) So what do they ask him for – a miraculous sign. Then they suggest one: mana. They just can’t get off of this free food kick.

So Jesus decides to use their train of thought to try to get through to them.

They wanted food. What was he wanting them to want? (Himself)

3. JESUS the Bread of Life - John 6:32-52

I am the bread of life.

Come to me

But they doubt him, "Don’t we know his mom and dad? Who does he think he is?"

But he insists – I am the bread of life – you need me.

4. Eat my flesh. Drink my blood - John 6:53-58 .

He wasn’t talking about literally eating his flesh. Later on in vs. 63 he says "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing."

He was saying. You need me. As much as you are wanting your free food, want me. I am God. I am all you need.

I must be more important to you than food; than air, than anything else in this world.

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Last Updated:  02/26/01 07:15 PM About this page contact: Mark Brumels