“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” (John 6:53)

What does it mean to eat the flesh and drink the blood? Is this speaking of one literally consuming the flesh and blood of Jesus? I do not believe that this is the meaning. Even under the New Covenant the consuming of blood is proscribed (Acts 15:28-29 cf. Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:10-11; Deuteronomy 12:16, 23).

Let’s consider the context. (1) One who comes to Jesus and believes in Him will not hunger or thirst (John 6:35). (2) One who sees Jesus and believes in Him will be raised up at the last day (John 6:40). (3) One who believes in Jesus has everlasting life (John 6:47). (4) One who eats of the bread which comes down from heaven will live forever (John 6:50-51). (5) One who eats His flesh and drinks his blood has eternal life and will be raised up at the last day (John 6:54). (6) He who eats His flesh and drinks His blood abides in Him (John 6:56). (7) The words of Jesus are life (John 6:63). (8) Jesus has the words of eternal life (John 6:68).

There are equivalent expressions of the same thought (John 6:47 cf., John 6:50-51; John 6:40 cf., John 6:54). To eat and drink is to believe in Jesus as the Bread of Life. It is to consume what He has to offer. This includes His life (John 6:51) and His words (John 6:63, 68).

The idea of eating the message is not entirely new. Both Ezekiel (Ezekiel 2:9-3:3) and John (Revelation 10:8-11) were told to eat the message that they were to proclaim. We are to consume Jesus and His message. It will change us. It will give us life. May we continue to feed on Him.