I think the rich man understood quite well. And Jesus did explain the meaning-as best as possible, to Nicodemus. If He was speaking strictly in symbolic terms in John 6 He could've at least said something like. "Hey, guys, don't take it so seriously; I wasn't really talking about eating my flesh and drinking my blood; I was speaking of "heavenly things", as I confided to Nicodemus.
Maybe he did say but we just dont hear it.
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