Is the Eucharist only a Symbol?

[Fisher]

Jesus told his Disciples I am the Living Bread come down from heaven. Whoever eats this Bread will live forever, and the Bread that I will give is my Flesh for the life of the world.

Then the Disciples/protestants complained and said “who can give us his flesh to eat!” …I mentioned the word Protestant because thats what these men were, they were in protest regarding our Lords words here.

Jesus, heard them complaining and He did not budge. Then Jesus said again, “Truely, Truely I say to you, unless you Eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and Drink his Blood, you have no life in YOU; he who eats my Flesh and Drinks my Blood has Eternal Life, and I will raise him up at the Last Day. For my Flesh is real food indeed and my Blood is real Drink indeed.” (John 6: 53-55)

Jesus Christ uses the words “INDEED” “TRUELY TRUELY I SAY TO YOU,” " I SOLEMNLY ASSURE YOU or in the King James Bible “VERILY, VERILY I SAY TO YOU” my point is that these words are STRONG WORDS for only a SYMBOL, don’t you think?

The Truth is it is not a symbol but the true presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

**To all I say, No! To all Jesus Says, not me, INDEED, TRULY TRULY I SAY UNTO YOU, I SOLEMNLY ASSURE, VERILY VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU this is my BODY and BLOOD EAT and DRINK and LIVE FOREVER! All I do through the Grace of Our Lord Jesus is BELIEVE and EAT! AMEN:thumbsup: **

The Aramaic word for “EATS” means literally to Chew or munch on.

Then the Disciple complained again, saying "This is a hard saying WHO CAN ACCEPT IT! Many, of Jesus Disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him they walked away…(John 6: 60)****

WHO CAN ACCEPT IT SAID THESE ONCE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS? **The Answer is the Catholic Church ACCEPTS IT! AMEN! **

These men above who had been with Him for months or years who were used to His Strange and extraordiary ways walked with him NO MORE.

Now what did Jesus Christ Do? The answer is in the Bible (John 6: 66) Jesus Christ let them go! Jesus, did not say, HEY! Wait a minute men, you are taking my words too literally… These men took Jesus Christ Literally because, Jesus Christ, meant it LITERALLY! And these men could not BELIEVE IT, Like Many do today.

All Jesus said about the Bread of Life is the Revelation of the Spirit, the Spirit Makes it so.

In other Places in the Bible Jesus Clarified when he was Misunderstood, like, when the Apostles found him in a far out place and they thought he might be hungry. Jesus said…“I HAVE FOOD YOU KNOW NOT OF” Jesus knew what they were thinking and CLARIFIED them saying "MY FOOD IS TO DO THE WILL OF MY FATHER."

Why did not Jesus CLARIFY here concerning the EUCHARIST The Bread and Blood to those men who Left? The answer is Because Jesus knew **THEY UNDERSTOOD HIM CORRECTLY! **

Click beelow and here it.

youtube.com/watch?v=A-H7N6xLBiE

God Bless you on your journey home

Ufamtobie

Does this mean that if you eat Jesus you are once save always?

 

[grannymh]

I do understand that the Catholic and Orthodox church were in the majority and teach this. I believe this incorrect interpretation took old. Only when God, in His time, revealed the truth through his words for all to see, did people begin to see the error of their ways.
Such is the case with the Bible, people are in error, but God reveals his truth and people ignore it.
The twelve took part in the Lords Supper. A meal. What you define as heresy can work both ways. So that is meaningless. What matters is what Christ taught. Now, do you wish to look at it again?

Hi Rightlydivide,

While I’m busy with another thread, I couldn’t resist putting my two cents in.

I agree, with a few qualitications, that many people are in error or partial error and that God does reveal His truth and many people currently do ignore His truth or treat it in the “cafeteria style.”

At an early point in life, I was actullay paid to write. If I did a publicity piece or an appeal for money, I had to make sure that there were answers to the following questions, who? how? what? when? where? why? and cost? This guideline is one of the things I use when I find broad generalizations in posts or when doing research.

My point is that sometimes for discussions to be productive, one has to go further and look to the how? and what? embedded in a general statement.

