"... but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." (John 6:53-59)

"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. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just 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. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." (John 6:53-59) 

Are they supposed to literally eat Jesus' flesh and drink his blood?

Jesus is not speaking of people literally eating his flesh and drinking his blood. Such an interpretation - made by many - is grotesque. Such an interpretation is inaccurate and unrealistic.

Here Jesus continues with the metaphorical use of bread and eating, which also completely confused many of the institutional temple priests who had assembled to hear him in a synagogue in Capernaum. This is evidenced in the previous verse:

Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" (John 6:52)

This illustrates that Jesus, who was teaching in a synagogue as would a Rabbi of those times, was using an analogy that many in his audience did not understand. In John 6:44-51, Jesus describes that the loving servant of God supplies the "food" that ultimately satisfies the spirit-person (each of us). Was Jesus speaking of physical food? No.

Was Jesus speaking literally?

Jesus clearly differentiated from physical food by saying that this "bread of life" enables one to live forever. Yet the crowd did not understand. In fact, John describes that many of Jesus’ disciples left him during this sermon, saying:

“This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” (John 6:60)

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. (John 6:66)

Just as he was not talking about physical food, Jesus was not talking about people actually eating the flesh of his physical body. He was not talking about people drinking the blood of his physical body. Just as he used the bread symbolically as an analogy, his is using his flesh and blood symbolically. Jesus certainly was not promoting cannibalism.

"The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life." (John 6:63)

What does 'eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood' symbolize?

"Flesh" symbolized Jesus' teachings, and "blood" symbolizes his relationship with God. 

The word "flesh" is being translated from the Greek word σάρξ (sarx), which can mean "flesh" but also, according to Strong's lexicon, "as the symbol of what is external." Jesus assumed a physical body of flesh in order to give us his teachings. These are the external elements of Jesus.

"Blood" is being translated from the Greek word αἷμα (haima). This can mean blood when used literally, but when used metaphorically, can mean "the seat of life" as this is what blood was considered back then. Jesus is thus referring to his essence - the core of his being, which is his relationship with God.

Jesus' used his life to serve God. He also taught others to love and serve God. This was his primary mission. Therefore, to be taking Jesus' teachings to heart and following them would mean that one would also begin loving and serving God. 

By loving and serving God, we are partaking of the spiritual food Jesus is speaking of, and his very being, because Jesus' mission and purpose was to turn lovers of mammon to lovers of God.

As for "son of man," remember that the Greek word translated to “son” is υἱός (huios). This is more appropriately defined, as taken from the Greek lexicon, to be "used to describe one who depends on another or is his follower."Thusυἱόςwould be moreappropriatelytranslated as loving servant.

Thus with the Greek phrase υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, Jesus is referring to himself as the servant of humanity, becauseτοῦ ἀνθρώπου is translated to either "of man" or "of mankind" or "of humanity."

To describe oneself as the "servant of humanity"is a humble self-description, consistent with Jesus' other teachings, such as when he washed the feet of his disciples and told them:

"Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant"(Mark 10:43)

Thus we know that Jesus felt himself to be the servant of others, as he gave them God's message.

This self-description is consistent with other servants of God also describing themselves (or God referring to them) as "servant of humanity," (mistranslated as "son of man"). Consider David's statement to God about himself:

"O Lord, what is man that you care for him, the son of man [servant of humanity] that you think of him?" (Psalms 144:3)

While creative and speculative ecclesiastical commentators on the Bible say that David is referring to Jesus, this would be wholly inconsistent with the text before and after this statement. David was communing with and praising God, while discussing his relationship with God.

Furthermore, God called Ezekiel the "son of man" [servant of humanity] at least 60 times in the Book of Ezekiel. Job also referred to himself as a "son of man" [servant of humanity].

The loving servant of God is also the servant of all of humanity because his mission is to deliver God’s message, which, if heard clearly, serves to deliver us back to our original relationship with God.

What is the 'bread that came down from heaven'?

Jesus is referring back to his statement in John 6:32.

"This is the bread that came down from heaven" because Jesus has humbly surrendered his life to God, and is enjoying a loving relationship with God. This relationship with God is "bread" or "food" because this sustains him.

