Who should partake of the blood and flesh?

by avidbiblereader 6 Replies latest jw experiences

• 

  avidbiblereader

  This is another point I have always considered where the JW are doing what Jesus said where they dont go in to the kingdom and neither do those that they teach.

  John 6:53-56 53 Accordingly Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to YOU , Unless YOU eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, YOU have no life in yourselves. 54 He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has everlasting life, and I shall resurrect him at the last day; 55 for my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood remains in union with me, and I in union with him

  Could it be that all of should be partaking of Jesus blood and flesh at the Lord Supper, I now do but wonder about all those who are taught not to. I am listening to the Bible and not a man.

  abr
• 

  hamsterbait

  The latest study I remember explained "the Last Day" as being the Millennium.

  When Jesus asked Martha about Lazarus, she replied "he will rise on the Last Day" It explains that since Martha only knew of the earthly resurrection, she meant Lazurus would get this. In the terms of the passage itself and what the WTBTS says, Jesus words have to apply to ALL who put their faith in him, not just a chosen few.

  But then, remember Christs words to the Scribes and Pharisees: "Adroitly you set aside the word of God with your traditions."

  HB
• 

  Carmel

  ...carnivores....
• 

  drew sagan

  see edited post below.
• 

  drew sagan

  The Watchtower reasons on the verse this way:

  *** w03 9/15 pp. 30-31 Questions From Readers ***
  
  What does having “life in himself” mean?
  
  The Bible speaks of Jesus Christ as having “life in himself” and of his followers as having ‘life in themselves.’ (John 5:26; 6:53) However, these two scriptures do not have the same meaning.
  
  “Just as the Father has life in himself,” stated Jesus, “so he has granted also to the Son to have life in himself.” Prior to making this remarkable statement, Jesus said: “Most truly I say to you, He that hears my word and believes him that sent me has everlasting life . . . The hour is coming, and it is now, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who have given heed will live.” Here Jesus was referring to an extraordinary power bestowed upon him by the Father—the ability to give humans a fine standing before God. Moreover, Jesus is able to resurrect those sleeping in death and to impart life to them. For Jesus, having “life in himself” means that he is granted these powers. Like the Father, the Son also has “in himself the gift of life.” (John 5:24-26; footnote) What about his followers?
  
  About a year later, Jesus addressed his listeners, saying: “Most truly I say to you, Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in yourselves. He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has everlasting life, and I shall resurrect him at the last day.” (John 6:53, 54) Here Jesus equates having “life in yourselves” with gaining “everlasting life.” Expressions with the same grammatical construction as having “life in yourselves” are found elsewhere in the Greek Scriptures. Two examples are, “Have salt in yourselves” and “receiving in themselves the full recompense.” (Mark 9:50; Romans 1:27) In these instances, the phrases do not signify power to bestow salt on others or to mete out recompense to anyone. Rather, internal completeness, or fullness, is indicated. Thus, the expression “life in yourselves” used at John 6:53 simply means entering into the very fullness of life.
  
  With reference to his followers as having life in themselves, Jesus mentioned his flesh and his blood. Later, when instituting the Lord’s Evening Meal, Jesus again spoke about his flesh and blood and directed his followers who would be taken into the new covenant to partake of the emblems of unleavened bread and wine. Does this mean that only anointed Christians, who are in the new covenant with Jehovah God, enter into such fullness of life? No. The two occasions were a year apart. Those who heard Jesus’ words recorded at John 6:53, 54 had no knowledge of an annual observance with emblems representing Christ’s flesh and blood.
  
  According to John chapter 6, Jesus first compares his flesh to manna, saying: “Your forefathers ate the manna in the wilderness and yet died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this bread he will live forever.” Jesus’ flesh, along with his blood, was greater than literal manna. How? In that his flesh was given for “the life of the world,” making everlasting life possible. Hence, the statement about having “life in yourselves” at John 6:53 applies to all those receiving everlasting life—in heaven or on earth.—John 6:48-51.
  
  When do Christ’s followers receive life in themselves, or enter into the fullness of life? For the anointed Kingdom heirs, this happens at their resurrection to heavenly life as immortal spirit creatures. (1 Corinthians 15:52, 53; 1 John 3:2) Jesus’ “other sheep” experience entry into the fullness of life after the end of his Thousand Year Reign. By then, they will have been tested, found faithful, and declared righteous for everlasting life in the Paradise earth.—John 10:16; Revelation 20:5, 7-10.

  I think the most important thing to realize is the exegesis given in the third paragraph:

  Expressions with the same grammatical construction as having “life in yourselves” are found elsewhere in the Greek Scriptures. Two examples are, “Have salt in yourselves” and “receiving in themselves the full recompense.” (Mark 9:50; Romans 1:27) In these instances, the phrases do not signify power to bestow salt on others or to mete out recompense to anyone. Rather, internal completeness, or fullness, is indicated. Thus, the expression “life in yourselves” used at John 6:53 simply means entering into the very fullness of life.

  Again the Watchtower relies simply upon grammer, not context in order to discuss the meaning of a verse. They go to other verses in the Bible that do not even discuss or relate to the verse in question and then examine the grammer. By finding grammer that is similiar but in a differant context they are able to make it appear that there can be doubt in understanding the verse naturally. This is done time and time again.
  
  Of course the reason this is done is because the Watcthower will confront verses that challenge their understanding of slavation, death, god, or whatever else. There goal is never to really explain a text, but instead to simply show how it could, in some remote sense have a meaning that aligns itself with their doctrines.
• 

  avidbiblereader

  So who should partake?

  abr
• 

  drew sagan

  I think you just got your answer in another post, but i'll put my 2cents worth here.
  
  Basically I was pointing out that when issues arise in scripture interpretation JWs allways find away around understanding something other than the way it naturally reads. By pointing this out I was hopefully showing that the way the Society reaches its conclusions as to who can partake is basically one of necessity not interpretation. They have to believe something differant from what the text naturally says, so they spiritualize the meaning.
  
  In order to say that there are those that should not partake the Watcthower has to finds reasons why this scripture doesn't link up with the breaking of the bread and passing of the wine. Again, they find reasons why not to believe the natural interpretation instead of providing examples of other places where the same doctrine is discussed. In this way their beliefs are validated not by comparing doctrinal Bible texts, but instead by doing a 'copy and paste' of Biblical grammer.
  
  As you have seen in the other posts, any Christian can partake in the emblems.