'I Am the Bread of Life'

Question 1

Give the ‘I am the bread of life statement in full

Answer 1

’ Then Jesus declared “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty”

Question 2

When is the bread of life discourse delivered?

Answer 2

Immediately after the feeding of the 5000. The whole discourse is a mildrash on the previous sign

Question 3

What is a mildrash?

Answer 3

A Jewish term for an interpretation of a biblical passage, explaining its meaning and importance

Question 4

How do the signs generally work in John’s gospel?

Answer 4

Jesus provides a sign but the crowds take it at the most literal level, so Jesus has to explain the deeper meaning within the sign

Question 5

What does Jesus aim to do with the bread of life discourse?

Answer 5

He intends to satisfy their spiritual hunger for a closer relationship with God, as he satisfied their physiical hunger with the loaves of bread

Question 6

Why is bread symbolically important?

Answer 6

Bread is the basic foodstuff people depend on in most cultures, and is therefore essential for survival. Jesus is offering the ‘spiritual bread’ that offers spiritual life instead

Question 7

How does the bread of life discourse link to Moses?

Answer 7

Because when the Jews were starving in the wilderness, God said them a miraculous food to eat called manna

Question 8

How does Jesus explain that the bread of life he was offering is superior to Moses’ manna?

Answer 8

The manna did not stay fresh; if not eaten immediately, it rotted. Jesus declares that the bread will never spoil. Moreover, the manna only kept the Israelites alive for a time, they still died in the wilderness with only their children reaching the promised land. Jesus declares that the people who eat his bread will have eternal life

Question 9

What does Jesus reveal about the bread he is offering?

Answer 9

That it is himself

Question 10

What does Jesus say his followers must do to receive the bread of life?

Answer 10

Believe in him. More specifically they must eat his body and drink his blood

Question 11

What is the Eucharist?

Answer 11

The meal of bread and wine that is at the centre of Christian worship

Question 12

What do Christians believe about the Eucharist?

Answer 12

They believe that the bread is the body of Christ and the wine is the blood of Christ; by eating and drinking, they commemorate Christ’s death and share in his resurrection

Question 13

What other discourse does the Eucharistic theme appear in?

Answer 13

When Jesus says ‘I am the true vine’

Question 14

What two parts does Raymond Brown say this passage can be split into?

Answer 14

• A Sapiential theme (wisdom)
• A Sacramental theme

Question 15

Explain the Sapiential theme in the discourse

Answer 15

This involves Jesus’ teachings. The bread symbolises his teachings, which will nourish people forever, unlike the OT. The crowd ‘grumbling’ about Jesus’ teachings echoes the way the Israelites complained about the Israelites leading him into the desert

Question 16

Explain Brown’s view of the Sacramental theme

Answer 16

This part of the discourse symbolises the Eucharist. Brown does not think Jesus really said these words, since they would have made no sense to 1st century Jews before the Eucharistic sacrament was invented; he argues that the sacramental theme was therefore a later addition by John

Question 17

What can the bread of life discourse be seen as replacing in John’s gospel?

Answer 17

The last supper, which appears only in the Synoptics; as they both serve to set up the Eucharaist

Question 18

What is the Eucharist also known as?

Answer 18

Holy Communion or the Lord’ Supper

Question 19

How far back does Eucharist date?

Answer 19

It was a ritual practised by early Christians and was written about by Paul in the late 50s CE

Question 20

Where does Paul refer to the Eucharist?

Answer 20

1 Corinthians 11: 23-24

Question 21

How do we know the Eucharist was well established before John wrote about the bread of life discourse?

Answer 21

Because Paul described it decades before John’s gospel was written

Question 22

What do Roman Catholics believe about the Eucharist?

Answer 22

They believe in transubstanitiation

Question 23

What is transubstantiation?

Answer 23

The idea that the bread and wine really become the body and blood of Christ during the Eucharist

Question 24

What do Protestants believe about the Eucharist?

Answer 24

They believe that the bread and wine are purley symbolic

Question 25

What does the bread of life discourse represent aside from the Eucharist?

Answer 25

Represents God’s grace in forgiving sins and offering eternal life to those who believe in Jesus

Question 26

What is ironic about the idea of the bread of life?

Answer 26

It has led to much death and hatred in the wars that have come about between Catholics and Protestants as a result of their having differnebt understandings about what it means

Question 27

What is missing in the bread of life discourse/

Answer 27

Jesus’ teachings about love, forgiveness and generosity; as the focus is on spiritual life rather than moral behaviour