Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” John 6:52
Jesus fed five thousand people with five small barley loaves and two small fishes. After this long day of ministering, Jesus sent his disciples across the Sea of Galilee to ready for the next day’s work. Later Jesus walked out on the water to join them. Some people followed Jesus for the free food and miracles, you know, dinner and a show, but Jesus begins to teach that He is the Bread of Life. He had so much more to give than earthly comfort.
The people that were listening to Jesus knew the ancient story of manna from Heaven for the Hebrew children. In verse 49 it says, “Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died.” And in verse 35 Jesus said, “I am the bread of life, He who comes to me will never go hungry or thirsty.” Jesus is expressing His connection to Heaven, the ancient covenant people and the covenant making process in which a meal is shared and the identities of the covenant partners become one.
Some Jews there were deliberately being obtuse. They knew Jesus was not being literal, but chose exaggerated drama hoping of obscure the truth and excuse their continued hunger for earthly power and personal agenda that oppressed others. Jesus came to give us everything we need to live eternally. We must choose to fill ourselves with Him and take His identity as our own. This is true communion, taking the flesh and blood of His body into our own.
Love,
Gretchen