Physical Items Used by Jesus to Teach Spiritual Truths
Though often misunderstood by Jesus’ hearers, these tangible metaphors explain the gospel.
| Physical Item | Spiritual Truth | References |
|---|---|---|
| Light | true knowledge and presence of God; moral purity | 1:4–5, 7–9; 3:19–21; 8:12; 9:5; 11:9–10; 12:35–36, 46; see 1 John 2:8–10 |
| Jerusalem temple | Christ’s physical body | 2:19–22 |
| Physical birth | spiritual birth: being “born again” | 1:13; 3:3–8; see 6:63; 1 John 3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 18 |
| Wind | the Holy Spirit | 3:8 |
| Water | the Holy Spirit within believers | 4:7–15; 7:37–39; see 1 John 5:6, 8 |
| Food | doing the will of God | 4:31–34 |
| Bread | Jesus himself, his life and death | 6:32–51, 58 |
| Flesh and blood | Jesus’ death | 6:53–56; see 1 John 1:7; 5:6, 8 |
| Door | path to eternal life in Jesus | 10:1–9 |
| Shepherd | Jesus’ self-sacrifice and care for his people | 10:11–18, 26–28; 21:15–17 |
| Vine | Jesus in relationship to his followers | 15:1–11 |
| Cup | God’s wrath toward sin | 18:11 |
| Breath | the Holy Spirit coming upon the disciples | 20:22 |