1. 1. Why dont Protestants believe John 6? Excerpts from The Holy Bible : Revised Standard Version Second Catholic edition (2006), with the ecclesiastical approval of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Thomas Nelson Publishing for Ignatius Press. FROM: www.biblechristiansociety.com/
2. 2. Why dont Protestants not believe John 6 Why do Protestants not believe John 6 when it says that Jesus' flesh is real food and that His blood is real drink? I don't know! In Matthew 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22, Jesus says of the bread, "This is my body." He says of the wine, "This is my blood." Not "this is symbol of," or "this represents," He says "this IS." In John 6, He repeats Himself, like He does nowhere else in Scripture, to emphasize the fact that He expects us to eat His flesh and drink His blood and that His flesh is real food and that His blood is real drink.
3. 3. Real Presence in the Eucharist Anyone who says He is speaking symbolically, and not literally, simply is refusing to look at all of the facts. Fact #1: The Jews took him literally in verse 52. Fact #2: His disciples took him literally in verse 60. Fact #3, the Apostles took him literally in verses 67- 69. If everyone who heard him speak at the time took Him literally, then my question is: Why does anyone today, 2000 years after the fact, take him symbolically? Also, in verse 51, Jesus says that the bread which He will give for the life of the world is His flesh.
4. 4. Flesh for the World When did He give His flesh for the life of the world? On the cross. Was that symbolic? If you think Jesus is speaking symbolically here when He says that we must eat His flesh and drink His blood, then you must also conclude that Jesus' death on the cross was symbolic. It wasn't really Jesus hanging up there...it was symbolic flesh and symbolic blood. Jesus is clearly speaking about the flesh that He gave for the life of the world. He did that on the cross. Those who believe He is talking symbolically here in John 6, have a real problem when it comes to John 6:51.
5. 5. John 6:51 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh. Did Jesus give His real flesh and blood for the life of the world, or was it only His symbolic flesh and blood?
6. 6. Luke 22 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. 20 And likewise the cup after supper, saying, This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
7. 7. Do this in remembrance of me Wouldnt it be silly to tell your followers to Do this in remembrance of me, without providing them with a method of doing this? Of course it would. How then is it done? During the Mass, Jesus becomes present in the bread and wine. They truly become His body and blood. During the Holy Catholic Mass the ordained priest who can trace his authority back to Jesus Himself transforms the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus.
8. 8. Excerpts from The Holy Bible : Revised Standard Version Second Catholic edition (2006), with the ecclesiastical approval of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Thomas Nelson Publishing for Ignatius Press.