If we assimilate Jesus' devotion by reading and carefully reviewing his teachings and doing our best to establish our own loving service relationship with God, we would effectively be 'consuming' this "bread that came down from heaven."

This is speaking of spiritual consumption - the understanding of those teachings and the acceptance and following of those teachings.

The key part of Jesus' statement illustrating this analogy is:

“Just 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.”

What do sending and feeding have in common? The "bread of life" that Jesus is delivering is the teachings of God’s message. Hearing those teachings, and following in Jesus’ footsteps by devoting our life to God is the feeding.And what is the substance of the core teaching and example of Jesus?

“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment."(Matt. 22:37-38)

And finally, how does this relate to: "and I will raise him up on the last day"? Does this relate to some far off day in the future where the world will end and Jesus will come down riding a big horse to round up all those who are waiting (some for thousands of years apparently)? This "world is coming to an end" thesis has been proposed and abused by ecclesiastical sectarian teachers for centuries. Quite simply, this is a misinterpretation of Jesus' teachings.

What does 'the last day' mean?

"The last day" is quite simply the day that each of our bodies dies and we each leave our body. We each will have a unique last day as our physical body dies. On this day, we are torn away from our family, our possessions, our reputation, and all our plans.

Also on this day our next destination is determined. If we have continued to live lives of self-centeredness, focused upon our own pleasure, we will not be raised up by Jesus. We will remain in this hellish physical world, away from God.

If, however, we take the teachings of Jesus into our hearts, and learn to love and serve the Supreme Being as Jesus taught and showed us, then yes, Jesus will raise us and escort us back to the spiritual dimension after the death of our physical body.

This is what is meant by "will live forever."

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live ..." (John 11:25-26)

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26) 

What does resurrection mean?

This statement* by Jesus has been taken out of context and largely misinterpreted by many teachers.

Jesus’ statement follows one of Jesus’ students, Martha, saying the following:

"I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." (John 11:24)

This followed Jesus saying:

"Your brother will rise again." (John 11:23)

We can see by the other statements regarding this event that both Martha and her sister Mary (who had also rubbed Jesus' feet with scented oil) were devoted students of Jesus, as was their brother, Lazarus, whose body lay dead two miles away in Bethany.

First, we should consider Martha’s statement. Martha, a student of Jesus, was reflecting on an accepted principle among Jesus' students as she discussed resurrection. The “last day,” translated from the Greek phrase ἐσχάτῃ ἡμέρᾳἡ, does not refer to some end-of-the-world scenario thousands of years later. It refers to the last day of our physical body. The end of our physical lifetime.

The last day is the time of death. Martha understood from Jesus’ teachings that the spirit-person within will rise out of the body at the time of death. This is taken from the Greek word ἀνίστημι (anistēmi), which means “to cause to rise up, raise up” or “raise up from laying down” or “to raise up from the dead” according to Thayer's Greek lexicon.

Mary also understood that a person will leave the body after death, and will hopefully rise and return to the spiritual dimension - which Jesus previously referred to as the “resurrection of the righteous” (Luke 14:14).

Why does Jesus say he is the resurrection?

But then Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.” What did he mean by that?

Let’s consider this carefully. Who did Jesus say he was? Jesus had previously described himself clearly:

“For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me.” (John 5:36)

If the Supreme Being has sent Jesus, that makes Jesus God’s messenger. This means Jesus is God's representative. Just consider what this means in terms of the authority of Jesus. He is representing God’s authority.

Let’s compare this to, say, the ambassador of a country living in a foreign country. When the ambassador goes to the prime minister of the other country and makes an official statement on behalf of their government, this statement carries the weight of the ambassador's government and president behind it.

While the ambassador is himself or herself not the president, nor the entire government, the ambassador represents them. Therefore, such an ambassador could say something like “I am empowered by the government,” or something to that extent, and be absolutely correct, because he/she represents their government.

Jesus was trying to convey the same type of message to Martha. He was stating that because he was representing the Supreme Being, he provides a doorway back to God and the spiritual realm.

