To think of drinking blood is a bizarre and sickening thought. Drinking blood was forbidden in the OT. It was so offensive that many disciples forsook Jesus because of His statement (Jn 6). The OT said that the life of the body is the blood (Lev 17:11). It is the blood of Jesus that gives eternal life and “will raise us up on the last day”. It is the New Covenant cup we partake of at the Lord’s Supper. Drinking covenant blood is such a radical act for radical obedience, pledging faithfulness until death. The disciples apparently drank it each time they met. Some missed the next gathering, having spilt their own blood for their Lord.
So Jesus said to them, “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 yourselves. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:53-54 (NASB)
