Orthodox rabbis see John 6 as a problematic text

 

Orthodox rabbis see John 6 as a problematic text, as they believe Jesus is misappropriating the Jewish Passover and its symbolism. Rabbis argue that the Passover is a sacred ritual that commemorates the Israelites' liberation from slavery in Egypt, and that Jesus' claims to be the "bread of life" and the "Passover lamb" are a distortion of this tradition.

In John 6, Jesus says, "I am the bread of life...I am the living bread that came down from heaven...Whoever eats this bread will live forever" (John 6:35, 51). Orthodox rabbis reject this interpretation, believing that Jesus is replacing the traditional Passover symbols (matzah and lamb) with himself, and claiming a divine role that is not his to take.

In contrast, Christians see John 6 as a central text that establishes Jesus' identity as the ultimate Passover lamb and the bread of life. They interpret Jesus' statements as a reference to his sacrificial death and resurrection, which they believe provides eternal life and redemption.

Christian interpreters often see the Passover as a type or foreshadowing of Jesus' sacrifice, arguing that the lamb's blood on the doorposts (Exodus 12:7-13) prefigures Jesus' blood shed on the cross. They believe that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Passover, providing a new and eternal redemption.

Orthodox rabbis, however, reject this Christian interpretation, arguing that it is a misreading of Jewish scripture and tradition. They emphasize that the Passover is a historical event and a ritual that commemorates God's liberation of the Israelites, not a symbolic event pointing to Jesus.

In conclusion, Orthodox rabbis and Christians have fundamentally different interpretations of John 6. While rabbis see Jesus as misappropriating the Passover and its symbolism, Christians see him as fulfilling the Passover and providing eternal redemption. These differing interpretations reflect deeper theological and hermeneutical differences between Judaism and Christianity.