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eed； and My blood is drink indeed。 He that eateth My flesh； and drinketh My blood； dwelleth in Me； and I in him。〃
To eat the flesh and drink the blood of Christ is to receive Him as a personal Saviour； believing that He forgives our sins； and that we are complete in Him。 It is by beholding His love； by dwelling upon it； by drinking it in； that we are to become partakers of His nature。 What food is to the body； Christ must be to the soul。 Food cannot benefit us unless we eat it； unless it becomes a part of our being。 So Christ is of no value to us if we do not know Him as a personal Saviour。 A theoretical knowledge will do us no good。 We must feed upon Him； receive Him into the heart； so that His life becomes our life。 His love； His grace； must be assimilated。
But even these figures fail to present the privilege of the believer's relation to Christ。 Jesus said； 〃As the living Father hath sent Me； and I live by the Father： so he that eateth Me； even he shall live by Me。〃 As the Son of God lived by faith in the Father； so are we to live by faith in Christ。 So fully was Jesus surrendered to the will of God that the Father alone appeared in His life。 Although tempted in all points like as we are； He stood before the world untainted by the evil that surrounded Him。 Thus we also are to overcome as Christ overcame。
Are you a follower of Christ？ Then all that is written concerning the spiritual life is written for you； and may be attained through uniting yourself
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to Jesus。 Is your zeal languishing？ has your first love grown cold？ Accept again of the proffered love of Christ。 Eat of His flesh； drink of His blood； and you will become one with the Father and with the Son。
The unbelieving Jews refused to see any except the most literal meaning in the Saviour's words。 By the ritual law they were forbidden to taste blood； and they now construed Christ's language into a sacrilegious speech； and disputed over it among themselves。 Many even of the disciples said； 〃This is an hard saying； who can hear it？〃
The Saviour answered them： 〃Doth this offend you？ What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where He was before？ It is the spirit that quickeneth； the flesh profiteth nothing： the words that I speak unto you； they are spirit； and they are life。〃
The life of Christ that gives life to the world is in His word。 It was by His word that Jesus healed disease and cast out demons； by His word He stilled the sea； and raised the dead； and the people bore witness that His word was with power。 He spoke the word of God； as He had spoken through all the prophets and teachers of the Old Testament。 The whole Bible is a manifestation of Christ； and the Saviour desired to fix the faith of His followers on the word。 When His visible presence should be withdrawn； the word must be their source of power。 Like their Master； they were to live 〃by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God。〃 Matt。 4：4。
As our physical life is sustained by food； so our spiritual life is sustained by the word of God。 And every soul is to receive life from God's word for himself。 As we must eat for ourselves in order to receive nourishment； so we must receive the word for ourselves。 We are not to obtain it merely through the medium of another's mind。 We should carefully study the Bible； asking God for the aid of the Holy Spirit； that we may understand His word。 We should take one verse； and concentrate the mind on the task of ascertaining the thought which God has put in that verse for us。 We should dwell upon the thought until it becomes our own； and we know 〃what saith the Lord。〃
In His promises and warnings； Jesus means me。 God so loved the world； that He gave His only…begotten Son； that I by believing in Him； might not perish； but have everlasting life。 The experiences related in God's word are to be my experiences。 Prayer and promise； precept and warning； are mine。 〃I am crucified with Christ： nevertheless I live； yet not I； but Christ liveth in me： and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God； who loved me； and gave Himself
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for me。〃 Gal。 2：20。 As faith thus receives and assimilates the principles of truth； they become a part of the being and the motive power of the life。 The word of God； received into the soul； molds the thoughts； and enters into the development of character。
By looking constantly to Jesus with the eye of faith； we shall be strengthened。 God will make the most precious revelations to His hungering； thirsting people。 They will find that Christ is a personal Saviour。 As they feed upon His word； they find that it is spirit and life。 The word destroys the natural； earthly nature； and imparts a new life in Christ Jesus。 The Holy Spirit comes to the soul as a Comforter。 By the transforming agency of His grace； the image of God is reproduced in the disciple； he becomes a new creature。 Love takes the place of hatred； and the heart receives the divine similitude。 This is what it means to live 〃by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God。〃 This is eating the Bread that comes down from heaven。
Christ had spoken a sacred； eternal truth regarding the relation between Himself and His followers。 He knew the character of those who claimed to be His disciples； and His words tested their faith。 He declared that they were to believe and act upon His teaching。 All who received Him would partake of His nature； and be conformed to His character。 This involved the relinquishment of their cherished ambitions。 It required the complete surrender of themselves to Jesus。 They were called to become self…sacrificing； meek and lowly in heart。 They must walk in the narrow path traveled by the Man of Calvary； if they would share in the gift of life and the glory of heaven。
The test was too great。 The enthusiasm of those who had sought to take Him by force and make Him king grew cold。 This discourse in the synagogue； they declared； had opened their eyes。 Now they were undeceived。 In their minds His words were a direct confession that He was not the Messiah； and that no earthly rewards were to be realized from connection with Him。 They had welcomed His miracle…working power； they were eager to be freed from disease and suffering； but they would not come into sympathy with His self…sacrificing life。 They cared not for the mysterious spiritual kingdom of which He spoke。 The insincere； the selfish； who had sought Him； no longer desired Him。 If He would not devote His power and influence to obtaining their freedom from the Romans； they would have nothing to do with Him。
Jesus told them plainly； 〃There are some of you that believe not；〃 adding； 〃Therefore said I unto you； that no man can come unto Me；
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except it were given unto him of My Father。〃 He wished them to understand that if they were not drawn to Him it was because their hearts were not open to the Holy Spirit。 〃The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God： for they are foolishness unto him： neither can he know them； because they are spiritually discerned。〃 1 Cor。 2：14。 It is by faith that the soul beholds the glory of Jesus。 This glory is hidden； until； through the Holy Spirit； faith is kindled in the soul。
By the public rebuke of their unbelief these disciples were still further alienated from Jesus。 They were greatly displeased； and wishing to wound the Saviour and gratify the malice of the Pharisees； they turned their backs upon Him； and left Him with disdain。 They had made their choice；had taken the form without the spirit； the husk without the kernel。 Their decision was never afterward reversed； for they walked no more with Jesus。
〃Whose fan is in His hand； and He will throughly purge His floor； and gather His wheat into the garner。〃 Matt。 3：12。 This was one of the times of purging。 By the words of truth； the chaff was being separated from the wheat。 Because they were too vain and self…righteous to receive reproof； too world…loving to accept a life of humility； many turned away from Jesus。 Many are still doing the same thing。 Souls are tested today as were those disciples in the synagogue at Capernaum。 When truth is brought home to the heart； they see that their lives are not in accordance with the will of God。 They see the need of an entire change in themselves； but they are not willing to take up the self…denying work。 Therefore they are angry when their sins are discovered。 They go away offended； even as the disciples left Jesus； murmuring； 〃This is an hard saying； who can hear it？〃
Praise and flattery would be pleasing to their ears； but the truth is unwelcome； they cannot hear it。 When the crowds follow； and the multitudes are fed； and the shouts of triumph are heard； their voices are loud in praise； but when the searching of God's Spirit reveals their sin； and bids them leave it； they turn their backs upon the truth； and walk no more with Jesus。
As those disaffected disciples turned away from Christ； a different spirit took control of them。 They could see nothing attractive in Him whom they had once found so interesting。 They sought out His enemies； for they were in harmony with their spirit and work。 They misinterpreted Hi