“Till men have faith in Christ, their best services are but glorious sins.”
Thomas Brooks
In last Sunday’s sermon, a difficult passage was examined. Here is a portion of that text, So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, 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 feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:53-54) Many, many commentators, through the centuries, have tried to link this passage directly with the institution of the Lord’s Supper. To do this is to violate many principles of sound interpretation (hermeneutics). Here are a few arguments opposing this connection:
- The Lord’s Supper has not been instituted yet so the heart of the conversation is meaningless for the hearers.
- Those Jesus was addressing were not believers and the Lord’s Supper is given to the church not for the world at large.
- The eating and drinking of John 6 is unto salvation while the Lord’s Supper is for those already saved.
- The Lord’s Supper does not produce the results which this “eating and drinking” produces, namely salvation.
- The Greek verbs indicate a one-time act (aorists) not a continual participation, like the Lord’s Supper requires.
- Quoting James Boice directly, “This last is the greatest reason, for it is perfectly obvious that many thousands of persons partake each week of the Lord’s Supper and yet do not possess that eternal life that Jesus says results from a true feeding upon him.”
So what is happening in this passage? The feeding on the flesh of Jesus is simply to be equated with believing in Jesus. Compare the following two verses:
“Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:54)
“For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:40)
Jesus does the interpreting for us! Would you be raised up on the last day by Jesus? Would you have eternal life? Then feed on his flesh or look on the Son and believe in him. Have a blessed day and we will see many of you on Sunday.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Dale
