Section 8
killed. Even an onion must first be killed before we can eat it. If it is not killed with a knife, it will be killed by our teeth. Likewise, the Lord had to be slain for us to eat Him.
In verse 51b the Lord says, "And the bread which I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." At this point, the bread becomes the flesh. The bread is of the vegetable life and is only for feeding, and the flesh is of the animal life and is not only for feeding, but also for redeeming. Before the fall of man, the Lord was the tree of life (Gen. 2:9), only for feeding man. After man fell into sin, the Lord became the Lamb (John 1:29), not only for feeding man, but also for redeeming him (Exo. 12:4, 7-8). The Lord gave His body, that is, His flesh, to die for us that we might have life. The blood is added in verse 53, where the Lord says, "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 your selves." The blood is added here because it is nec essary for redemption (John 19:34; Heb. 9:22; Matt. 26:28; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; Rom 3:25).
In verse 54 the Lord says, "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up in the last day." Here flesh and blood are mentioned separately. When blood is