Jesus was no cannibal!

A special note to the Jewish "anti-missionaries" who like to insist that "Jesus is a cannibal who expects us to eat his flesh and drink his blood" - let's look at the context!

John 6: 53. And Y’shua said to them, Amen, amen I say to you, that unless you eat the body of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in Qnoma.[1]   54. And he who eats from my body and drinks from my blood has life that is everlasting, and I will raise him up on the last day.  55. For truly my body is food and truly my blood is drink.  56. He who eats my body and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him.  57. As the Living Father has sent me, and I live because of the Father, and whoever eats of me he also will live because of me.  58. This is the Bread that has descended from Heaven.  It is not as manna your forefathers ate and died.  He who eats this Bread will live forever![2] (AENT)

Footnotes: 

[1]  Qnoma, usually translated here as “you”, “self”, or “yourselves”, but literally means “Underlying substance.” (PY).  The body/blood imagery is metaphoric.  Y’shua, of course, knows very well that it is an abomination to drink any kind of blood, let alone human blood (Leviticus 17:11).  Consuming human flesh is also an abomination that is strictly prohibited.  Rabbis even suggest that part of the reason swine’s flesh is forbidden is because it resembles human skin. 

There are two underlying parts: Part 1 recalls the imagery of Ezekiel 3:1-15 where the prophet actually ate a Torah scroll; the imagery symbolizing the prophet being sustained by and proclaiming Torah, which is the essence of what Y’shua is teaching.  Y’shua’s example and teaching are to be part of our innermost being, literally taken in and ingested into our hearts.  This imagery is also seen in Mark 7:19 which distinguishes between physical food and spiritual (heart) “food”, and Jeremiah 31:33 which speaks of writing Torah upon the heart.  Part 2, is the life which Y’shua refers to; it is not physicality, as “self”, but the core essence of being, literally of the neshama, (spirit of man).

[2]  Clear evidence that opposes the “communion” model of mainstream Christian institutions.  Nothing is being eaten while Y’shua is making this statement; he had just levied a rebuke for their desire of physical rather than spiritual “bread.”  It is Faith in Y’shua as Mashiyach which causes a person to “eat the flesh and drink the blood.”  The “wafer” (transubstitution) is a Pagan adulteration against Y’shua’s teaching.  Y’shua observed Torah to perfection; his perfect atoning sacrifice would be remembered specifically on the Moedim (YHWH’s feasts) as the Word of YHWH instructs.

Here's another of Paul's teachings explained:

Acts 21:20. And when they heard (it) they glorified Elohim. And they said to him: “Our brother, You see how many myriads there are in Judaea who have believed: and these are all zealous for Torah![1] 21. And it has been told them, of you, that you teach all the Jews that are among the Gentiles to depart from Moshe, by telling them not to circumcise their children, and not to observe the rites of Torah.[2] 22. Now, because they have heard that you have arrived here, 23. do what we tell you. We have four men, who have vowed to purify themselves. 24. Take them, and go and purify yourself with them, and pay the expenses along with them, as they will shave their heads; that every one may know, that what is said against you is false, and that you fulfill and observe Torah. 25. As to those of the Gentiles who have believed, we have written, that they should keep themselves from (an idol’s) sacrifice, and from sexual sin, and from what is strangled, and from blood.”

Footnotes:

[1] Most translations read “zealous for the law”; it is a self-evident truth that myriads of Netzarim followers of Y’shua were also zealous for Torah! The work of the Ruach haKodesh (Set-Apart Spirit) is to write Torah (instructions in righteousness) upon the hearts of YHWH’s people, both Jew and Elohim Fearers.

[2] Attacks against Rav Shaul by factions of rabbinical zealots were manifold. Shaul taught that faith and intent of the heart determines whether a person is ready to be circumcised and walk in Torah. At no time did Shaul teach against either circumcision or Torah; however, he opposed the “traditions of the Pharisees” who demanded blind observance to their religious traditions.

Shaul required that Gentile converts be taught about covenant and have clear understanding of what they were doing, in relationship to YHWH and His Mashiyach. To be expected to know and observe complex halakha at early stages of belief is unacceptable. Both the Pharisees and Netzarim taught that a person must study to develop their understanding and establish the intent in their heart before circumcision, rather than blindly follow the wishes of others. Only a small group of zealots demanded immediate circumcision, which is something Rav Shaul clearly opposes. It is very evident that Awraham received instruction before his circumcision, and he is the father of Faith for both Jews and Gentiles alike.