How can we spiritually "partake" in Christ's flesh and blood today? Setting the Scene in John 6 Jesus says, “ ‘Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you’ ” (John 6:53). His words follow the feeding of the five thousand and the declaration, “ ‘I am the bread of life’ ” (v. 35). The crowd wants physical bread; He offers Himself as true sustenance. What “eating” and “drinking” mean • In the same discourse Jesus clarifies, “ ‘The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life’ ” (John 6:63). • Partaking, then, is fundamentally spiritual: receiving Christ by faith, continually trusting His atoning sacrifice (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:2; Hebrews 10:10). • It is real, not symbolic only. His flesh and blood are the effective means God ordained for our salvation, applied by the Spirit. Practical ways we partake today 1. The Lord’s Table • “ ‘Do this in remembrance of Me’ ” (Luke 22:19). • Communion visibly proclaims “the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). • Bread and cup do not re-sacrifice Christ; they direct our faith to the once-for-all cross (Hebrews 9:12). By eating and drinking with faith, we receive fresh assurance, renewed fellowship, and public identification with His body. 2. Daily abiding in the Word • Jesus is “the Word made flesh” (John 1:14). Feeding on Scripture is feeding on Him (Jeremiah 15:16). • His promises, commands, and character become our nourishment (Colossians 3:16). The more His Word dwells richly in us, the more we experience the life promised in John 6. 3. Ongoing reliance on His blood for cleansing • “The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). • Confession and repentance keep us walking in the light, actively trusting the sufficiency of that blood (Hebrews 4:16). 4. Union expressed in obedience • “Whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him” (1 John 2:5). • Obedience is evidence that we are continually feeding on Him, drawing life and strength for godly living (John 15:5-10). Guarding against empty ritual • Paul warns that one may “eat and drink judgment on himself” if he partakes “in an unworthy manner” (1 Corinthians 11:29). • The heart, not just the mouth, must receive Christ; faith, repentance, and self-examination accompany every observance (2 Corinthians 13:5). Promises attached to spiritual partaking • Eternal life now and resurrection later (John 6:54). • Mutual indwelling—“He in us and we in Him” (John 6:56; cf. Galatians 2:20). • Sustaining grace for today’s trials: “Those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31). Summing It Up We partake of Christ’s flesh and blood whenever we: • Believe and keep on believing in His finished work. • Remember Him at the Lord’s Table with a repentant, trusting heart. • Feed on Scripture, letting His voice shape our thoughts and actions. • Depend daily on His blood for cleansing and strength. In this way the living Christ nourishes us, satisfies us, and guarantees the life that never ends. |
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