Context, context, context, I tell you! It simply cannot be ignored.
Jesus is in Capernaum. It is where his “adult home” is located. The scriptures at one point – hint at Jesus’ house in Capernaum. It is “a fact” most people do not know or remember about.
So he is home…with his neighbors and his friends. But that is NOT who he is addressing in this “Bread of Life discourse!”
Nope, he is talking to the highbrows…the elites…he is addressing the religious authorities, the theologians of his day and time. They are rivals. They do not like him very much and ALL that he represents.
Jesus is known here as being somewhat of a radical, a progressive thinker, a young upstart and one who can be “shocking at times.” He is also known as a great debater.
From time-to-time, his sometimes confusing words have stirred up the regular folk, the crowds, so you can imagine how “some of his words” might really “get under the skin” of the religious authorities, those in power.
And of course, they want proof, they require validating signs…if he pushes, they always push back – harder.
It is a war “of words.” A war “of concepts.” It is about two different ways of thinking. It is about a shift in the paradigm that is about to take place.
Old school versus newer school, old math versus new math… Old ways of looking at things versus a newer way…
Remember the earliest Christians were still a part of the Temple and the Synagogue worship. They were considered to be a new “WAY,” a new PATH, if you will. But they were all Jews, all Hebrews, every one of them. Some just followed this new idea, this new WAY of thinking, that’s all.
Jesus was an upstart all right! “The radical rabbi from Galilee” some called him.
Jesus probably knew about dramatic pauses. He knew when to stop, alright.
You put something out there-and give it time to sink it. You let them mull it over. Let them digest it. Test the waters. Send up a balloon. See what happens.
You know “the old, looking around, to see if your words have resonated with any one or made any kind of impact…” whatsoever.
Usually when you are met with blank stares, no reaction and a look of a lack of understanding – you try again, you up the ante, you try stronger language, you step up your game.
You go from “shocking” to the “provocative,” just to see if you can get a rise out of your intended audience.
Do they get it? Are they responding?
Do they understand, now? Jesus may be a little provocative, but he is always polite!
In the Greek there is an actual change in the terminology used here by Jesus.
The word that is used for “eating” is now changed to a different word that means to “gnaw” or to “munch” – it is like what an animal does at a trough. It is in your face!
He goes from talking about eating the bread that comes down from heaven, to tearing it apart – like an animal. And now, he is talking about HIS flesh.
Yep, he has their full attention. Some are sitting up straight. Some are holding their chests. The language was more than shocking and more than provocative…
Are there any defibrillators, in the house?
Now they are angry. Now they are frightened. Now they are sure they do not understand what he is talking about.
Old School teaching says you do not eat flesh…with the blood still in it. That is a part of the Law of Moses. They were beginning to take offense at his words…
What is this man really saying here?
What does he mean?
So again, he attempts to drive home his point with clarity and with repetition: “Eat my flesh. Drink my blood. If you don’t you will die. If you do, you will live forever.”
It was a rhetorical bombshell! One that we get… One that we understand. But then, we have had two thousand years of eating the flesh and drinking the blood.
For us it is “old hat” “yawn” nothing new…old school, old math kind of stuff.
What about the laws? Ever heard of the book of Leviticus? And you, you call yourself a rabbi. Why you should be ashamed of yourself. And they no doubt, remembered his words…