Page 70 - Gospel of John_teachers lesson_cp 1-10_Neat

John 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except
ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in
you.
John 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal
life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

John 6:56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me,
and I in him.

Lesson Notes:

(John 6:53) – To dispel all disputes He tells the conflicted audience that if they fail to eat (fully
consume) His body (spiritually) and blood which is the life inside His body, like the yeast inside
the living bread, they will not have life.
(John 6:54) – Only those that consume His body as the bread of life (His words), fully devouring
all the words of God leaving none of them behind as inapplicable or un-useful, will be raised up,
from death, at the last day. The last day is synonymous with the final day of judgement when
the fate of the living and the resurrected dead will be determined.
The great day of judgment was well known and referenced among Jews. It was depicted in the
annual celebration of Rosh Hashanah, the new year festival that initiated the beginning of the
civil Jewish calendar. All Israel waited to know God’s assessment (judgement) of them in
review of the outgoing year. The outcome of their assessment would determine a blessing or
penance for the oncoming year. Rosh Hashanah was celebrated as a rehearsal for the final day
of judgment when God would determine the eternal fate of the living and the dead. (Matthew
6:11, Mark 12:36, Romans 2:5, IIPeter 2:9)
The declaration imposed a threat to the eternal status of the Jews debating His authenticity
while adding substance to the Messiah’s claim to His divine status.
(John 6:55) – “His flesh is meat indeed…”. The Greek word for flesh used here is “sarx”, which
is the skin stripped away to expose the underlying meat. The Son of God (God actively present on
earth), is the (living) word of God made flesh, exposing the meat, – “the revelation of truth” to
the world. Exposing a world living in darkness to the light of truth was a pronounced part of His
ministry.

“His blood is drink indeed…” is a metaphor for a drink offering, illustrated in the Old Testament
as a libation of oil or wine completely poured out upon the altar unto God. (Genesis 39:14,
Exodus 29:40) The drink offering represents emptying the contents of a vessel, withholding
nothing, to honor God. The Son of God (God actively present on earth) completely poured out His
life, withholding nothing to give life to man. Consuming the drink offering is a spiritual
metaphor for the believer becoming the emptied vessel in exchange for the life the Son of God
(God actively present on earth) has poured out for them.
(John 6:56) – Consumption of the flesh and blood offering, which represents the revealed truth
and poured out life of the Son of God (God actively present on earth) gives man a place of spiritual
residence (dwelling) and access to God.

69