True Food

“For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.” John 6:56

Like the Jews listening to Jesus in what is known as the “Eucharistic Discourse”, we may question what He is saying. “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” Many left Him because this was difficult to “swallow”. But many of the first century Christians who stayed, believed so quickly and universally in the real presence of Christ. Why?

They saw the Eucharist as the new Passover, the new manna from heaven and the new Bread of the Presence. God prepared the Jews for this new super reality. Every Passover, during Seder, a little child asks, “Why is this night different than any other night?” And the father answers him, “Because of what the Lord did for ME when I came out of Egypt.” Through the Passover ritual, the Jews believed they were somehow spiritually brought back to the first Exodus. Their sacrifice of the Passover lamb was part of the one sacrifice on the night of the Exodus, and for every generation afterwards, they considered themselves as part of the people who came out of slavery in Egypt. 

It is the same with the Eucharist. We take part in the one sacrifice during the last supper before Jesus’ crucifixion. And it is this bread we pray for when we say the Lord’s prayer. The translation in Greek says, “Give us this day our supersubstantial bread.” Jesus says that anyone who “feeds on Him” will have life, will live forever. 

Jesus, You are the Living Bread from heaven. Thank You for giving us Your flesh and blood to eat and drink. Help us to understand and appreciate this more.