The reason he says "I am the resurrection" is because "resurrection" in this context relates to the restoration of one's spiritual position. This means one's relationship with the Supreme Being. 

And because Jesus is introducing his followers to God, he is helping restore their relationship with God. In other words, Jesus' teachings provide a pathway to resurrection - our rising to the spiritual realm.

Why does Jesus say he is the 'life'?

What does Jesus mean by "life?" Jesus also described life indirectly when he told a prospective student to:

“Let the dead bury their own dead.” (Matt. 8:22)

In both this case and in the statement above, Jesus is describing “life” as loving, serving and pleasing God. Doing God’s will out of love is Jesus’ purpose and mission. This is truly “life” in Jesus' teachings. 

The “dead” people who were burying a dead relative were "dead" according to Jesus because they were not loving and serving God with their lives. Rather, they were focused on the temporary things of the physical world. They are focused on things that die.

Jesus confirms these definitions as he says “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”

Is this about belief or trust?

Actually, the meaning of "believe in me" has been misunderstood and misused by some sectarian teachers who teach this means all we need to do is believe that Jesus died for our sins and we are saved.

The word “believes” here comes from the Greek word πιστεύω (pisteuō), which means: “to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in,” according to the lexicon.

This means that Jesus was talking about trust here. He was asking them to trust what he was teaching them. He was asking them to trust his God-given authority to save them with those teachings. 

Since Jesus was standing in front of them, there was no need for them to believe he existed. And they had seen his miracles so they didn't need to believe he was special. 

And since he had yet to be crucified when he made that statement, he certainly was not talking about him dying for anyone’s sins.

Rather, Jesus’ statement was quite simple. He was indicating to Martha and her sister Mary that if they trusted his teachings and followed his instructions, they would return to God and His kingdom. They would have life after the death of their own physical bodies.

And what was Jesus’ most important teaching and instruction?

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matt. 22:37-38)

*Here is the translation of Jesus' statement according to the Lost Gospels of Jesus:

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection, and the life – he who trusts in me shall live, even if his body dies. And one who lives and trusts in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)

"Woman, here is your son," ... "Here is your mother." (John 19:26-27)

When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, "Woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. (John 19:26-27)

Why did Jesus say this to his mother?

We must carefully understand what is taking place here. Jesus' body has been gruesomely nailed onto a cross. His body is being tortured and obviously in severe pain, yet he is still concerned about those he will be leaving behind as he leaves his physical body. Here is the full text from these two verses:

When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, "Woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. (John 19:27-28)

So while Jesus is suffering from excruciating pain and torture at the hands of the Roman and institutional temple leaders, he is still caring about those around him. 

So what is he saying?

Jesus is introducing his mother to one of his confidential disciples, and he is requesting the disciple to take care of his mother. This is confirmed by the statement:

From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. (John 19:28)

Who is this disciple 'whom he loved'?

Notice also that the text describes this disciple as "whom he loved." What does this mean? Did Jesus have some sort of special relationship with this disciple?

Those who have suggested this - as well as those who have suggested that Jesus and Mary had some sort of intimate relationship - have no spiritual vision. They see Jesus as an ordinary person, and suggest that his relationships were like their own - based upon a materialistic identification with the physical body.

Jesus did not see those around him as physical bodies to exploit as those in the physical world do. Because we are blind to the spiritual identities of ourselves and those around us, we think that I am this body and those around us are their physical bodies.

He saw the spiritual person within. He communicated this on multiple occasions. For example, he said:

"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him." (Luke 12:4-5)

So while we might see others as physical bodies, and have self-centered desires relating to the use of those physical bodies, Jesus had no such consciousness. Jesus could see others' spiritual forms. And his love for others was purely spiritual.

This spiritual love is reflected upon in the original Greek. The phrase "he loved" is being taken from the Greek word ἀγαπάω (agapaō), which means, according to the lexicon, "to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly," and "to be well pleased, to be contented at or with a thing."

These indicate that Jesus was pleased with this disciple. And the love he showed towards the disciple in this respect relates to spiritual love. A love that is deeper than the physical body. A love that relates to the self - the spiritual being that is temporarily wearing a physical body.

