Jesus and the Passover: A Narrative-Ideological Reading in John 6

Jesus replaces old feasts: Jesus himself supersedes the Passover. Replacement claims are the central theme running through the entire chapter 6. The issue of replacement is demonstrated (6:1-21) and explained (6:22-71) in its integral unity and consistent narrative plot-line in John 6. John 6 is basically marked inclusio in its beginning and in its ending composed of two adverbial Johannine formula of transition, meta; tau`ta (6:1; 7:1). In John the discourse of the bread of life (6:22‐71) has two miracle signs as an introduction. John 6 has its integral unity and consistent narrative plot‐line and thought throughout the whole gospel of John. Among the two signs demonstrated as the issue of faith, in the feeding the multitude has the problem directly proposed to them after the introductory setting (6:1‐4): The resources of the disciples cannot be equal to the need of the multitude. How can the disciples solve the problem? First it tested the personal reactions of the disciples. Later it also tested the response of the multitude. Having misunderstood the feeding sign, the huge crowd responded inappropriately and Jesus withdrew first into the mountains and then to the other side of the sea of Galilee. Then, the walking on the water is presented (6:16‐21). The problem is stated: how can the disciples overcome their fear on the stormy sea? The reactions to Jesus’ identity and mission are stressed in the two miracle episodes. The feeding and walking signs center on misunderstanding which is the response of the disciples and the crowd. The response of belief and disbelief toward Jesus’ signs in the two miracles is stretched out in a more complex plot‐line in Jesus’ discourse (6:22‐71).