I respond by saying that this theory of yours (wrt to the reason Judas left) is unsupported by any evidence and does not merit consideration.
Why not?
a) The people at the time Jesus was talking took him literally ‘This saying is hard who can accept it’, they also took him literally when he said he came down from heaven; ‘41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” 42 They said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, `I have come down from heaven’?", why would they be right in taking him literally here but not when he said to ‘eat my flesh and drink my blood’, in both cases he made no attempt of correcting them.
b) everytime Jesus did not speak literally and the people misunderstood he would correct them, not so in this case. For example;
John 3:1-6
"1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus misunderstands and Jesus corrects him. Although in John 6:61 his answer is simply “Does this offend you?”
c) Jesus here lost 5000 of his disciples, The only faithful ones were 11 of his apostles, Judas stopped believing here too.
d) John 6:70-71 “Jesus said to them, “I chose you, the twelve, did I not? Yet one of you is a devil.” Jesus spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. He, one of the twelve was to betray him.” This only happens at the last supper, Matt 26:21 "While they were eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you: one of you will betray me.” and you know the rest of the story. Jesus also at this time shows the apostles what he meant in John 6:52-59, when he finally says, exactly three years later (The discourse in John 6 happened at the passover) “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took the cup and gave thanks, and passed it to them saying, “Drink this all of you, for this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matt 26:26-28).
e) St Paul later takes the last supper account to prove to the Corinthians why they should be respectful of there gatherings;
1 Corinthians 11:17-30
" 17In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good…23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
Peace
