Relevant Verses: John 1:32–36; 3:25–36; 5:36–38; 6:51–71; 7:37–53

Theme: The Scandal of Jesus

Leading Question: Have you ever felt offended by something Jesus asked you to do?

The miracle of the loaves and fish is recounted in all four Gospels. According to John’s account in chapter 6, this miracle becomes a “sign” pointing beyond itself on a much deeper level. Jesus left after feeding the people and crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee but was pursued by the crowd who asked for further miracles. They eventually found him in the synagogue in Capernaum. Here, John’s Gospel tells us, Jesus began teaching about his body and blood, and this sermon caused an intense conflict: “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” (John 6:52). Jesus’ answer becomes even more outrageous:

Many of his disciples said: “This is a hard word. Who can listen to it?” (John 6:60).

Question: Why eat Jesus? Why not just eat with Jesus?

Note two things happening here:

1. Rather than the ordinary Greek term for eating (phagein), Jesus uses the verb trogein, which means literally “to crunch or gnaw.” It is typically used to describe the way animals consume their food—an indelicate tearing and chewing of flesh. Jesus uses this hyper-realistic verb four times (John 6:54, 56, 57, 58). In addition, it is good to consider the background about eating flesh and blood:

The prophet Ezekiel speaks of birds who will swoop down on the enemies of Israel and eat their flesh and drink their blood:

Finally, a popular Aramaic saying of Jesus’ time identified the devil as the “eater of flesh.”

If the prohibitions we have rehearsed had to do with the consumption of the bloody flesh of animals, how much more offensive must Jesus’ words have been, which encouraged the eating of his own human body. Hence the viscerally negative reaction of Jesus’ audience.

NOTE: Flesh with blood wasn’t forbidden for being dirty or disgusting, but for being holy as life is holy—all life including animal life—and belongs to God.

2. Rather than stop the disillusioned disciples and attempt to explain himself, Jesus lets them go. He watches them leave and turns to the Twelve, “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Peter responds for the group: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).

Question: What do you think of Jesus’ even more forceful words?

Question: Where is the clue in these words that builds the transition from the concrete to the spiritual realm of relationship with Jesus?