2.2. Titles of Jesus and 'I Am' Sayings

Question 1

Why did the writers use titles for Jesus from the Old Test?

Answer 1

• to convey the belief that Jesus was the Messiah Jews were expecting
• To help early christians understand who Jesus was though using terms that were familiar to them (jewish and Greek words)
• So each gospel represents the life and teachings of Jesus in a distincive way and the use of the messiah, Son of Man and Son of God helped convey Jesus’ nature

Question 2

What different types of ‘annointed’ figures are found in Jewish tradition?

Answer 2

• Royal messiah- king like in the House of David
• Priestly messiah- someone from a priestly family who would restore priestly leadership of Israel
• Prophet messiah- someone who was chosen by God

Question 3

At the time of Jesus what did the word messiah, refer to?

Answer 3

A kingly messiah, like david (some Jews expected a political messiah, warrior like saving them from their enemies)

Question 4

What does the term ‘Son of Man’ refer to in the Old Test?

Answer 4

a normal man

Question 5

Where do the gospel’s use of the ‘Son of Man’ originate from?

Answer 5

Daniel 7:13-14 refers to one like a son of man who was given authority from God

I Enoch (text outside the gospels) refers to son of man that is pre-existing, and rules with justice

And other apocolyptic writings

Question 6

What are some theories of why Jesus would refer to himself as ‘son of man’?

Answer 6

It converys his divine mission rather than the nationalistic overtones that were connected with the title of Messiah

Highlights Jesus’ humanity that as the saviour of God in human form he identifies with his fellow humans

Question 7

How does Jesus as ‘Son of Man’ highlight his messiahship?

Answer 7

• In the Old Test, title was given to the King of Israel (Psalm 2:7), showing that Messiah and Son of God were linked to kingship
• Greek culture- heroic figure= ‘Son of Man’ (Matthew 27:45)
• For Romans it challenged their power, and their divine ruler
• Gosples expresses the idea of Jesus’ divinity and father/son relationship with God, jesus uses father-son language to show their relationship (Luke 10:22)
  *

Question 8

What is the background for John choosing ‘I am’?

Answer 8

• Jewish- in the Old Test, ‘I am’ is God’s covenant name with Israel- “I AM WHO I AM” (exodus 3:14)
• Hellenistic- the ‘I am’ form of speech is used of a deity in Greek religions

scholars argue that phrase is used to appeal to Greek and Jewish readers

Question 9

What are the significant meanings of ‘I am’?

Answer 9

1. Bread of life
2. Light of the world
3. Door of the sheep
4. Good sheperd
5. Ressurection and life
6. Way, truth and life
7. The true vine

Question 10

What is the context for ‘I am’ meaning the bread of life?

Answer 10

• Jesus provides bread for the feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:1-14)

Brown- bread of life in 2 parts:
1. wisdom theme, the nourishing heavenly bread is the teaching of Jesus (6:35-50)
2. sacramental theme, the living bread is Jesus’ own flesh and appears to link with communion (6:51-58)

Question 11

What is the overall background for Jesus’ ‘I am’ as the bread of life?

Jewish links

Answer 11

• Jews linked the Torah and bread; both life-giving. Jewish writings said without bread there is no Torah
• Bread was linked to the temple, consecrated and stored there
• Rabibinic literature expected the Messiah to repeat the manna miracle
• Constant references to the giving of the manna in the wilderness

Question 12

What is the significance of ‘I am’ as the bread of life?

Answer 12

• Jesus teaches that he is the bread that supersedes the bread of Moses/ Torah
• Reminds people that it was God, not Moses, that fed people in the desert and shouldn’t be likened to Moses giving the manna but to God supplying bread
• Jesus is leading the people into a new age where their spiritual hunger will be satisfied (John 6:35)
• Jews were proud of their heritage and of the manna in Exodus, but did not stop them dying. Jesus is offering eternal life to all who eat the bread (consume God’s word)
• Consecrated bread in the temple compared with jesus’ body, will bring slavation to all who believe in him
• John 6:51-57 Eucharist

Question 13

What is the context for ‘I am’ meaning the light of the world?

Answer 13

Jesus uses this saying twice in the Festival of Tabernacles:
1. when questioned by the Pharisees about his authority after the woman caught in adultery
2. at the healing of the man blind from birth

Question 14

What is the background for ‘I am’ meaning the light of the world?

