54 Whoever 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.
6:54
Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life,
Jesus speaking metaphorically of believing on His sacrificial death for our sins indicates that faith in what He did is the way to possess eternal life. He did not speak of drinking literally of His blood or eating His body.
The word “has” in “has eternal life” indicates possession. Those who believe in Jesus’ work in forgiving our sins will receive the certainty of their salvation. The person who believes in Christ’s sacrifice for his sins begins eternal life at the moment he receives Christ.
and I will raise him up at the last day.
The idea of Jesus raising believers at the last day is repeated for the fourth time in this discourse (vv. 39, 40, 44). Christians have a hope beyond the grave. There is a connection between the resurrection and eternal life.
Christ, who died on the cross, will be alive in the “last day” to raise those who believe in Him to everlasting life. Life eternal is a life that will never experience death again. It is a new kind of life altogether.
6:55
For My flesh is food indeed [truly],
Jesus said that His “flesh” is food for real. The word “indeed” means truly or genuinely. Jesus is the true source of eternal life; He is the only one who can satisfy the eternal life issue.
and My blood is drink indeed [truly].
Jesus drew the parallel to food and said that His blood was “drink for real.” Both Jesus’ flesh and blood truly give eternal life to those who believe in Jesus.
“Indeed” means truly, genuine, or real. The “indeed” conveys reality. Natural food and drink has only temporary value. Jesus’ death on our behalf has eternal value. It is not literal, as if Jesus spoke of cannibalism. Neither does “indeed” or real mean metaphorical, as opposed to literal. Rather, Jesus’ blood is real drink because it does what physical drink does but even better. His blood gives eternal life for sure. Manna in the Old Testament was not true or genuine food that gives eternal life.
PRINCIPLE:
Belief in Christ’s sacrifice for our sin guarantees us eternal life.
APPLICATION:
To appropriate by faith the work of Christ to pay for our sins is to possess eternal life at the moment we believe what He offers. We have a promise from Christ or a guarantee of eternal life from His words.
The Christian should glory in nothing except “Christ and Him crucified (1 Co 2:2). Without the sacrificial death of Christ for our sins, we have no eternal future with God.
