John 6:55 Meaning and Explanation
“For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus affirms his flesh and blood are truly food and drink, not symbols or shadows.
The Context of John 6:55
Jesus answers the unspoken objection: surely this is metaphor. He replies with the word 'indeed' (alethōs), meaning truly, really, genuinely.
What Does John 6:55 Mean?
We live in a world of images and imitations. Most of what we see is shadow. But Jesus is saying: my flesh is not a shadow. My blood is not a symbol. They are real. True. Genuine. This does not mean we are to understand them crudely. But neither are we to dilute them into mere metaphor. There is a realness to the union he is offering that cuts through all abstraction. When you come to him, you are not merely entertaining an idea. You are receiving a person. You are being nourished by the person who is the source of all reality.
In a time when we are bombarded with the unreal and the virtual, Jesus reminds us that the truest food, the truest drink, the truest sustenance is found in him. He does not offer us an escape from the material world. He offers us to feast on the real in the deepest sense.
John 6:55 in the Original Language
alethōs (Greek), 'indeed' -- truly, genuinely, in reality; not symbol or shadow, but true.
How to Apply John 6:55 Today
In our walk with Jesus, we are not entertaining ideas or managing abstract truths. We are being nourished by a real person, in a real relationship. Let us not reduce him to doctrine alone. Let us receive him as truly present.
Frequently Asked Questions About John 6:55
What does John 6:55 mean?
Jesus affirms his flesh and blood are truly food and drink, not symbols or shadows.
What is the context of John 6:55?
Jesus answers the unspoken objection: surely this is metaphor. He replies with the word 'indeed' (alethōs), meaning truly, really, genuinely.
How can I apply John 6:55 today?
In our walk with Jesus, we are not entertaining ideas or managing abstract truths. We are being nourished by a real person, in a real relationship. Let us not reduce him to doctrine alone. Let us receive him as truly present.