Jane S. Webster

Ingesting Jesus (Academia Biblica) Jane S. Webster

This book explores all the ingesting language in the Gospel of John, including the meal narratives and metaphors.  For example, Jesus said, "I am the bread of life" and "living water." On the cross, he says, "I thirst." He provides bread and fish for 5000 then cooks fish for the disciples.  But there is no Last Supper!  So what does this language mean?  Ingesting language at "crisis points in the narrative" suggest that the ideas of "eating Jesus" was important in the early Johannine community, and suggests that to believe in Jesus was to literally ingest him, most likely symbolized by the Eucharistic meal.  Disciples are to take Jesus in and then feed others.