Biblical references

Answer 14

• Light was the first thing God created (Genesis 1:1)
• Isiah 49:6 and 42:7 prophesised the messiah would be a light to the gentiles and would open the eyes of the blind
• The Torah was seen as the light by Jews
• God was traditionally presented as a pillar of fire in Exodus

Question 15

What is the significance of ‘I am’ as the light of the world?

Answer 15

• Jesus claims that he is the ‘light of the world’ when speaking in the temple, the true light
• Jesus claims that he is the light who can lead all to eternal life as prophesised in the Old Test (Isaiah 9:2) and the Prologue (John 1:6-8)
• During questioning of a blind man by the Pharisees the man sees Jesus, and claims the Pharisees are spiritually blind
• The Torah was a light but caused the Pharisees blindness as they condemned Jesus for breaking sabbath rules

Question 16

What is the context for ‘I am’ meaning the good shepherd?

Answer 16

Part of a series of parables on the sheepfold. Contrast made between true care for the flock given by Jesus and the selfish interest of the pharisees

Question 17

What is the background for ‘I am’ meaning the good shepherd?

biblical references

Answer 17

Old test: Shepherd image used for God himself and a ruler/king
* “The Lord is my shepherd” (Psalm 23:1)
* King David was a shepherd who protected his flock (1 Samuel 17:34)
* Ezekiel 34 the selfish shepherd causes his flock to scatter, so the Lord gathers them and provides David as a new carer

Question 18

What is the significance for ‘I am’ meaning the good shepherd?

Answer 18

• A shepherd leads and protects his flock and guards the door of the sheepfold- a good leader of Israel was expected to make sacrifices in their own life for the sake of the people “I lay down my life for the sheep”- Jesus (John 10:15)
• Jesus criticises Jewish leaders who have no concern for their flock
• The universal nature of Jesus’ ministry if shown; John 10:16 references other sheep that are in the sheepfold, gentiles

Question 19

What is the context for ‘I am’ meaning the true vine?

Answer 19

Metaphor for the branches and vines for the love of Jesus and his followers

Question 20

What is the background for ‘I am’ meaning the **
vine**?

biblical references

Answer 20

• Vines in Palestine were long and grew along the ground with many branches. God scene as the gardener caring for the vine (Isaiah 5:2)
• Psalm 80:8 refers to the vine being taken out of Egypt and planted in Israel, linking to the Jewish people
• People who failed to follow God’s commands caused the vine to become corrupt- wild vine (jeremiah 2:21) failed to produce good fruits so God destroyed it

Question 21

What is the significance for ‘I am’ meaning the true vine?

Answer 21

• Old Test imagery of Israel as the vine focused on the gardener God to tend to the barren vine. ‘true’ separates Jesus from Israel of the past
• Jesus warns that being a disciple is not a guarentee of eternal life. Through faith the belief will grow (branches)
• ‘fruitfulness’ is shown through ‘love’, compared to justice and righteousness the prophets speak of

Question 22

Which titles did Jesus use for himself?

Answer 22

• Jesus does not call himself the Son of God but doesn’t deny it either- the impure spirits recognise him. Jesus uses father-son language, implying that relationship
• Jesus does refer to himself as Son of Man e.g Mark 2:10. Probably to prevent people seeing him as a political messiah- stresses his humanity and divine mission
• Jesus uses ‘I am’ to highlight his divine nature as he shares God’s name; Jesus is God

Question 23

Were the titles of Jesus the actual words of Jesus? Or was it the churches words?

Answer 23

• Some consider it as a literary title (son of man) that was used by the authors to make links between Jesus and the Son of Man in Daniel; showing him as the messiah who would suffer
• Or, used mainly by the synoptic gospels not in other New Test writings, come from Jesus and not an embellishment of the church
• Son of Man- highlights Jesus’ humanity and that his suffering was real

Question 24

What are the implications for Christians today and for religious laws and codes for living of the different understandings of the ‘I am’ sayings?

Answer 24

‘I am the bread of life’:
* Eucharist
* Used to interpret what the Eucharist means for christians today (consubstantiation or transubstantiation)

‘I am the light of the world’
* If Jesus is the light of the world should christian spread the gospel’s word, tying evangelism into christianity?

‘I am the true vine’
* Preaches love, should christians follow situation ethics rather than other moral codes?