"This is my body"

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This is a reading from Spurgeon’s devotional. He is Protestant, but I enjoy reading it. One must do so with a grain of salt. 😉

“I will; be thou clean.” --Mark 1:41

Primeval darkness heard the Almighty fiat, “light be,” and straightway light was, and the word of the Lord Jesus is equal in majesty to that ancient word of power. Redemption like Creation has its word of might. Jesus speaks and it is done. Leprosy yielded to no human remedies, but it fled at once at the Lord’s “I will.” The disease exhibited no hopeful signs or tokens of recovery, nature contributed nothing to its own healing, but the unaided word effected the entire work on the spot and for ever. The sinner is in a plight more miserable than the leper; let him imitate his example and go to Jesus, “beseeching Him and kneeling down to Him.” Let him exercise what little faith he has, even though it should go no further than “Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean”; and there need be no doubt as to the result of the application. Jesus heals all who come, and casts out none. In reading the narrative in which our morning’s text occurs, it is worthy of devout notice that Jesus touched the leper. This unclean person had broken through the regulations of the ceremonial law and pressed into the house, but Jesus so far from chiding him broke through the law Himself in order to meet him. He made an interchange with the leper, for while He cleansed him, He contracted by that touch a Levitical defilement. Even so Jesus Christ was made sin for us, although in Himself He knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. O that poor sinners would go to Jesus, believing in the power of His blessed substitutionary work, and they would soon learn the power of His gracious touch. That hand which multiplied the loaves, which saved sinking Peter, which upholds afflicted saints, which crowns believers, that same hand will touch every seeking sinner, and in a moment make him clean. The love of Jesus is the source of salvation. He loves, He looks, He touches us, WE LIVE.

Here is my confusion. How is it that protestants can so readily accept the concept “And God spoke, and it was created” in all these other areas, but when it comes to the Body and Blood, suddenly it does not apply? 🤷
 
The problem is protestants have been fed the line “let the scriptures speak for themselves” not realizing authoritative interpretation is required. Thus after years of poisoning the well by saying "Jesus really meant ‘this represents my body’ " the protestant cant see it any other way.
 
Here is my confusion. How is it that protestants can so readily accept the concept “And God spoke, and it was created” in all these other areas, but when it comes to the Body and Blood, suddenly it does not apply? 🤷
Because then those crazy Catholics would be right!!! 😉
 
I’m was not raised in any particular religion, but was baptized protestant. When I became a christian, I could easily see the possibility that Jesus was speaking figuratively. Now, however, I have a really difficult time reconciling Jesus’ words with that possibility.

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you…

For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

It’s not like Jesus is saying that his words or his spirit are food (chicken soup for the christian soul, if you will). He’s saying that his flesh is food and his blood is drink.

I’d heard the same arguments many times, but it took a particular moment for me to finally get it.

I’m not a Catholic (yet). I still have many questions on the faith, and for some reason part of me is holding back, but with prayer I believe I will be able to follow God’s will.
 
How is it that protestants can so readily accept the concept “And God spoke, and it was created” in all these other areas, but when it comes to the Body and Blood, suddenly it does not apply? 🤷
Because to believe this would mean that they would have to agree with the Catholic Church - and to do that would mean that they would have to change their lives. Stop contracepting, stop killing their children in their wombs, stop living together, stop accepting gay clergy into their ranks.

It’s easier to be a Protestant - you can choose what ever you like and leave the rest behind. Being a Catholic is not easy - and Christ never promised it would be easy. His command to eat His Flesh and drink His Blood is a prime example. Believe this and you must believe it all, because all the Truth of the Faith flows from the Eucharist. It’s an all or nothing deal, and that’s just too hard for some folks to handle.

~Liza
 
They would have to face the following question: “So now that I know that I’m to eat the real Body and Blood of Christ, how do I obtain it?” Imagine that. Imagine you’re a protestant facing this question! “Can I just make a bread turn to Jesus? How does one gain this power?”

This idea simply doesn’t make much sense in the protestant setting. They would be forced to radically reconsider their believes and enter a denomination that believe in Holy Orders.

Most rather choose to believe that this passage is not simply figurative. Up to that many simple find it easier than believing that bread turns to real Jesus.
 
I’m was not raised in any particular religion, but was baptized protestant. When I became a christian, I could easily see the possibility that Jesus was speaking figuratively. Now, however, I have a really difficult time reconciling Jesus’ words with that possibility.

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you…

For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

It’s not like Jesus is saying that his words or his spirit are food (chicken soup for the christian soul, if you will). He’s saying that his flesh is food and his blood is drink.

I’d heard the same arguments many times, but it took a particular moment for me to finally get it.

I’m not a Catholic (yet). I still have many questions on the faith, and for some reason part of me is holding back, but with prayer I believe I will be able to follow God’s will.
Welcome to the forum FrankF.
I pray you will have many special moments as you get answers to all your questions on the faith.

Nita
 
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