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We cannot deny- He died for our sins

Estragon, Jesus did very clearly explain that there was a spiritual, figurative explanation to His words, before those who left Him went away...

Joh 6:57 "* as * the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: * so * he that eateth me, even he shall * live by me *. 58 * This is that bread * which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. 59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. 60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? 61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? 62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; * the flesh profiteth nothing *: the words that I speak unto you, * they are * spirit, and they are * life *."

Joh 6:27 "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? 31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."

But you say...

"If Jesus had been speaking figuratively, his words would have made no sense at all. He would have been saying, 'I solemnly assure you that unless you persecute and betray me you have no life within you. He who does violence to me has eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day.' That makes no sense at all, but that's exactly what he would have been saying if his words were symbolic." -Estragon

This is an interesting observation, Estragon. Let's persue this thought.

1Co 11:23 "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance (recollection) of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew (proclaim, promulgate) the Lord's death till he come. 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body... 31 For if we would * judge ourselves *, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world."

Key words in Paul's statement's above prove that he considered the communion bread and wine, though indeed very solemn and important, even necessary- was only figurative of Christ's body and blood. What Paul considered literal of communion, was that the guilt of our sins, each of us individually, was the cause of the death of Christ. The reason Christ died in the first place was for our sins (1 Cor. 15:1-4).

1Jo 1:8 "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us... 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."

When we eat and drink of communion, in remembrance of Christ's death, we remember that He died for us- because of us, because of ours sins. When we examine ourselves, we judge ourselves, and we judge ourselves guilty of the death of Christ. For if He had not died for us, there had been no remission of sins, for where no shedding of the life's blood is, there is no remission of sins.

So therefore, when we judge ourselves guilty, we are able to confess our sins, and the Lord is then able to cleanse us of our sins. For, except we repent, we shall all perish. There can be no repentance where there is no guilt, just as there can be no remission where there is no shedding of blood- in this case- Jesus Christ's blood, once and for all.

Peter presumed that Jesus could redeem God's people to the kingdom of God without the shedding of blood, and was severally rebuked for it...

Mat 16:21 "From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. 24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."

This explains why, yes, we are all actually guilty of persecuting and betraying, even murdering, Jesus Christ- every single one of us, not just those who were present on the day of His death. And unless we judge ourselves guilty of His death, we will have no place in Him- for we will have made Him out to be a liar.

This explains why we literally fulfill what "eating and drinking of His body and blood" figuratively implies- "I solemnly assure you that unless you persecute and betray me you have no life within you. He who does violence to me has eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day."

I confess, I have been guilty of such betrayal, persecution, and violent murder against Jesus Christ! I have and do earnestly pray His forgiveness, and profess my repentance from the evil of my deeds!

Therefore, I have taken His words, and applied them literally! Or in other words- "Verily verily"!

by TomR.

Please continue with Ignatius' figurative speech by TomR