John 6:52-65

John 6:52-Jude : . Further “ Jewish” Objections.— Further advance is made by the use for the first time of the phrase, “ to eat the flesh.” To their question “ How?” Jesus answers that the gift of life can be obtained only by such means. The reference to the sacrificial death is made clearer by the addition “ and drink His blood.” The true life can be gained only by the assimilation of the “ Body” and the “ Blood,” the life set free by death for wider purposes. Those who partake of this “ true” food gain abiding union with Christ. The expressions used here are intelligible only in the light of Christian Eucharistie experience. John 6:60 ff. is historically important as describing the crisis in Galilee, when many even of the best disposed took offence and fell away. In place of their material expectations He offered them a spiritual conception of the kingdom. It proved a stumbling-block. What would their feelings be when He left them, His life ended without the establishment of the Messianic Kingdom? This seems to be the meaning of John 6:62, though possibly it may mean that the glories of the future would provide a solution of present difficulties. He knows the hollowness of the professions of man. This the author interprets as a reference to Judas. The recorded words of Jesus are of wider application; He knew how His higher teaching had alienated the crowd. John 6:66 ff. is sometimes regarded as a duplicate version of the crisis, the failure of disciples, the reference to Judas, the apologetic aim of showing that his treachery was foreseen. The Lord’ s doubts as to the Twelve have not the appearance of a Christian invention. The author interprets the confession at Cæ sarea Philippi ( Mark 8:27 ff.). Perhaps the saying about Judas reflects the language of the rebuke to Peter ( Mark 8:33). The view that the confession is a clinging to faith in spite of disappointment agrees with the Synoptic account of the Baptist’ s message from prison ( Matthew 11:2-Joshua :, Luke 7:19-Isaiah :).