My Flesh Is Meat Indeed

"I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (John 6:51)

We Christians talk much about the precious blood of Jesus and its efficacy in cleansing our sins, and washing our souls white as snow. There is no other agent in the universe that can atone for, and blot out, the sin of mankind. What we do not talk as much about, however, is the body of Jesus Christ - that is to say, His flesh.

Jesus said, "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in Him." (John 6:53-56) Here Jesus makes it very clear that both His blood and His flesh are necessary for eternal life. His blood addresses our sin, but His flesh addresses the practical issues of surviving in this world and living a godly life.

Jesus' body was broken for us, and He died in our place, taking the judgment that should have been ours upon Himself. Because He died, we now can live. Through water baptism, we enter into His death so that we may know new life. Unless we associate ourselves with His death, and reckon ourselves to be dead in Him, we cannot receive the life of Christ.

While still in Egypt, the Israelites in Moses' day were redeemed by the blood of the lambs that they sacrificed. They spread the blood upon the lintel and doorposts of their homes, and thus escaped the judgment of the death angel when he passed through the land. We forget, though, that God commanded each family that spilled the blood of these lambs to roast the flesh of the beasts and eat it that night with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. It was not just the blood that God considered important.

By faith we receive the gift of redemption through Jesus' blood. He is the lamb of God Whose blood atones for our sins, and protects us from judgment. "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 1:7b, 2:2) We also must learn to partake of Jesus' flesh, however, or we will lack any real spiritual life. We receive life from Jesus as we learn to live and walk in the Spirit.

The priests in the Old Testament who offered the sacrificial animals on the altars of the tabernacle offered the blood up to God and burnt the flesh. God permitted them to eat a portion of these sacrifices, though. This was part of their inheritance from God. Unlike the other tribes of Israel, the priests were given no land holdings in the promised land. God told them that He was their inheritance. So, they literally lived by the flesh of the sacrifices. This is the picture that we must have of Christ. While all the other tribes are busy tending and caring for their earthly possessions, the priests are solely occupied with caring for the things of the Lord. Because of this, God allows them to eat of the very offerings that they give up to Him. This is not a concept that God reserves for just pastors, and preachers, and church leaders; this is how God would have all of His children to live. "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." (1 Peter 2:9) We, too, must consider the Lord Himself as our portion in this life. If He is our everything, then He will sustain us. His blood will cleanse our sin, but His flesh will nourish our soul, and empower our life.

Jesus likens Himself to the manna which God sent to sustain the Israelites when they were wandering through the wilderness of Sinai. They had to survive the wilderness journey before they could see the Promised Land. God, therefore, sent manna every morning to provide them with food to eat. They could only gather for one day - otherwise, it would rot. On Friday, however, they could gather enough for that day and the Sabbath day, and it would not rot. The people still had to go out and gather the manna - that was their choice - but God was faithful to provide it. Likewise, God has provided us with food that will nourish us spiritually every day, and strengthen us so that we can sustain the temptations and hardships that we face on our journey to the "Promised Land." God has provided us with everything that we need in Christ. We must be willing to gather it, though. It is essential, too, that we gather it every day. What blessed us, and got us through our trials today, is not going to help us tomorrow. We need a fresh word from God daily. If we do not gather, we do not eat; and we grow weaker spiritually every day that we neglect to partake of Christ, our Bread from Heaven.

As the priests of old, I want Jesus to be my portion in this life. Everything else in this world is shallow indeed, and exacts a price on those who pursue it. It ultimately leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, and does not satisfy the hunger of the soul. Jesus satisfies our every inner longing, though. He is the Manna from heaven, the Lamb without spot or blemish, our lot and our portion forever.

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Revelations 3:20)