{"id":56399,"date":"2019-04-01T20:36:02","date_gmt":"2019-04-01T17:36:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=56399"},"modified":"2025-09-25T08:25:02","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T05:25:02","slug":"the-body-and-blood-of-jesus-christ","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2019\/04\/01\/the-body-and-blood-of-jesus-christ\/","title":{"rendered":"THE BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST"},"content":{"rendered":"

Call to True Discipleship<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Shalom!<\/strong>
\nWelcome to this Bible teaching session. Today, we will reflect on the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God<\/strong>, and the profound meaning of His body and His blood<\/strong>. As the Scriptures instruct us:<\/p>\n

\u201c…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.\u201d
\nEphesians 4:13, ESV<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In simpler terms, we are called to truly know and understand Jesus Christ<\/strong>, not just in word, but in the fullness<\/strong> of who He is to the degree that He desires to reveal Himself to us<\/strong>. This is not a suggestion; it is the central assignment of every believer<\/strong>. Without this understanding, we become vulnerable to every wind of doctrine and religious confusion that abounds today.<\/p>\n

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1. Why It Is Vital to Know Jesus Deeply<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus often said things that seemed offensive, confusing, or controversial<\/strong>. Without the help of the Holy Spirit<\/strong>, one can easily misunderstand His teachings and arrive at false conclusions.<\/p>\n

Let us explore a few of His difficult sayings and discover their deeper meaning.<\/p>\n

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2. When Jesus Called Herod “That Fox”<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cAnd he said to them, \u2018Go and tell that fox, \u201cBehold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.\u201dLuke 13:32, ESV<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Some accuse Jesus of insulting Herod. But was He actually using a slur?<\/p>\n

No. In ancient Jewish culture, calling someone a “fox” was not simply name calling it implied cunning, slyness, and destructive behavior<\/strong>. Jesus was exposing Herod’s spiritual character<\/strong>. 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<\/strong>, not because He is literally a lamb.<\/p>\n

Calling Herod a “fox” revealed his spiritual condition<\/strong>, not an insult. In fact, Jesus using animal imagery (Lamb, Lion, Dove, etc.) is consistent with how God communicates spiritual truths<\/strong> through physical metaphors.<\/p>\n

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3. “Unless You Hate Your Father and Mother…”<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cIf 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.\u201dLuke 14:26, ESV<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

At first glance, this seems to contradict Jesus\u2019 other teachings on love. After all, didn\u2019t He command us to love even our enemies? (Matthew 5:44).<\/p>\n

So how do we interpret this?<\/p>\n

The word “hate”<\/strong> here (Greek: miseo<\/em>) is used comparatively<\/strong>. Jesus is saying: “If anyone loves their family or even their own life more than Me, they cannot be My disciple.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

He is not commanding literal hatred, but rather complete surrender and loyalty to Him above all else<\/strong>, even above family, relationships, or self-interest.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me\u2026\u201dMatthew 10:37, ESV<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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4. “Eat My Flesh and Drink My Blood”\u00a0 John 6:52-56<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cTruly, 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.\u201dJohn 6:53, ESV<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This statement caused much offense. Some even stopped following Jesus after hearing it (John 6:66). It sounded like cannibalism<\/strong>, especially to the Jewish audience who were forbidden from consuming blood (Leviticus 17:10-14).<\/p>\n

But Jesus was not speaking literally<\/strong>. He explained later that:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt 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.\u201dJohn 6:63, ESV<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

To \u201ceat His flesh\u201d and \u201cdrink His blood\u201d means to fully receive, believe, and internalize His Word and His redemptive sacrifice<\/strong>. It is about abiding in Him<\/strong> through faith.<\/p>\n

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The Bread and the Cup as Symbols<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Lord\u2019s Supper (Holy Communion) is a symbolic act<\/strong> of this spiritual reality:<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd he took bread… and said, \u2018This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.\u2019\u201d1 Corinthians 11:23-25, ESV<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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5. Eating Your Own Flesh\u00a0 A Personal Warning<\/strong><\/h2>\n

You shared a powerful dream where you were eating meat from your own legs<\/strong>, symbolizing how you were relying on your own understanding<\/strong>, not the Word of God. This dream is deeply biblical.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.\u201d
\nProverbs 3:5, ESV<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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6. The Dangers of False Teachings and Doctrines<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Just as people can eat the “flesh” of Christ by consuming His words, they can also eat the “flesh” of:<\/p>\n