[metmom]

John 6:63  It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

[paladinan]

There *is* a difference between when Jesus says “THE flesh” (which is associated with worldly and fallen human nature—too many references to count easily, there), and when He says “MY Flesh” (which is the Bread of Life, by whose torture and death He saved the world). Right?

[Not gonna take it anymore]

John 6:52-59

52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; 54 he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever.” 59 This he said in the synagogue, as he taught at Caper′na-um.

They didn't leave because they thought Jesus was talking about a symbol. They left because it was literal.