Does eating his flesh and drinking his blood mean to “believe” in Jesus? The eating and drinking are symbolic… and the disciples left due to a misunderstanding?
If it’s symbolic and it only means to believe, why did the disciples leave Jesus and return to their former way of life and no longer accompany him? John 6:66
Jesus “already” taught the disciples the requirement to believe
The definition of a disciple is a believer and follower of Jesus.
Before the discourse took place, Jesus already taught the disciples the “requirement” to obtain eternal life, which is to “believe” in him. They did not leave him then. John 3:15,16,18,36: 5:24.
Verse 66 shows that the disciples were believing in Jesus prior to the discourse. They gave up their “way of life” to follow him, but after the discourse many returned back to their former ways of living. To give up your own “way of living” to follow another person shows major commitment and belief in that person you are following.
Some disciples had accompanied and followed the Lord for over two years. Imagine you giving up your life to “literally” follow another person for over two years! They believed!
Our “all knowing God” misled people about eternal life?
Jesus verwies auf das ewige Leben 13 Mal im Brot-des-Lebens-Diskurs, mehr als in jedem anderen Kapitel des Neuen Testaments.
Why would the greatest teacher ever to walk the earth allow his very own disciples to leave him based on a misunderstanding about eternal life?
Knowing the importance of eternal life, which is the reason he came down from heaven, would Jesus not know that his words would create this misunderstanding?
No correction from Jesus here
They questioned Jesus. How can this man give us his flesh to eat (52)? Instead of correcting a misunderstanding, Jesus gave an ultimatum:
Amen, amen, ich sage euch: Wenn ihr nicht das Fleisch des Menschensohns esst und sein Blut trinkt, habt ihr kein Leben in euch. 53
Jesus vividly misled people?
Since God is all knowing (omniscient), why would he provide such vivid literal imagery that would mislead people?:
Wer mein Fleisch isst und mein Blut trinkt, hat das ewige Leben, und ich werde ihn auferwecken am letzten Tag. Denn mein Fleisch ist die wahre Speise, und mein Blut ist der wahre Trank. Wer mein Fleisch isst und mein Blut trinkt, bleibt in mir und ich in ihm. Wie mich der lebendige Vater gesandt hat und ich durch den Vater das Leben habe, so wird auch derjenige, der sich von mir ernährt, durch mich das Leben haben. Dies ist das Brot, das vom Himmel herabgekommen ist. Im Gegensatz zu Ihren Vorfahren, die davon aßen und trotzdem starben, wird jeder, der von diesem Brot isst, für immer leben. 54-58
No correction from Jesus there
They questioned Jesus again. This saying is hard; who can accept it (60)? Instead of correcting a misunderstanding again, Jesus says, “does this shock you?” 61
He then allows the disciples to leave and asks if the apostles are going to leave too? 66,67
To say the disciples left Jesus because of a misunderstanding, is to say that our omniscient God knowingly misled people about a teaching on eternal life, that he preached using his very own words.
Jesus würde sie "nicht" zurückweisen oder verlieren, wenn sie glaubten
God is “all knowing;” omniscient. Jesus knew that many disciples would leave him that day. So, before the new teachings, Jesus explained to the “crowd” of non-believers that he would not reject or lose anyone that comes to him unless they were not granted by his Father’s will. 37-39.
Dann erklärt Jesus in Vers 40 den Willen des Vaters:
Denn das ist der Wille meines Vaters, dass jeder die siehe die Sohn und "glaubt" an ihn kann haben ewiges Lebenund ich werde ihn am jüngsten Tag auferwecken.
If Jesus were to reject or lose a disciple to something other than “lack of faith” in him, he would not have obeyed the Father’s will.
Some say John 6:63 confirms that Jesus was speaking symbolically. Does this verse confirm that Jesus in fact was speaking symbolically?
Verse 63: It is the spirit that gives life, while “the” flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
What are the words he just spoke? Several times Jesus spoke, eat my flesh (7) and drink my blood (3) to obtain eternal life.
Was bedeutet "keinen Nutzen"? Es bedeutet "keine Hilfe oder Nutzen".
Did Jesus say “my” flesh is of no avail? No, he said “the” flesh is of no avail.
The term “the flesh” is used many times in the New Testament to describe human nature separated from God’s grace.
Is Jesus’ flesh of no avail? Nein!
The Lord is perfect and sinless. His flesh is holy and pure. His flesh and spirit rose from the dead. War sein Fleisch am Kreuz nicht hilfreich oder nützlich? Jesus is referring to “our” sinful flesh, which is of no avail. It is your spirit that gives life, your flesh is of no help or benefit. Jesus feeds our spirit, which gives life.
The Flesh
Many disciples had natural faith which is of “the flesh.” You need to see to believe. You can’t believe in God beyond what you can comprehend. Your faith is of the flesh and of this world, not of the spirit which only God can see and feed. This faith is weak and lacks trust in God.
“The flesh is of no avail” 63
The Spirit
Supernatural faith is of the spirit, that is fed by Jesus, and means to believe beyond scientific understanding and laws of nature; of the miraculous similar to his supernatural birth and the multiplying of bread and fish. Having “complete” faith and trust in Jesus requires you to believe in God beyond what you can comprehend.
"The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” 63
To read about supernatural vs. natural faith, klicken Sie hier.
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