Is The Body and Blood -- Literal or figurative?

⁴⁸I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. ⁵⁰This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. ⁵¹I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.’

The question asked:…”when it come to the resurrection of the body, I get stuck.   What do you do with that?”

Loder’s answer: “In the first place, I don’t think it means that the literal, physical body is resurrected….”

Question: “So what do you think “body” means vis—vis the resurrection?  Wasn’t Jesus’ body raised from the dead?”

Answer:  “…… When you think about what a body is, it can mean different things.  It’s flesh and bone and blood.  But more specifically, its’ a definition in space.  A body is what distinguishes one of us from another.  It makes us recognizable.….”

 

My Examples:

Think about when Mary met Jesus, that first Easter morning, at the tomb she didn't recognize him.  

The same happened when Jesus came into the lock room where the disciples were hiding in fear.

It happened on the Road to Emmaus.

And on the beach when he called on Peter and his friend to cast the nets on the other side of the boat -- for a better catch.

Loder: So what was raised is a person.  In Judaism, body-mind-spirit are one whole being.  It’s the Greeks who divided them up into more….”  (p. 64-65 Loaves, Fishes, and Leftovers  by Ted Loder.)

‘Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life,…(Jn. 6)

 

That is just a afew lines from the bigger picture that Jesus was trying to get the disciples to understand about how God works.  It would really be better if you read the whole chapter for yourselves.

The entire questions/discussions about the elements of Communion have been historically debated for centuries.  Some try to soften the possibility of chewing on Jesus flesh and drinking his blood by putting qualifications on it. 

Do we take it literally or figuratively?

The Roman Catholics, and Eastern Churchs, interpret  Jesus’ words literally, as “This is my body” rather than “This signifies my body.”

Other Protestant denomination think figuratively.  Such as understanding body and blood as a symbol; or as a feeding, or a bodily feeding; others consider them as “real presence" (rather than a spiritual presence).

I am quite sure there are many more interpretations, wondering around the theological world, that I am unaware of. All of which began, by the way, with some of Jesus’ original disciples the moment the words were spoken.

  60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, ‘This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?’ ⁶¹But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, ‘Does this offend you? (Jn. 6)

So you get the idea that it is not a simple things among Christians. 

What I believe is that when I take the bread in my hands and put the cup to my lips I am receiving the body and blood of the one who gave his life for me.

I take the bread and wine in "remembrance" of the life Jesus’ fills me with still today. Just as if I was one of those ancient disciples sitting with Jesus thousands of years ago.  

And that is most precious to me.

Is Resurrection On-Going?

All through my years of ministry I have often heard things like: “I know he/she is in a better place.”  “When I die will I be united with my love?”  “I can’t wait to be with _____ when I die.”    There are many more references to meeting others on the other side of earth.

It seems strange now to realize that I have never formed a theological stance on this idea of what happens after death.

I just believed it is truth.

I am thinking about that now because my, dearest high school, friend is attending her granddaughter’s funeral today.  

Katie was a vital young woman of 21 year.  Her death came at the hands of a friend.  He brutally stabbed her to death; because she couldn’t return his offer of love.  In other words, she refused to be his only life partner.

The other reason I am focusing on this is because of a  book I have been reading for devotions.  The title is: Loaves, Fishes, and Leftovers by Ted Loder.

The particular section this morning was on the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Very simply put — in my simple mind — resurrection is on-going.  

For a few pages Loder had been answering questions on, I’ll say, what resurrection mean and how it speaks to us today.  Well into the conversation he says:

 

“So I think of the “on-going-ness” of relationships in two ways. One is this: All the creeds and the Gospels, whatever they claim about Jesus , affirms that he was fully a human being, right?  Then, it seems logical that the rest of us aren’t quite fully human yet, doesn’t it?   I am suggesting that in resurrection we continue to struggle to be fully human, not angels or whatever but fully human, like Jesus.  Sounds strange to say, but here it is.  And to be a human being is to be related to other people.  How else can that happen?   How can we be related to God without that?…..” (p.67)

“To have a relationship go on is to say that the possibilities remain….. the possibilities go on after death, I think.  As they did for Jesus and the disciples.  Maybe it takes forever to realize those possibilities, to find the peace, justice, love, and joy that we most deeply long for.  But I trust that longing is not just about something in us but something about God. I think God is in our longing, that God has put it there.  And will not leave it unmet” (p. 66)

I read that paragraph and wrote at the bottom of the page: "So Cool!"