There is some indication from elsewhere in the Gospel that the disciple is John. This also follows similar phrases later in the Gospel of John:

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. (John 21:7)

This is affirmed also later:

Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is going to betray you?") When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?" Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me." Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?" This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. (John 21:20-24)

This would mean that the disciple 'whom he loved' is none other than John – the apparent author of this Gospel.

This of course also means that John did not depart Jesus as some of Jesus' other disciples did, including Peter.

Why did Jesus address his mother as 'woman'?

Our spiritual self has nothing to do with our physical body. It also has nothing to do with the gender of the physical body. Our spiritual form is unrelated to the temporary physical body we are wearing.

In the same way, a rich man might get into an old beat-up car and drive it around. Or a poor person might drive a fancy car. The body is a vehicle just as a car is a vehicle. The driver has an identity independent of the vehicle.

At the same time, Jesus also cared for others' physical bodies. He saw that the mother of his physical body needed to be cared for, and he instructed one of his close disciples to care for her.

It is not as if seeing the spiritual person within should make us ignore their vehicle - their physical body. For example, if we cared about a friend of ours, we wouldn't dent up their car. We would care about their car because the car belongs to someone we care about.

In the same way, we can still care about the bodies of our family and friends. But we can still differentiate them from their spiritual identities and know our permanent existence relates to our spiritual self. Jesus confirmed this when he said:

"For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matt. 12:50)

So Jesus is understanding his spiritual identity relates to his loving service to the Supreme Being. Those who also work for God's pleasure he considers his true family.

This is confirmed by the fact that Jesus addressed his mother as "woman."

Jesus also knew that his spiritual self would be leaving his physical body shortly. This is reflected in this statement:

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30)

This term, "gave up his spirit" (from the Greek phrase παρέδωκεν τὸ πνεῦμα) refers to the spiritual person leaving the physical body ("a human soul that has left the body" per the lexicon). This is what happens at the time of death. Each of us will leave our physical body at the time of death.

And at that point - when we leave our physical body - our physical lives are judged. This is called "judgment day." Yes, 'judgement day" has been misinterpreted by ecclesiastical teachers who have tried to suggest it relates to some end of the world scenario. Rather, the time of death is the 'end of the world' for each of us.

Jesus, however, is not like us. He is God's representative, and thus able to return to the physical world after he left his physical body in order to provide further instructions to his disciples.

But didn't Jesus' body "rise from the dead"?

Because Jesus' close disciples, including Mary and Peter - did not recognize Jesus when he appeared to them, we know that his body did not rise. If he rose in his dead physical body then they would have been able to identify him immediately. Consider these verses:

At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him." (John 20:14-15)

She didn't recognize Jesus because he wasn't appearing in his physical body. That body had died - and it was taken away:

This is why Mary told Simon Peter:

"They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!" (John 20:2)

In other words, they took Jesus' physical body away - as the tomb his body was placed in actually belonged to someone else - Joseph of Arhimethia - so it wasn't the permanent tomb for Jesus' body. Jewish custom at the time was that a person's dead body was put into a tomb belonging to the family.

So while some have created this lavish myth of Jesus' physical body rising, we can see this isn't true because his body would have been immediately recognized. Rather, Jesus' spiritual self left the physical body, and later he reappeared to his disciples using spiritual potency.

This is the same technology used by angels. The Supreme Being gives some of His special loving servants the ability to appear to certain people in the physical world.

This is also confirmed in the ancient Nag Hammadi scripture called "The Wisdom of Jesus" apparently written in the Second Century:

1. After he rose from the dead body, his twelve disciples and seven women continued to follow him. They traveled to Galilee and to the mountain referred to as Devotion and Joy. After gathering together they debated about the nature of the material world and its arrangement; and the spiritual path, the power of the demigods, and all the confidential guidance the Savior had provided.
2. The Savior appeared not in his earlier form, but in the ethereal spirit. His appearance was like a beautiful illuminated angel. But I cannot properly describe his appearance. No material body could bear this – only the purified spiritual body – just as he taught us about from Galilee to the mount referred to as ‘the olives.’
3. Then he said, “Peace be to you – I give you my peace.” Then they were all astonished and afraid. The Savior laughed and told them, “What were you thinking? Are you confused? What do you seek?” (The Wisdom of Jesus 1-3)

What rose then?

