IS JOHN 6:53,54 A REFERENCE TO THE LORD'S SUPPER----BY STEVE FINNELL

John 6:53 Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. (NKJV)

Was Jesus saying unless you participate in the Lord's Supper you are spiritually dead.

John 6:54 "Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. (NKJV)

Was Jesus telling the world that unless they participated in the Lord's Supper that they do not have eternal life?

Reference: (John 6:22-69) There is no mention of the Lord's Supper. I would suggest prayerfully reading all 47 verses. 

Eternal life is predicated on believing that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God. 

1. John 6:29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."(NKJV) The message is to believe that Jesus is the Christ. It is not that you will perish if you do not participate in the Lord's Supper.

2. John 6:35-36 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 36 ....you have seen Me and yet do not believe.(NKJV) The message is to believe in Jesus. The message is not about the Lord's Supper.

3. John 6:40 "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."(NKJV)

It is about believing in Jesus for everlasting life. It is not about participating in the Lord's Supper for everlasting life.

4. John 6:47-48 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. 48 "I am the bread of life.(NKJV) Everlasting life comes from believing in Jesus. The Lord's Supper is not the bread of life. Jesus is the bread of life.

5. John 6:51 "I am the living bread which came down from heaven . If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.'(NKJV) The bread Jesus gave was His life. He  died on the cross so all who believe might have eternal life. Jesus did not die on the cross so men could participate in the Lord's Supper for eternal life. 

6. John 6:69 "Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."(NKJV)

They did not come to believe in the Lord's Supper as a requirement for eternal life. They believed Jesus was the Christ. 

Mark 16:16 "He who believes believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.(NKJV)

Jesus did not say he who believes, and participates in the Lord's Supper shall be saved.

Jesus did not say who does not participate in the Lord's Supper will be condemned.

In the conversions in the book of Acts, belief in Jesus and water baptism always took place. Not one person was told to take the Lord's Supper so they could have their sins forgiven. No one was told to arise be baptized wash away your sins, calling on the Lord and to participate in the Lord's Supper or you have no life in you. 

If men adhere to the terms of pardon; but died before they participated in the Lord's Supper were they spiritually dead? Will God refuse to raise them up on the Last day?

Jesus is the bread of life. The Lord's Supper is not the bread of life.

THE LORD'S SUPPER

Corinthians 11:23-26 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. (NKJV)

The Lord's Supper is a memorial service.
The Lord's Supper was not instituted as a requirement for salvation.