The Bread of Life and Preeminence of Christ

John 6:1-40; Colossians 1:15-23a

The Feeding of the 5,000

In a recent study of John 6, I was able to dig deeper into some of the lessons we can learn from Jesus’ feeding of the 5,000; and, more specifically, the interactions He had with His disciples both during and following that encounter. I was particularly intrigued by the question He chooses to ask Philip in John 6:5-6 (ESV): “Lifting up His eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward Him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?’ He said this to test Him, for He Himself knew what He would do.” I appreciate the clarification John offers to the reader in verse 6. Does God EVER fail in His plans, come unprepared, or neglect to provide for our every need? We can understand and rationalize Philip’s answer. It was a very natural human response. It’s one we may often give to our own everyday situations – what are my current resources and what solutions can I strategize? Jesus knew how Philip would reply, and as the perfect Provider was likely trying to teach him, among others, that God is both sovereign Creator and Provider. He has the solution to the everyday challenges or needs we face, and with Christ we are never lacking or in need. (Read the second half of that previous sentence again). What this means for us as Christians is that we need to be aware of how we perceive our situation. Is it the same way in which God, in His sovereignty over our lives, views our situation? What are the blessings we can be grateful for that we may otherwise be inclined to miss? When in need, to what or to whom do we ultimately turn? Psalm 121:1-2 (ESV) says, “From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.”

Jesus Walks on Water

In John 6:16-21, we read that Jesus walks on the water to His disciples in a boat while they were headed across the sea to Capernaum. The disciples were frightened when Jesus approached them because they neither recognized Him, nor did they understand the sovereignty He had over His creation. Could it be that they still did not fully understand Who Jesus was? In Matthew 14:22-33, this same account is recorded, but it also includes Peter’s request and attempt made to walk on water toward Jesus. This shows Peter had some sense of trust in Christ, but He became all too easily overwhelmed by his surroundings causing Him to sink. He took His eyes off the One Who would sustain Him. Jesus may have allowed this scenario as a life lesson to both His disciples and to us. How often do we lose sight of God in our moments of weakness and panic instead of reaching out our hand to grab a hold of our Heavenly Father’s? What is the object of our faith? Is it our own strength amid the storms of life? He reminds us, like Peter and the disciples, not to fear because He promises to help us (Isaiah 41:10, 13). Another account we see given of Jesus walking on water is in Mark 6:45-52 (ESV). “Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd. After He had taken leave of them, He went up on the mountain to pray. And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and He was alone on the land. And He saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, but when they saw Him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.’ And He got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.” Hadn’t Jesus just confirmed His identity to them during the miraculous feeding of the 5,000 (followed by the 4,000 in Matthew)? It makes sense why in John 6:22-71 Jesus must further explain His “I Am” statement as the Bread of Life. He was teaching His disciples that He was and is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Sadly, the Bible records that many of the disciples (other followers) of Jesus left Him, except the twelve. When questioned, the twelve remained followers, yet Jesus knew the evil in Judas’ heart who would later betray Him. Following Jesus’ teaching, Peter makes a confession of Christ as Messiah in the following passages: Matthew 16:13-20, Mark 8:27-30, and Luke 9:18-20. Whether or not Peter still had a complete understanding of Who Christ was, biblical scholars may debate; but, based on Peter’s answer, it appears he understood that Jesus was the promised Messiah.

Life Lessons

What was the overall point Jesus was trying to make to His disciples, getting them to understand that He is the Bread of Life? I believe it to be this – the eternal Creator is also the Giver of life, and the One Who is the Giver of life also gave His life. He alone provides and sustains. There is no one else but a triune God Who is able to do this. Peter gives a wonderful, more detailed, account of Who Christ is in Acts. I would anticipate that the understanding of Christ’s identity as Lord and Savior came full circle again for Peter following the chronological account and witness of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension after the Great Commission. In Acts 2:32-33, 36 & 38 (ESV) Peter explains what it means that Christ is Messiah as well as how one may receive the gift of eternal life. “‘God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear…Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, Whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah…Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'” Peter is presenting the gospel and what it means to have life through Christ. Paul sums it up well with this statement in Philippians 1:21, “…to live is Christ.” Let’s rephrase this a different way based on the grammatical structure of the original statement – “to live equals Christ.” That’s it. No exceptions and no additions. To live…is Christ. And to die is gain because if we belong to Christ, we will be with Him in eternity. Author Nancy Guthrie explains a phenomenal perspective of how to apply this truth (to live is Christ) realistically in her book Even Better than Eden:

Do you really believe that the good life comes only through Him? Paul did. He said, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). To live is not be married or to have a fulfilling marriage. To live is Christ. To live is not to have children or to raise healthy, successful, or even godly children. To live is Christ. To live is not to have a body of a certain size or shape or degree of health, or a home in a certain neighborhood, or a particular job or status. To live is Christ. And most of us have to be convinced of this today and convinced of it again tomorrow, because we are so thoroughly immersed in this world that tells us otherwise.

To understand that to live is Christ brings an appropriate purpose and order to our lives – Christ is and should be our identity. To place our identity in anything else is to miss the mark entirely. It becomes an elevation of self over our Creator Whose image we bear. Likewise, stepping back to capture and understand the bigger picture of eternity will help bring into view a better perspective of the world in which we live.

Take it to Heart

Just as the disciples had to recognize Jesus’ identity and their need for Him; we, too, must recognize our Savior and acknowledge our need for Him. Some application questions below include:

1. What authority does Jesus have in my life today?
2. Am I grateful daily that Jesus has provided me both another day of life as well as the promise of eternal life?
3. Is my identity in who I want to be and what I desire apart from Christ, or in whom I was reconciled to be as a new creation in Christ?
4. Does the evidence of my faith define this?

One final take-away I found that corresponds well with the questions above is the statement made by Paul in Colossians 1:15-23a (ESV). To understand what the disciples were missing in Jesus being the Bread of Life (His preeminence), I think it’s important to look first at John 1:1-5 because it ties together so beautifully with the passage in Colossians 1. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” In this passage we see Jesus as the Word – Creator, Life, and Light.

Colossians 1:15-23a (ESV): The Preeminence of Christ

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven…”

Consider rewording this passage above to personalize these truths for yourself. It is a profound statement of faith. Let me clarify that in suggesting a “rewording” of the passage – this should not change or compromise the context of its truth. Rather, the idea of personalizing a passage of Scripture conscientiously and appropriately can bring about a unique perspective and understanding of how to apply God’s Word to our lives. Below is the passage again (the personalizations included in brackets for emphasis) to be compared to the original above:

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things [including my life] were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones [even the throne of my heart] or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things [including my life] were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things [in this world and my life], and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church [and my life]. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything [including my life], He might be preeminent. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven [even my life], making peace by the blood of His cross. And [I], who once [was] alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present [me] holy and blameless and above reproach before Him, if indeed [I] continue in the faith, stable and steadfast [with His help], not shifting from the hope of the gospel that [I] heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation [and my life] under heaven…”

It brings all of life into context – our Sovereign God (Creator, Savior, Provider) and our purpose and mission under Christ in His kingdom. I pray that you are encouraged and reminded to make Him preeminent in your life today and every day.