Another point, it is o.k, and actually very valuable, to “understand” other’s viewpoints and where they come from. Just remember that eventually, each one of us has to make a choice between the Eucharist being a symbol or not. And a choice regarding the Eucharist being the Real Presence or not.

Final point–one we all should consider-- is Isaiah 55: 8-9

Since I am still working on answers to another thread “The Eucharist - Consubstantion? Symbolic? I don’t think so…”
I doubt if there will be much contribution from me.

Blessings,
grannymh

 

[OneTrueCathApos]

If the Eucharist was just a symbol…

• Than the Church couldn’t exist, because the Eucharist makes the Church
• Than Jesus would not have died on the Cross, because the Eucharist is the spiritual Calvary
• Than Jesus would have violated the Passover, because He would have not fulfilled the Passover
• Than the Church would be committing idoltary at Mass, because we can only worship the Lord our God
• Than Jesus would be insane for calling Himself the Bread from Heaven, because only an insane person would call himself a piece of bread

Perfect!

 

[grannymh]

Perfect!

This refers to Post 43. Now follow the trail backwards and one will see other interesting replies. There isn’t one that is completely correct. And there isn’t one that is completely wrong. But, all of them increased my understanding of how things can get off kilter. The flip side is that all of them gave me ideas on how to get back on target.

I am not going to be specific. There are plenty of you who are far more able than I to continue with this approach.

Blessings,
grannymh

 

[portalofpeace]

Is batismal a symbol, reconciliation, confirmation, marriage and so forth? It is Christ who celebrates the eucharist “This is my body” All are the actions of Christ. Remember "in persona Christi."

 

[ufamtobie]

Does this mean that if you eat Jesus you are once save always?

Hi Fisher,
**
(1Corinthians 11: 27) This means that whoever EATS the BREAD and DRINKS the Cup of the Lord UNWORTHILY SINS against the BODY and BLOOD of the Lord

(1Corinthians 11: 28) A man should EXAMINE himself first; ONLY THEN should he EAT of the BREAD and DRINK of the CUP.

(1Corinthians 11: 29) He who EATS and Drinks WITHOUT RECOGNIZING the BODY Eats and Drinks A JUDGEMENT UNTO HIMSELF.**

Matthew 26:17-30 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’ “ 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” 22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23 Jesus replied, **“The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” 25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “Yes, it is you.” **

Fisher, Judas the betrayer who betrayed Jesus Christ Ate Jesus Body and Blood, at the LAST SUPER and JUDAS WAS NOT SAVED HE WAS LOST INTO HELL FOREVER.

YES, YOU CAN BE LOST IF YOU BETRAY JESUS IN ANY WAY SUCH AS SINING. WE MUST BE IN A STATE OF GRACE WHEN WE EAT AND DRINK OUR LORDS BODY AND BLOOD. THATS WHY WE CATHOLICS GO TO A PRIEST AND EXAMINE OURSELVES

Ufamtobie

 

[avenger]

If the Eucharist was just a symbol…

• Than the Church couldn’t exist, because the Eucharist makes the Church I thought Christ did in the Gospel…make up your mind.
• Than Jesus would not have died on the Cross, because the Eucharist is the spiritual CalvaryWHAT???
• Than Jesus would have violated the Passover, because He would have not fulfilled the Passover His death and resurrection did that
• Than the Church would be committing idoltary at Mass, because we can only worship the Lord our Godhmm, well…
• Than Jesus would be insane for calling Himself the Bread from Heaven, because only an insane person would call himself a piece of bread

He also called HImself a shepherd…did He go around carrying sheep?

 

[Mannyfit75]

He also called HImself a shepherd…did He go around carrying sheep?

You have to look at the context of the message. What was the core message Jesus was saying that he is the shepard and that his followers are the sheep?’

The Gospel in John 6 is address to 70 disciples and they wanted to have this bread that will given them eternal life. Jesus answered them that he is the Bread of Life. That they have to eat his flesh and drink his blood. The disciples ask again by saying, “how can this man us his flesh to eat?” Jesus insist in his answer, “My flesh is real flesh and my blood is real drink.” The Jews find this hard to believe and left him and went back to their former lives.

The Jews at the time clearly understand, that Jesus was speaking literally. There is no symbolism in John 6:53-65.