“And if any native Israelite or foreigner living among you eats or drinks blood in any form, I will turn against that person and cut him off from the community of your people, for the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the LORD. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible. That is why I have said to the people of Israel, ‘You must never eat or drink blood—neither you nor the foreigners living among you.’ [Leviticus 17.10-12]
Compare to:
Jesus said to them, “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. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. [John 6.53-57]
First off, what Leviticus prohibits is literal consumption of blood. Jesus was not suggesting that His followers literally consume His flesh and blood.
Blood carries great significance. The precedent set by Old Testament law regarding the consumption of blood provided the contrast necessary to convey the depth of meaning Jesus' words carried. Culturally speaking, consumption of blood by Jewish people was appalling. For Jesus to make His declaration in John 6.53-57 was nothing short of shocking. However, in order for it to penetrate the barriers of long-standing culture and religion, Jesus' allegory was absolutely necessary.
It would not be until later, just before Jesus' death that He would address this subject again:
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” [Matthew 26.27-29]
As I consider the implications of these scriptures here today, I realize I am looking into some "deep water" the bottom of which is currently incomprehensible to me. This is a topic we would all do well to meditate long and hard upon.
Father, help me to understand the significance of Jesus' declaration about His flesh and blood in contrast to Old Testament law.
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