a line in the sand

 Today in the One Year Bible, we read these verses:

1 Samuel 10:1-11:15
John 6:43-71
Psalm 107:1-43
Proverbs 15:1-3 

In John, Jesus says something so shocking that many of His followers stopped following Him. He said that in order to have eternal life, we have to eat His flesh and drink His blood. This was even more shocking to His audience then than it is now because they had strict dietary laws that prevented them from eating ANY blood, let alone the blood of a human being.

But Jesus lays down this line in the sand and refuses to apologize or clarify. Even His twelve disciples didn't say, "Oh, that's fine. We get it!" But instead implied that they would leave too if anyone else had the words of life like Jesus did.

That line in the sand still separates those who call themselves His followers today. Most protestant churches do not teach that we literally consume the body and blood of Jesus like He said in John 6 and like the Catholic Church teaches.

What do you believe about this verse? Does it make you want to leave?

God, thanks for giving us Your body and blood to bring us to eternal life.