06/11/2026
QUESTION OF THE WEEK — Jesus teaches the crowds that whoever eats his body and drinks his blood will live forever. He is not speaking symbolically!
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Eating Flesh? (John 6:52–59)
After the murmuring of the Jews, Jesus affirms His teaching and then makes Himself even clearer. The bread that He offers is better than the miraculous manna in the wilderness. Those who ate that bread did not escape death; this bread leads to eternal life (v. 49). Finally, Jesus specifically says that this bread is, in fact, His very flesh (Jn 6: 51).
The Jews hear this and remark, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” It is clear that they understand Jesus to mean they should literally eat His flesh. Jesus does not correct their understanding; rather, He continues to preach the same message and notes that His flesh is food indeed and His blood is true drink.
Reading this passage in the Greek makes this point even more apparent. In verses 50–58 of chapter 6, John uses the word “eat” eight times. However, John employs two different Greek words that are both translated as “eat” in English: Phago is used in verses 50–53. It means “to eat” or “to consume” and, in the Greek, is used symbolically.
Trogo is used four times in verses 54–57, when Jesus answers the Pharisees’ objection and clarifies exactly what He means. Trogo is more graphic—it means “to chew” or “to gnaw.” Trogo cannot be used symbolically in the Greek language; therefore, in this context, we must take it to mean literally eating the flesh of Jesus. This graphic word is used to emphasize this very fact.
- from focusequip.org
