Jesus' Important Transition
"I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh." (John 6:51)
This verse marks a decisive transition point in Jesus' discourse. Before, Jesus had spoken of himself figuratively as the Bread of Heaven, a spiritual food to be received by faith (John 6:32-51). Here and after, he speaks literally of his flesh and blood as true food and true drink. Before, the food was available in the present. Here the food is yet to be given. The previous food came from the Father. This food will come from the Son. Before, the food was called simply bread. Now Jesus shall identify the bread he will give as his flesh and his blood. (Observations by Atzberger, Handbuch der Kath. Dodmatik, vol. 4, 569.)
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(Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.)
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