'I Am the Bread of Life' Flashcards
Give the ‘I am the bread of life statement in full
’ 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”
When is the bread of life discourse delivered?
Immediately after the feeding of the 5000. The whole discourse is a mildrash on the previous sign
What is a mildrash?
A Jewish term for an interpretation of a biblical passage, explaining its meaning and importance
How do the signs generally work in John’s gospel?
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
What does Jesus aim to do with the bread of life discourse?
He intends to satisfy their spiritual hunger for a closer relationship with God, as he satisfied their physiical hunger with the loaves of bread
Why is bread symbolically important?
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
How does the bread of life discourse link to Moses?
Because when the Jews were starving in the wilderness, God said them a miraculous food to eat called manna
How does Jesus explain that the bread of life he was offering is superior to Moses’ manna?
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
What does Jesus reveal about the bread he is offering?
That it is himself
What does Jesus say his followers must do to receive the bread of life?
Believe in him. More specifically they must eat his body and drink his blood
What is the Eucharist?
The meal of bread and wine that is at the centre of Christian worship
What do Christians believe about the Eucharist?
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
What other discourse does the Eucharistic theme appear in?
When Jesus says ‘I am the true vine’
What two parts does Raymond Brown say this passage can be split into?
- A Sapiential theme (wisdom)
- A Sacramental theme
Explain the Sapiential theme in the discourse
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
Explain Brown’s view of the Sacramental theme
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
What can the bread of life discourse be seen as replacing in John’s gospel?
The last supper, which appears only in the Synoptics; as they both serve to set up the Eucharaist
What is the Eucharist also known as?
Holy Communion or the Lord’ Supper
How far back does Eucharist date?
It was a ritual practised by early Christians and was written about by Paul in the late 50s CE
Where does Paul refer to the Eucharist?
1 Corinthians 11: 23-24
How do we know the Eucharist was well established before John wrote about the bread of life discourse?
Because Paul described it decades before John’s gospel was written
What do Roman Catholics believe about the Eucharist?
They believe in transubstanitiation
What is transubstantiation?
The idea that the bread and wine really become the body and blood of Christ during the Eucharist
What do Protestants believe about the Eucharist?
They believe that the bread and wine are purley symbolic
What does the bread of life discourse represent aside from the Eucharist?
Represents God’s grace in forgiving sins and offering eternal life to those who believe in Jesus
What is ironic about the idea of the bread of life?
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
What is missing in the bread of life discourse/
Jesus’ teachings about love, forgiveness and generosity; as the focus is on spiritual life rather than moral behaviour
