THE HEART OF A SEMINARIAN

A Roman Catholic Seminarian opens up his Heart and shares the Faith he Loves.

IS THE EUCHARIST REALLY JESUS CHRIST?  PART 3

If there is anything that is particularly unique to the Catholic faith in comparison to the Protestant faith, it is the real presence of the Eucharist.  In the following days, I will share some basic evidence for the belief in the real presence of Christ.  If there are any questions or comments, then please share.

Part 1: Verse-by-verse explanation of John 6

Part 2: The change of the Greek word for “eat” in John 6.

 

Today: We will answer the Protestant argument against the real presence implications in John 6.

 

1) One objection made is that Jesus was speaking metaphorically and not literally.  This is not true because for starters Jesus never corrected the Jews when they questioned it in verse 52 and 60 and when his disciples walked away in verse 66.  Instead, he became more descriptive in verses 53-55 (my flesh is food indeed and the change of the word “eat” to the Greek word “trogon” which means gnaw or crunch) and even asked if His statements shocked them in verse 61; plus he even asked the Apostles if they wanted to leave too.  So if He was being metaphorical, then why did he not clarify it when the others were clearly taking Him literally?

 

2) The main objection is based on verse 63 (stated below).  They say that if Jesus says that “the flesh is no avail” and that “the spirit gives life”, then Jesus obviously did not mean for people to literally to eat His flesh since that would be “of no avail”. In response, if eating His flesh is pointless, then why did he tell us to do it so many times?  Why would He say that even figuratively?  That is like saying “Eat my flesh so that you will see that there is no point to it.

 

The truth is that Christ’s flesh is of great avail, but our humanity is of no avail.  It is humanity –our flesh – that is in need of a savior so badly.  It is Christ’s flesh that was crucified on the cross and then resurrected on the third day.  It is clear that Christ’s flesh is of great importance and our flesh is the one that is weak.  Thus, it is clear that the flesh spoken of in verse 63 is regarding humanity and not Christ’s flesh.

 

Secondly, they state Jesus was speaking symbolically due to Him saying that His words are “spirit and life”.  The truth is that the use of the word “spirit” is never used in the Bible to mean symbolic –not in one place.  The bottom line is that anyone reading this passage would never naturally come to the symbolic conclusion unless they were trying to get there.  A literal interpretation is the only one that makes perfect sense and the eating of his flesh will make more sense when the Last Supper comes around.

 

“John 6:63   ⁶³ It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

 

More on the Real Presence to come in future posts.

posted by: muniz at 15:58 | link | comments |
bible study

IS THE EUCHARIST REALLY JESUS CHRIST?  PART 2

If there is anything that is particularly unique to the Catholic faith in comparison to the Protestant faith, it is the real presence of the Eucharist.  In the following days, I will share some basic evidence for the belief in the real presence of Christ.  If there are any questions or comments, then please share.

John 6: Previously, we walked through John 6 verse-by-verse to get a basic overview.  Today, we will point out a difference in the use of the Greek language for the word “eat” in this chapter.

 

Even though the word “eat” is used 7 times, the Greek translation (the Gospel was originally written in Greek) has 2 separate words used for the word “eat”.  One means “to eat” and the other is the word “trogon” which means “to gnaw or crunch” like on meat. 

 

In the color orange, these are the words that mean “to eat”.  This is also used in verse 31 also.  As you see below, Jesus and the Jews use this word at the beginning.

 

In the color red, these are the words that mean “to gnaw or crunch”.  Jesus uses this word in his response to the Jews questioning of Jesus’ request.  It is important to note that not only did Jesus not clarify that He was being symbolic or metaphoric to the Jews, but He stepped it up a notch by choosing to use more descriptive language which is normally used to describe gnawing or crunching on meat.

 

Jesus’ change of the word for “eat” is just another piece of the abundant evidence that shows the Eucharist as the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ.

 

John 6:50-58  ⁵⁰ This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die.  ⁵¹ I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh."  ⁵² The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"  ⁵³ So Jesus said to them, "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;  ⁵⁴ he who 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, 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 eats me will live because of me.  ⁵⁸ This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever."

 

More on the Real Presence to come in future posts.

posted by: muniz at 10:07 | link | comments |
bible study

IS THE EUCHARIST REALLY JESUS CHRIST?  PART 1

If there is anything that is particularly unique to the Catholic faith in comparison to the Protestant faith, it is the real presence of the Eucharist.  In the following days, I will share some basic evidence for the belief in the real presence of Christ.  If there are any questions or comments, then please share.

John 6: We will start with these verses and I will give a verse-by-verse explanation.

 

John 6:51-67   ⁵¹ I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh."  ⁵² The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"  ⁵³ So Jesus said to them, "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;  ⁵⁴ he who 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, 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 eats me will live because of me.  ⁵⁸ This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever."  ⁵⁹ This he said in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.  ⁶⁰ Many of his disciples, when they heard it, said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?"  ⁶¹ But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at it, said to them, "Do you take offense at this?  ⁶² Then what if you were to see the Son of man ascending where he was before?  ⁶³ It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.  ⁶⁴ But there are some of you that do not believe." For Jesus knew from the first who those were that did not believe, and who it was that would betray him.  ⁶⁵ And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father."  ⁶⁶ After this many of his disciples drew back and no longer went about with him.  ⁶⁷ Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?"

 

Explanation

Verse 51 – Jesus says that he is the living bread, whoever eats this bread will live forever, and this bread is His flesh.

Verse 52 – The Jews became confused because some took him literally.

Verse 53-54 – Jesus knowing the confusion he reiterated to them that they must eat and drink His flesh and blood to have eternal life and be raised up on the last day or else they have no life in them.

Verse 55 – Then Jesus follows that statement with a further clarification by saying that His flesh is food indeed and His blood is drink indeed.

Verse 56-58 – Jesus continues to reemphasize this importance of eating His flesh in order to have eternal life

Verse 59 – Location of this encounter

Verse 60 – Again the Jews started to talk amongst themselves objecting to Jesus’ teaching because it was hard to understand and accept.

Verse 61-62 – And again Jesus does not clarify that he was speaking metaphorically.

Verse 63 – The statement that the flesh is of no avail is the most common objection to the abundant evidence of the Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist (more on this in the future).

Verse 64-65 – When looking at the people’s questioning of His statements, Jesus said that there will be some who will not believe.

Verse 66 – This is the only time that disciples, who even seen Jesus do miracles, would no long follow Jesus for doctrinal reasons.

Verse 67 – Jesus asks the Apostles if they want to leave also.

 

More on the Real Presence to come in future posts.

posted by: muniz at 11:54 | link | comments |
bible study

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