What does it mean to "come to Jesus"?

[rcwitness]

In John 5: 39-40, Jesus rebuked the Jews for simply searching the Scriptures, yet not “coming to Him”.

John 5:39-40 (RSVCE)
You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me; yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

How do you understand this? Do you find Holy Communion to have any significance with His statement?

 

[pacloc]

I think the early Church read this verse differently. I’ve seen many Fathers of the Church use this verse to show that we must search the Scriptures, because in them is eternal life. So the rebuke after is similar to when He tells them in verse 46 “For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.” They were guilty of not truly following the teachings of Moses, but claiming Moses as father just because they descended from him.

So to answer your question about a reference to the Eucharist, of course the means of the eternal life that Christ gives us is combined with the Eucharist, because His method of salvation was the Incarnation that deified human nature. So we partake of Christ’s deified humanity through Baptism/Chrismation/Eucharist, becoming part of the new creation/the body of Christ which is truly immortal.

 

[rcwitness]

I think the early Church read this verse differently. I’ve seen many Fathers of the Church use this verse to show that we must search the Scriptures, because in them is eternal life. So the rebuke after is similar to when He tells them in verse 46 “For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.” They were guilty of not truly following the teachings of Moses, but claiming Moses as father just because they descended from him.

So to answer your question about a reference to the Eucharist, of course the means of the eternal life that Christ gives us is combined with the Eucharist, because His method of salvation was the Incarnation that deified human nature. So we partake of Christ’s deified humanity through Baptism/Chrismation/Eucharist, becoming part of the new creation/the body of Christ which is truly immortal.

Thank you pacloc.

It’s interesting that the next chapter deals with “eating His body and blood”. I think Communion should never be simply the carnal act of eating something, but knowing that receiving Communion is another way of also receiving Him as who He said He is.

 

[pacloc]

Thank you pacloc.

It’s interesting that the next chapter deals with “eating His body and blood”. I think Communion should never be simply the carnal act of eating something, but knowing that receiving Communion is another way of also receiving Him as who He said He is.

Yes, it is very important to contemplate the spiritual significance of the sacrament and pray before, during, and after receiving any sacrament for it to really mean anything for your well-being. We are all guilty of not doing this I’m sure, so we should just try to remember and make it our habit. In case someone is thinking that this is not true because what about the case of infants, the parents and God-parents have this responsibility for them until they grow up and do it for themselves.

Thank you for bringing this up, I will definitely try to implement this Wednesday when I plan to go to Divine Liturgy.