Jesus' spirit rose. We can see clearly from this text that Jesus' spiritual self rose up out of that physical body that was murdered on the cross (evidenced by the guards). This confirms Jesus' other statements about them not being able to kill the soul.

This is also the classical meaning of resurrection - the spirit-person's leaving the physical body and rising. Jesus defined this clearly:

"At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven." (Matt. 22:30)

The word "resurrection" is being translated from the Greek word ἀνάστασις (anastasis) - which means "a raising up, rising (e.g. from a seat)" and "a rising from the dead" according to the lexicon.

The fact that the spirit-person - or soul - rises out of the body was clearly defined by Jesus. But he also clarified that the resurrection of the righteous - those who perfected their relationship with the Supreme Being - was rising out of the body and returning to the spiritual realm as stated above.

It is also clear from the scriptures that this is also what took place with Jesus:

They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. (Matt. 27:53)

Thus we have it clearly defined from the Gospels that Jesus did indeed leave his physical body at the time of death. He "rose" - resurrected - from the physical body.

Jesus knew he was not his physical body. This is why he let his physical body be persecuted. Rather, he knew he was spiritual in essence and he was God's loving servant. This is why his mission was to serve the Supreme Being. This was his focus. This is why Jesus prayed the night before his persecution:

“Abba, Father, everything is possible for You. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.” (Mark 14:36)

Jesus knew what was coming. He knew he would be gruesomely tortured until his physical body died. Being crucified is the most gruesome torture imaginable. And yet Jesus did not escape it. He did not try to avoid it. He understood this was part of his service to the Supreme Being.

Why?

Was Jesus dying for our sins?

First, Jesus never died. Only his physical body died. And that physical body died on the cross, as proven by the guards as they tested the body.

And Jesus' torturous persecution does not remove the responsibility of our actions - regardless of whether we claim it did or not.

What a ridiculous assumption - that all we have to do is go to church and "accept" that Jesus died for my sins and suddenly we are not responsible for our actions? That we can steal or hurt someone and we won't have to suffer the consequences?

This is not consistent with reality. Regardless of whether we claim to be saved by Jesus' crucifixion, we will still be accountable for our actions. It is not that Jesus' suffering somehow removed our responsibility.

The reality is that Jesus was murdered because of his teachings. Yes, he could have run away before being arrested and disavowed his teachings.

But he didn't. He stood up for his teachings. And he allowed his body to be killed to illustrate the importance of his teachings. This is because his teachings have the ability to save us from self-centeredness - sinfulness. If we allow them - by learning and practicing his teachings.

Jesus' teachings were the focus of his life. And allowing himself to be persecuted for those teachings was the ultimate sacrifice - indicating the importance of those teachings. Consider this verse:

Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. (Luke 19:47)

We can see here the connection between Jesus' teachings and his being killed. He risked being killed in order to teach. And what was Jesus teaching?

“My teaching is not my own. It comes from the One who sent me." (John 7:16)

Jesus was teaching the message coming from the Supreme Being, who sent Jesus. Jesus was performing loving service to the Supreme Being.

And following Jesus' teachings was of the utmost importance to Jesus:

“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples." (John 8:31)

And Jesus also confirmed, that following his teachings is what will save us:

“Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." (John 14:23)

This indicates what being saved is: "we will come to them and make our home with them."

It is called a loving relationship. Yes, it is a loving relationship with the Supreme Being that saves us. What does it save us from?

A loving relationship with the Supreme Being saves us from our self-centered hell. Even if we are still here within the physical world we can be saved if we are involved in a loving relationship with the Supreme Being. Our body might be in the worst of physical circumstances, but if we are loving and serving the Supreme Being, we are in His world. We are at "home" with the Supreme Being.

This is why Jesus' most important teaching - the teaching that will save us if we follow it - was:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment." (Matt. 22:37-38)