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Why Transubstantiation?


Transubstantiation is the Catholic dogma that the substance of the Eucharistic elements turn into the body and blood of Christ at consecration, only the appearances of bread and wine still remaining. They base this mainly on Jesus’ teaching in John 6, where Jesus taught, ‘Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.’ John 6:54

The 16th century Council of Trent declared anathema (a curse) on anyone who denied the dogma. Does the bread and wine turn into the body and blood of Christ? Did Jesus intend us to take his words literally, or is there another meaning here?

John 6 begins with the account of Jesus’ feeding of the five-thousand. We remember the story of the boy with the loaves and fishes, how Jesus multiplied them, gave thanks (eucharisteō ‘to thank’) and distributed this generous bounty. So generous, indeed, there were 12 baskets of food left over.

John tells us the people would take Jesus by force and make him king v.15. Comparing him to Moses, they had identified him as the prophet who was to come into the world v.14, but saw him as their earthly champion, just as Moses had been. This Jesus would be their king, tend to all their needs, as Moses had for Israel. Jesus’ purpose was very different, and he withdrew from them.

When they followed him to Capernaum he gave them short shrift. His miracles were never just miracles, they were signs, and these people had missed their significance. It is here Jesus begins his Bread of Life discourse.

Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because of the signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not labour for food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.’ V.27

Jesus hadn’t come just to fill men’s bellies, but to feed and satisfy their souls. That is why he urged them to ‘labour for the food that endures to eternal life.’ Then they asked a very sensible question, ‘What must we do, to be doing the works of God?’ v.28 Jesus answered them:

This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’ v.29

Believe’ is the Greek pisteuō 'to trust (in)' In other words, the work of God is to trust Jesus. There follows a discussion about Moses and the manna, the bread from heaven that fed their fathers in the wilderness to which Jesus replied:

Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’ v.v. 32,33

When they insist they would have this bread Jesus said to them

I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall never hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. v.36

What is the work of God? To trust in Jesus.

How are we to never hunger? By coming to Jesus.

How are to never thirst? By believing in Jesus.

Whoever comes to Jesus, believing and trusting in him, will never hunger, will always be satisfied. Faith in him fills and satisfies our hunger, trust in him quenches the driest thirst. Coming to him we find peace and rest for our souls. Does this sound familiar, it should because it is the gospel. But the Jews grumbled about him v.41 Jesus responds:

Truly truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.’ v.47

He keeps hammering home this simple truth because they simply didn’t get it:

I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.

And the bread I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.’ vv 48-51

This bread from heaven is the body of Christ that was sacrificed at Calvary to pay for the sins of the world. This bread is the spiritual meat and drink of our souls when we come, trust, and believe in the finished work of the cross. They grumbled, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ v 52 They were still in the carnal mind that drove them to try to make him another Moses. They were still thinking of their bellies, ignorant of their spiritual needs so Jesus gave the ultimatum:

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.’ vv 53,54

In verse 47 Jesus declares, ‘Truly truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.’

In verse 54 Jesus insists, ‘Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life’

Both statements are reconciled at Calvary, where Jesus’ body hung on a tree and his blood was shed for your sin and mine. It is trust in that finished work that gains for us eternal life. To eat his flesh and drink his blood is to trust in his sacrifice of both flesh and blood. He truly is the bread that came down from heaven and we are invited to feed and never go hungry.

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