Why Did Jesus Command Us to Eat His Flesh Instead of Another Metaphor?

Have you ever stopped to consider the deliberate choice Jesus made in using the metaphor of eating His flesh and drinking His blood? It’s such a visceral, even disturbing image that continues to challenge us today. When Jesus told His followers to “eat My flesh,” He selected perhaps the most provocative language possible—words that would have been deeply offensive to His Jewish audience and violated their religious and cultural sensibilities. This wasn’t a slip of the tongue or poor communication strategy. As with His command to drink His blood, Jesus specifically chose this jarring metaphor over countless gentler alternatives. Why would the Prince of Peace, the greatest communicator who ever lived, intentionally use language that He knew would drive away many of His followers? Perhaps there’s something in this deliberate choice that reveals profound truths about what it truly means to follow Him.

Biblical Insight

The central passage where Jesus introduces this challenging metaphor is John 6:53-56: “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. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in them.” The Greek word used for “eat” in these verses is even more graphic than our English translation conveys. By verse 56, Jesus uses the word τρώγων (trōgōn), which suggests a gnawing, crunching, or chewing—a very physical and visceral consumption.

This language would have been shocking not only because it suggested a form of cannibalism but also because it directly contradicted Mosaic law. In Leviticus 17:10-14, consuming flesh with blood in it was explicitly forbidden. Furthermore, Jesus’ use of flesh imagery deliberately echoed the tabernacle and temple sacrificial system. In those sacrifices, certain offerings were consumed by the priests (Leviticus 6:26), but never in the graphic, personal manner Jesus described. By commanding His followers to eat His flesh, Jesus was declaring Himself to be both the final sacrifice and the means by which believers would internalize the benefits of that sacrifice.

Looking at this passage in its full context reveals another layer of meaning. Just before this teaching, Jesus had performed the miracle of feeding the five thousand (John 6:1-15), and afterward declared Himself to be “the bread of life” (John 6:35). He was deliberately contrasting the temporary physical nourishment of regular bread with the eternal spiritual nourishment that comes through total identification with Him. By using the metaphor of eating His flesh rather than simply believing His words or following His example, Jesus was emphasizing the absolute necessity of complete union with Him—a total, dependent incorporation of His being into ours that transforms us from the inside out.

Practical Wisdom

Jesus’ choice of this visceral eating metaphor teaches us something profound about faith: authentic discipleship requires internalization, not just intellectual assent or external observance. Many religious systems are built around external practices and intellectual beliefs, but Jesus calls us to something much more transformative. When we “eat His flesh” in the spiritual sense, we’re not just agreeing with His teachings or admiring His example—we’re allowing His very life to become our sustenance, the source of our spiritual vitality and growth.

This metaphor challenges our tendency toward comfortable, convenient faith. In our modern context, we often want a Christianity that’s palatable and easy to digest—one that doesn’t make demands or create discomfort. But Jesus deliberately used language that would offend and challenge because the relationship He offers is not superficial. It involves taking Him into the very core of our being, allowing His life to transform ours completely. This is why He didn’t choose a gentler metaphor; nothing less visceral would adequately convey the intimacy and totality of the union He offers and requires.

The metaphor of eating also speaks to regularity and necessity. We don’t eat once for all time; we need daily nourishment. Similarly, our relationship with Jesus isn’t a one-time decision but an ongoing dependence that shapes every aspect of our lives. The Holy Spirit enables this continual feeding on Christ through prayer, meditation on Scripture, worship, and communion. When we neglect this regular spiritual nourishment, we begin to wither spiritually just as surely as our physical bodies would weaken without food. This daily, dependent relationship is at the heart of what it means to abide in Him (John 15:4-5).

Clearing up misunderstandings

A common misunderstanding about Jesus’ “eat My flesh” teaching is that it was primarily establishing the sacrament of communion or Eucharist. While the Last Supper certainly gave practical expression to this metaphor, Jesus was addressing something much broader than a ritual. He was speaking about the fundamental nature of our relationship with Him—a complete dependence and internalization that communion helps us remember and experience, but which extends to every moment of our lives. The sacrament is the symbol; the reality is our moment-by-moment living from His life within us.

Another misconception is that Jesus could have communicated His point more effectively with a less offensive metaphor. This assumes that His goal was maximum retention of followers. However, throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus repeatedly using provocative language and challenging teachings that sifted casual curiosity-seekers from true disciples. In John 6:66, we read that “from this time many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him.” This wasn’t a communication failure but a deliberate winnowing. Jesus knew that the truths of the Kingdom are so radical that they require a fundamental reorientation of one’s entire life, and He wanted followers who would commit to this transformation rather than seeking an easier path.

Conclusion

Jesus’ command to eat His flesh stands as one of His most challenging and profound teachings. Rather than choosing a more palatable metaphor, He deliberately used language that would force His hearers to either reject Him or radically reconsider their understanding of what it means to follow God. This teaches us that authentic faith isn’t about comfort or convenience but about total transformation through intimate union with Christ. As we wrestle with this challenging metaphor, we’re invited into a deeper understanding of discipleship—one that goes beyond external observance or intellectual agreement to complete dependence on and incorporation of His life into ours.

Did you know

The Greek word τρώγω (trōgō) that Jesus uses for “eat” in John 6:56-58 was primarily used to describe animals eating or humans crunching on fruits, nuts, or raw vegetables. It’s a much more graphic and physical term than the more common word for eat (ἐσθίω, esthiō) used earlier in the passage. This intensification of language shows that Jesus was deliberately making His metaphor more vivid and challenging as the discourse progressed, not softening it to retain His audience.