John 6:52

Ver. 52. “ The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying: How can he give us his flesh to eat? ”

The term ἐμάχοντο, strove, goes beyond the ἐγόγγυζον, murmured, of John 6:41; it is now a violent debate following after a whispered murmuring. The words among themselves seem to contradict the appositional word saying, which apparently indicates that the saying was unanimous. But the same question might really be found on all lips, while yet there was no agreement among those who presented it. Some arrived at the conclusion: It is absurd. Others, under the impression of the miracle of the day before and of the sacred and mysterious character of Jesus' words, maintained, in spite of everything, that He was, indeed, the Messiah. At the sight of this altercation, Jesus not only persists in His affirmation, but strengthens it by using expressions which were more and more concrete. Not only does He speak of eating His flesh and drinking His blood, but He also makes of this mysterious act the condition of life (John 6:53-56); He speaks of eating Himself (John 6:57); and finally, sums up the whole conversation in the final declaration of John 6:58. The evangelist closes by indicating the place of the scene (John 6:59). The true text says: “ the flesh,” not: His flesh, although it is indeed the flesh of Jesus that is in question. That which is revolting to them is, that this is the flesh which must nourish them in eternal life.