**but He didn’t. He was quite clear.**
You sure about that?
John 10:9: “I AM the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” (Does He have splinters and hinges from the time of His birth?)
John 10:11: “I AM the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. (Did He really tend to literal sheep? Did He die for fluffy, white animals?)
John 15:1: “I AM the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. (Does He have roots and bunches of grapes dangling from His fingers?)
Clearly Jesus used allegory and symbolism to make his point clear while teaching.
But Christ was giving instructions at the Last Supper.
At the Last Supper, He held the Eucharist in His hands and said “This IS my body”, “This IS my blood”. Then He gave explicit instructions “Do this in memory of Me”.
I am able to make the distinction between teaching and instructions. Jesus gave several other instructions; they too were missing symbolism:
“Love one another, as I have loved you.” (John 13:34).
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19)
If you’re going to give instructions on how to do something or how to perform specific actions, it is best to be as literal as possible.