The study in Deuteronomy leads us to some lively discussions. Two such discussions came up today and I would like to share one because so many read over this section and go on without a clue to what it all means.
In Deuteronomy 12:16, 23 the Jews were told not to eat the blood for the life is in the blood. In Leviticus 17:11 we hear again that the life is in the blood and GOD has given it for the atonement for your souls.
So, I asked my class, “Why did JESUS say we were to drink HIS blood?” Then I had them turn to John 6:53-56
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink HIS blood, you have no life in you. Whoso eats MY flesh, and drinks MY blood, has eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For MY flesh is meat indeed, and MY blood is drink indeed. He that eats MY flesh, and drinks MY blood, dwells in ME, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent ME, and I live by the Father: so he that eats ME, even he shall live by ME.
Deuteronomy 12 tells us the Jews were not allowed to drink the blood because the life of the flesh is in the blood so as we drink JESUS blood HIS life is manifested in us.
Then I asked, “How do we drink JESUS blood?” JESUS tells us in John 6:54 that as we drink HIS blood and eat HIS flesh we have eternal life.
John 3:16 says that we get eternal life by believing in JESUS. Therefore, we drink his blood by believing that GOD so loved the world that HE sent HIS only begotten SON (JESUS) that whosoever believed in HIM would have eternal life.
John 17:3 says that eternal life is that we know the only true GOD the father and JESUS CHRIST whom HE sent. So again, we see that believing is how we drink JESUS blood and eat HIS flesh.
Now the term flesh and blood is an idiom that refers to a living human body. Although JESUS is talking symbolically in John 6;53-57 HE is referring to HIMSELF- GOD the eternal Word as taking on a human body and becoming a man.
Now the question remains how do we feed on HIS flesh? According to Matthew 4:4 we shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of GOD so therefore we eat JESUS flesh by reading the Word of GOD and it nourishes and teaches us. One of JESUS names is the Word, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with GOD and the Word was GOD…and the Word became flesh and lived among us and we beheld HIS glory as the only Begotten of GOD (John 1:1,14).
So, by reading the WORD of GOD and believing the Truth we eat JESUS flesh and drink HIS blood and thereby have eternal life are nourished and abide in HIM.
JESUS said, “I am the way, the truth and the life no one comes to the FATHER but by ME” (John 14:6).
Have you come to the FATHER through JESUS?
Hugs
Sharon
wakemyear 