by Prisca | 1 April 2019 08:46 pm04
Shalom!
Welcome to this Bible teaching session. Today, we will reflect on the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the profound meaning of His body and His blood. As the Scriptures instruct us:
“…until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”
Ephesians 4:13, ESV
In simpler terms, we are called to truly know and understand Jesus Christ, not just in word, but in the fullness of who He is to the degree that He desires to reveal Himself to us. This is not a suggestion; it is the central assignment of every believer. Without this understanding, we become vulnerable to every wind of doctrine and religious confusion that abounds today.
If you do not truly understand someone, it is impossible to walk with them in unity. You will likely miscommunicate, misinterpret their actions, or even walk in opposition without realizing it. The same is true with Jesus Christ without understanding His person, His words, and His mission, we risk misrepresenting Him entirely.
Jesus often said things that seemed offensive, confusing, or controversial. Without the help of the Holy Spirit, one can easily misunderstand His teachings and arrive at false conclusions.
Let us explore a few of His difficult sayings and discover their deeper meaning.
“And he said to them, ‘Go and tell that fox, “Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.”Luke 13:32, ESV
Some accuse Jesus of insulting Herod. But was He actually using a slur?
No. In ancient Jewish culture, calling someone a “fox” was not simply name calling it implied cunning, slyness, and destructive behavior. Jesus was exposing Herod’s spiritual character. In Scripture, metaphors are often used this way. Jesus is called the “Lamb of God” (John 1:29) because of His gentle and sacrificial nature, not because He is literally a lamb.
Calling Herod a “fox” revealed his spiritual condition, not an insult. In fact, Jesus using animal imagery (Lamb, Lion, Dove, etc.) is consistent with how God communicates spiritual truths through physical metaphors.
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”Luke 14:26, ESV
At first glance, this seems to contradict Jesus’ other teachings on love. After all, didn’t He command us to love even our enemies? (Matthew 5:44).
So how do we interpret this?
The word “hate” here (Greek: miseo) is used comparatively. Jesus is saying: “If anyone loves their family or even their own life more than Me, they cannot be My disciple.”
He is not commanding literal hatred, but rather complete surrender and loyalty to Him above all else, even above family, relationships, or self-interest.
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me…”Matthew 10:37, ESV
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.”John 6:53, ESV
This statement caused much offense. Some even stopped following Jesus after hearing it (John 6:66). It sounded like cannibalism, especially to the Jewish audience who were forbidden from consuming blood (Leviticus 17:10-14).
But Jesus was not speaking literally. He explained later that:
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”John 6:63, ESV
To “eat His flesh” and “drink His blood” means to fully receive, believe, and internalize His Word and His redemptive sacrifice. It is about abiding in Him through faith.
The Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion) is a symbolic act of this spiritual reality:
“And he took bread… and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’”1 Corinthians 11:23-25, ESV
The bread represents His body, and the wine (or juice) His blood. They are outward signs of the inward truth: that Christ lives in us, and we in Him (John 15:4).
You shared a powerful dream where you were eating meat from your own legs, symbolizing how you were relying on your own understanding, not the Word of God. This dream is deeply biblical.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”
Proverbs 3:5, ESV
Self made doctrines, human philosophies, and personal opinions when consumed as truth lead to spiritual death. You realized you were spiritually feeding on your own flesh (your own ideas), and the Lord mercifully corrected you.
Just as people can eat the “flesh” of Christ by consuming His words, they can also eat the “flesh” of:
False teachings are spiritual “meat” that poison the soul. Here are some examples:
If you’ve been “feeding” on false teachings or relying on your own thoughts, there’s hope. Jesus offers His body and blood the true food of eternal life freely.
“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters… without money and without price.”
Isaiah 55:1, ESV
“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”Mark 16:16, ESV
Do not feast on the lies of the enemy. Do not consume the empty philosophies of the world. Instead, feast daily on the Word of Christ, which gives eternal life.
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega…”Revelation 22:12–13, ESV
“The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ Let the one who is thirsty come…”Revelation 22:17, ESV
Jesus said:
“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”John 6:35, ESV
Choose today to feast on Christ. Abide in Him, feed on His Word, and walk in His Spirit. Reject every teaching that exalts man, the flesh, or demonic wisdom. The body and blood of Jesus are not just doctrines they are life.
May the Lord bless you richly and lead you deeper into His truth.
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