The actual Body and Blood, or just symbolic?

[Lamb]

In all the churches I know about, they use grape juice instead of wine just for those who might have trouble with even a little bit of alcohol. I don't believe that God literally transforms the grape juice into Jesus' blood. He was speaking figuratively about spiritual reality in John 6, just as he did with all of his "I am" claims to say that he is truly God in the Gospel of John, thus saying, for example, that he is the God of Moses' burning bush and David's Shepherd (Psalm 23):

Jhn_6:35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
Jhn_6:41 So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”
Jhn_6:48 I am the bread of life.
Jhn_6:51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

Jhn_8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Jhn_8:58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

Jhn_9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Jhn_10:7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
Jhn_10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
Jhn_10:11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Jhn_10:14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,

Jhn_11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

Jhn_14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jhn_15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
Jhn_15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Lutherans believe that John 6 is spiritual, not literal.

But Jesus did say, "This is my body" elsewhere.

 

[BruceLeiter]

Lutherans believe that John 6 is spiritual, not literal.

But Jesus did say, "This is my body" elsewhere.

However, in those passages he wasn't talking about his literal body either, was he @Lamb?

 

[Lamb]

However, in those passages he wasn't talking about his literal body either, was he @Lamb?

This is my body.

Sounds like it is His body.

 

[BruceLeiter]

This is my body.

Sounds like it is His body.

Jesus often speaks in metaphors comparing ordinary things and people with his spiritual reality: I am the door , the good Shepherd, the bread of life, and the true Vine in order to teach spiritual truths (compare with the seven "I am" claims in the Gospel of John). John 6 is a perfect example of his teaching style that we can rely on to understand Communion. His flesh and blood are clearly figurative, spiritual comparisons to point us to his suffering and death on the cross with the "I am" pointing to Exodus 3, in which God gives his name as such.

Joh 6:33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
Joh 6:34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
Joh 6:35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

Exo 3:13 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?”
Exo 3:14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”