32 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” 35 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. **36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. **
Jesus sees that they do not believe, even before He commands to eat His flesh and drink His blood.
41 The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” 42 And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”
The unbelievers reveal themselves again.
47 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me F26 has everlasting life. 48 I am the bread of life.
Jesus flat our says that it is belief in Him that is the life.
49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world."
How does one eat this living bread----to believe in Jesus
52 The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?” 53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed, F27 and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread which came down from heaven–not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.” 59 These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” 61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? **63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” **
Jesus again explains what gives life, it is His words it is the Spirit. Flesh profits nothing. He is not giving His flesh to eat literally He is giving His words that av elife and the Spirit who has life.
For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.” 66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
**Dont ever say again that Jesuys did not call tem back or that he did not try to teach them because for the third time in this discourse Jesus know they are unbelievers and that the Father had not sent them to Him **
67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” F28
Peter does not believe he has to eat the literal flesh or drink His blood. Jesus’ words give life, Peter knows the words are life and he believes in Jesus not believes he is to eat Jesus.
70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” 71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.
FOOTNOTES:
F23: Exodus 16:4; Nehemiah 9:15; Psalm 78:24
F24: Isaiah 54:13
F25: M-Text reads hears and has learned.
F26: NU-Text omits in Me.
F27: NU-Text reads true food and true drink.