"Now the rabbis exclaimed angrily, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?” They affected to understand His words in the same literal sense as did Nicodemus when he asked, “How can a man be born when he is old?” John 3:4 . To some extent they comprehended the meaning of Jesus, but they were not willing to acknowledge it. By misconstruing His words, they hoped to prejudice the people against Him. DA 389.1"
"Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?"
Ellen White directly references John 3:4 in this passage.
"Christ did not soften down His symbolical representation. He reiterated the truth in yet stronger language: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him.” DA 389.2"
"Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you."
EGW directly quotes John 6:53. It's a clear and intentional reference.
"Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day."
EGW directly quotes John 6:54. It's a clear and intentional reference.
"He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him."
EGW directly quotes John 6:56. It's a clear and intentional reference.
"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. DA 389.3"
"Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you."
EGW interprets the meaning of eating Christ's flesh and drinking his blood, drawing a parallel between physical nourishment and spiritual reception of Christ. While it alludes to John 6:53, it's primarily a thematic interpretation rather than a direct quotation or explicit allusion.
"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 for me."
The EGW passage echoes the sentiment of Galatians 2:20, emphasizing Christ living within the believer and the believer living by faith in Christ. The idea of assimilation and Christ becoming part of our being aligns with the concept of Christ living in us. The original relation type was too strong.
"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. DA 389.4 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 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. DA 389.5"
"As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me."
The EGW passage directly quotes John 6:57, making it a clear explicit allusion.
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me."
Both passages emphasize the importance of abiding in Christ for spiritual life and fruitfulness. The EGW passage speaks of uniting with Jesus, while John 15:4 uses the metaphor of the vine and branches. The connection is thematic and meaningful.
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world."
Both passages discuss the believer's relationship with Christ and becoming like Him. 1 John 4:17 speaks of being like Christ in this world, while the EGW passage discusses overcoming as Christ overcame. The connection is thematic and relevant.