This post is part of an 8-part series from the book of John. The study looks at Jesus’s ‘I AM’ passages from John and passages in the Old Testament which echo the heart of the message of Jesus and reveal the way in which the Old Testament has reflected the name. They open with introductory questions, reading the passage, and then some observation and interpretation questions follow. The sessions end with personal application questions. Please feel free to share an application response or comment on the study itself in the section below.

Introduction

What does bread in general mean or symbolize to you?

What phrases do you use with bread in them? Does your culture have phrases about bread or the main staple of your country?

Read John 6:25-59.

Reading Questions

Who is the audience of this discourse?

What does ‘bread of life’ say about the character of Jesus?

What other gifts are offered to believers with this bread in verses 35-51?

What must the audience do to receive this bread of life?

At this point in time, the Last Supper has not been instituted. What does ‘eats my flesh and drinks my blood’ (verse 54) mean?

Old Testament Links

Both the audience and Jesus talk of the manna in the wilderness. Read Exodus 16, which describes the situation of God’s people and the gift of manna.

Manna sounds like Hebrew for ‘what is it?’. How could this relate to Jesus?

Consider the following questions for each of the passages:

Manna – Exodus 16 Bread of Life – John 6:25-59

What is the origin of it?

What need does it meet?

How does it impact life? Death?

Who was/is it for?

How long does it last?

What does it cost? to whom?

What was the audience attitude?

Deuteronomy 8:3 references manna as well. How does Jesus echo what it says?

Exodus 25:23-30 and Leviticus 24:5-9 describe the bread of the Presence in the tabernacle set up in the wilderness. Read these passages and discuss how this may be similar or dissimilar to the Bread of Life.

Application

What does the statement ‘I am the bread of life’ say about Jesus? About Father? Do you embrace it fully?

Have you received the ‘bread of life’? What has receiving it produced in your life?

Do you eat his flesh and drink his blood, as you defined above? If not, what would you do differently?

How is Jesus the better manna?