I know that we are saved by the blood of Christ that was shed to pay the penalty for our sins. But what did Jesus mean in John 6:53 when he said if we eat His flesh and drink His blood we would have eternal life? I know we are saved by grace through faith. Was this intended for the Jews and not the Church?
Jesus knew he had a bunch of unbelievers in the crowd, so He spoke in symbolic terms. Although they didn’t know it, eating His flesh and drinking His blood symbolized the communion ceremony of the New Covenant.
We are saved by the blood of the Lamb, but when we take communion we are memorializing that fact. Because the unbelievers didn’t understand, many of them left Him (John 6:61-66), as He knew they would. Only the true believers stuck around to learn what He really meant.