"I Am" Statements Flashcards
What are the four “I Am” Statements?
“I Am” the Bread of Life
“I Am” the True Vine
“I Am” the Good Shepherd
“I Am” the Light of the World
I Am the Bread of Life
Context: Delivered immediately after the Feeding of the 5000. Discourse is a midrash on the preceding sign.
Symbolism: crowd had it’s physical hunger satisfied but Jesus wants to satisfy spiritual hunger (closer relationship with God)
Brown’s Two Themes: Sapiental Theme (Bread symbolises his teachings which will nourish people forever) Sacramental (Eucharist. Brown Believes John added this part)
Implications: John’s Gospel does not contain the Last Supper. Midrash serves this purpose: setting up the Eucharist
I Am the Light of the World
Context: Said before Jesus heals a blind man. Many Jews believed Illness was punishment for sin. Took place at Feast of Tabernacles.
Symbolism: During Feast, Temple was brightly lit. Symbolism is that despite this, those inside temple are living in darkness (E.g. Pharisees)
Brown’s Interpretation: Passage is symbolic. Man’s blindness represents ignorance. Jesus has arrived to open their eyes. Fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy of the Messiah as a ‘light to the Gentiles’. Summary: passage is about first Gentiles who believe and Jews who don’t believe.
Implication: JC’s identification with Light inspires candles
I Am the Good Shepherd
Context: JC uses imagery that is familiar to Jews. Shepherds were the lowest paid farm workers with little incentive to risk their lives to protect someone else’s flock from ‘thieves and robbers’
Symbolism: Sheep are Jewish people. (Matthew: “lost sheep of Israel”) Jesus is “the gate” to Eternal Life. Brown: “thieves and robbers” are the Pharisees as they offer path to God through legalism that people can’t maintain.
Implications: Earliest Christian leaders were called pastors. Brown proposes that Johannine Community accepted JC as the ‘true pastor’
I Am the True Vine
Context: Discourse involves JC comparing himself to a vine and God to the gardener. Both Jews and Romans enjoyed wine. Romans had a God of wine: ‘Bacchus’, Jews set aside a cup of wine for the Messiah.
Symbolism: OT uses the Vine as a symbol of Israel. Jesus claims that God will cut off the branches that don’t ‘bear fruit’. This is a warning to sinful Jews. Jesus claims “if you remain in me, and I in you, you will bear much fruit” (those who believe in JC bear fruit or eternal life)
Brown’s Two Themes: Sapiental Theme (fruit is agape love) Sacramental Theme (Eucharist)
Implications: In Matthew, JC claims the greatest commandment is “love your neighbour as yourself”. (Situation ethics?)
Additional Symbolism
Bread of Life: Contrast with Moses. God sent Manna when they were starving. JC explains Bread of Life is superior to manna because BOL will never spoil and those who eat will have eternal life.
Good Shepherd: Idea of heroic Shepherd goes back to King David. David thought off lions to defend his father’s flock. Jesus faces religious groups and the Roman Empire