So to say all of this another way, I am captivated by Loder’s discussion that begins on page 54, maybe a bit earlier.

I am fully taken with all to this for another reason as well.  My husband took the hands of God in August of 2013.  And I often feel his presence; while sometimes feeling regret about how, and why, our marriage ended.

After writing the above; I opened my CNN news clips and read:  "They lost their love ones to Covid.  Then they heard from them again - CNN"

The article goes on to give serval stories about people who claim they have been somehow contacted by those who are on the other side of earth.   The stories made me recall my own experiences with such stories through the years. 

 

I am sure if you check CNN you will be able to fine the complete article.

So now I am wondering how you, my readers, are thinking about this subject as well. 

Tomorrow I want to delve into what it means: “resurrection of the body.”

"Go And Sell Everything"

 

17 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’(Mark 10)

This question is recorded twice in the Gospels, once in Mark and once in Luke.  

What I am interested in is how Jesus responds to the question.  

In Mark He answers:    

²⁰He said to him, ‘Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.’ ²¹Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”

In Luke Jesus responds by telling the Parable of the Good Samaritan. (Lk. 10:17-37)

Yesterday when I was comparing those two answers I was puzzled by Jesus’ words to the man in Mark.

go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor,

And my mind said: “What would you do?”  

That is a tough nut to swallow for anyone.  

As a matter of fact, I think it is beyond anyone’s imagination to sell “everything.”  Leave one’s entire life behind, all that one has worked for and earned, and just “follow” Jesus.

I mean, we humans treasure what we have, even if it doesn’t make us truly happy or give us peace.  

It is the human way to earn our way.

To have a life that gives us comfort, safety and security.

I am much more in favor of the way Jesus approached the man in Luke’s Gospel.  

Not that it is important what I think.  

Who am I to question Jesus’ methods?

But telling someone 'how' it would look, to handle what one has acquired, seem just a bit easier to imagine.

It gives us an example of how important it is to share our wealth, and our own selves, with someone in need.

The parable of the Good Samaritan offers the possibility of giving what we have to someone.  It allows one to look, eye to eye, at the person being helped.  There is a sense of compassion and service that is direct and empathic.  It show us how to give out of love and compassion; rather than simply selling it all in a impersonal way.

So it makes me wonder if there was something that Jesus sensed in each man that cause the different ways of answering.  

By telling a story it allows the man to understand, what Jesus was asking, showing the man the difference between just going through life doing good now and then.  

It is telling him what Jesus would do with what he had.  

It helps him to place his focus on the ways of God rather than the ways of the world.

So I am wondering if the man, in Mark’s Gospel, had just been going through the traditional commandments in a rote manner.  Not thinking about others who were in need.  Not giving any thought to what the commandment truly mean.

Jesus answer made it sound like to be rich is somehow sinful and unclean — basically wrong.

It out right tells the people, who read Mark, there is no hope of eternal life for those who are not in want. That is a powerful mixed message. Especially in the world of today.

I think the key word in this story is: ²¹Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said,...

Either way, these passages leave us with many unanswered questions.

17 As fe was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ ¹⁸Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. ¹⁹You know the commandments: “You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.” ’ ²⁰He said to him, ‘Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.’ ²¹Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ ²²When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.  23 Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!’(Mark 10)

25 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ ²⁶He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What do you read there?’ ²⁷He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’ ²⁸And he said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’  T29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’ ³⁰Jesus replied, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. ³²So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. ³⁴He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. ³⁵The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.” ³⁶Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ ³⁷He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’ (Luke 10)