Among the Jews there were believers and rejecters of Jesus. The two groups argued violently. The enemies of Jesus were disgusted at the thought of eating his flesh and drinking his blood. Jesus precipitated the split between the two parties, to bring out those who trusted him. He tested the love of the first group and showed up the blindness of the others. He did say, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat my flesh and drink my cup, you do not have eternal life. Unless you participate in my being, you will abide in death and sin forever." These words rang in their ears and sounded like blasphemy. As if the man Jesus was daring them, "Kill and eat me, for in my self I am a miracle. My body is bread, the divine life offered you." Their blood boiled and they were furious. However, those who trusted in him responded drawn by the Holy Spirit, believing the incredible, relying on Jesus to find a way of making good his words. had they thought a little, at the Passover, they would have realized that John the Baptist had called Jesus, the Lamb of God: All Jews took part in the Passover, eating the flesh of lambs slain on that occasion. This was to ward off the wrath of God, by identifying with the sacrifices. Jesus pointed out that he was the true Lamb of God who bears the sin of the world.
Nowadays we know that the symbols of the Lord’s Supper signify that Christ’s flesh is absorbed by us, and his blood purifies us from sin. We thank him for this grace. The Galileans at that stage did not know this mystery, and his words were dumbfounding their minds. Jesus was testing their faith, but their obstinacy soon appeared in a fiery outburst.
We worship Christ in joy and thanksgiving, for he has explained the Lord’s Supper to us in symbols, and how he comes in us by his Spirit. Without his sacrifice we cannot approach God or abide in Him. The perfect forgiveness of our sins lets us merit his coming into us. Faith in him brings about this miracle and makes us sharers in his glorious resurrection. We worship the Lamb, for redeeming us. Jesus is not content to die for us on the cross, but desires to fill us, and so we become saints living forever.