In John chapter 6 we read one of the references about our appropriating and partaking of the Lord Jesus Christ. Following His feeding of the multitude in the wilderness, there came a discussion out of which they could have created a good political slogan to establish Christ as a king or a great leader.
This is like some of the slogans of American history during the depression of the Thirties (my parents and their siblings came out of, they were 40 years older than me), in which voters were promised prosperity: “A full dinner, for a vote.”
Imagine how marvelous it must have been to see the Lord feed the multitude. Wouldn’t that have impressed you? No doubt the people were thinking, “If He can do that with five loaves and two small fishes, imagine what He could do for the economy. Let’s make Him king!”
It seemed to be a wonderful idea, because all the kings, so far, had been taking from them; and here was a man who could give to them. They could have initiated one of the first socialistic parties of ancient times: “We will distribute the wealth to everybody!”
They wanted to make Him king; and this was their approach: Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, He gave them bread out of heaven to eat. John 6:31, ASV. “We have a good, strong scriptural point here, Jesus. You feed us, just as God fed the multitude in the wilderness!”
It must have been amazing to see. How eager they were to hear Him speak. Even though they were hungry, they listened for hours without eating, until they were ready to faint. After the Lord fed them, they thought this would be a marvelous permanent arrangement. Then Jesus began His dissertation to the people with whom He had become very popular. In all the history of His ministry—the full three and one-half years—there was never a time when He was more popular. But before the chapter ended, we read that everyone was leaving Him. Then He turned to His disciples and asked, “Will you also go?” (John 6:66–67.) 666-Remind you of something?
What had He said that disturbed them so deeply? On the surface it would seem that one of the reasons was that He began to talk to them about drinking His blood. And the idea of drinking blood was taboo to the Jews; they were very careful about the way they killed their animals (Deuteronomy 12:15–16, 22–25).
When Jesus said, “You must drink My blood and eat My flesh,” the people were offended (John 6:32–66). He was making statements which had to be interpreted on a spiritual plane, because these people were too concerned about bread and fishes. He had to shift to a spiritual emphasis, but in so doing He offended them because they could not adjust themselves to a spiritual comprehension. It wasn’t in them. They couldn’t understand it, and so they all began to leave.
But there was something involved of even deeper significance—the real test of faith, and of love also. The Lord told them how they must partake of Him, that they must eat Him. Just as He lived by the Father and partook of the Father, they had to partake of Him (John 6:57). And that was the real test.
Jesus therefore said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life; and I will raise him up on the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also shall live because of Me.” John 6:53–57.