Are You a “Bread” Christian or a “Bread of Life” Christian?
Do you follow Jesus for who he is or what he can do for you? Following his night on the Sea of Galilee, the crowds who witnessed Jesus’ feeding of the 5,000 wake up and realize he is missing. This prompts them to immediately get in their boats to find him, and find him they do.
John 6:25-71
Today's Scripture Passage
A Few Thoughts to Consider
Do you follow Jesus for who he is or what he can do for you?
Following his night on the Sea of Galilee, the crowds who witnessed Jesus’ feeding of the 5,000 wake up and realize he is missing. This prompts them to immediately get in their boats to find him, and find him they do. But in verse 26, Jesus reveals their motivation was impure. He says, “Truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled.”
Verse 14 notes that the people likely viewed Jesus as the fulfillment of Deuteronomy 18:15-19, where Moses told the Israelites that God would raise up a prophet like him from among their people. However, the crowd is terribly short-sighted and does not recognize the greater significance of this fulfillment. They are looking for another free meal rather than recognizing Jesus for who he was. They were what early Christians might call “bread" Christians. They were in favor of handouts but had little interest in personal transformation.
It is astounding that after witnessing the miracle of Jesus feeding 5,000 people, they would demand more signs of Jesus. Yet, that is precisely what they do. In verses 30-31, they come to Jesus and say, 30 “What sign, then, are you going to do so that we may see and believe you?” they asked. “What are you going to perform? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”
To understand the full significance of this question, we must understand what was taking place at that point in history. Because it was near Passover, this meant that at this point, the people would have been studying the Jewish scriptures concerning Exodus and Israel’s deliverance out of Egypt. In Judaism, it was believed that a heavenly storehouse or “treasury” of manna had been opened to provide food for the people during Moses’ time. The crowd alludes to this belief in verse 31 when they say, “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” They firmly believed that when the Messiah came, this storehouse would be opened, and manna would fall down on the people as it had in the past. An early Jewish commentary on Exodus 16:4 says, “As the first redeemer caused manna to descend…so will the latter redeemer cause manna to descend.”[1]
Thus, they see this miraculous display from Jesus as insufficient and seek to catch Jesus on a technicality. Rather than recognizing him for who he is, they continue to ask for one more sign.
A Meditation to PRAY
Praise | Lord, I praise you for being the true Bread of Life who offers not just provision for today but eternal nourishment for my soul. You are the source of life and the fulfillment of all I truly need. Thank you for revealing yourself as more than a provider of temporary needs but as the one who gives lasting sustenance and salvation.
Release | I release my tendency to seek you only for what you can do for me rather than for who you are. Forgive me for the times I have focused on earthly benefits instead of embracing the fullness of your presence. Help me let go of the doubts and demands for signs that prevent me from fully trusting you.
Ask | Grant me the faith to trust you even when I don’t fully understand. Help me recognize you as the Bread of Life, finding true fulfillment in your presence and promises. Teach me to follow you with a heart committed to who you are, not just for what you can do for me.
Yield | I yield my desire for more signs and proofs, choosing to walk in faith and trust instead. I surrender my need to control or dictate how you reveal yourself to me, knowing that your ways are higher than mine. Let my faith rest in the truth that you are enough, regardless of my circumstances or understanding.
A Challenge to Act Like Christ
Many people say things like, “If only God would reveal himself to me in a personal way, then I would believe. If he would just walk and talk with me. I would believe if he would prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that his existence was real.” But the answer to this argument is that he already has, and he was rejected.
The bottom line is that some people will always demand more proof and more signs. Their quarrel with God has little to do with lack of evidence and much to do with lack of trust. They want to follow Jesus without demonstrating the necessary component of faith. As a result, they’re constantly questioning, constantly pontificating, and constantly dismissing Jesus on technicalities.
When we read John 6 through the broader narrative of scripture, we realize the major lesson Jesus is teaching these people is that he did not just come to earth to give bread; he came to be bread. This is why he says in John 6:47-51,
47 “Truly I tell you, anyone who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that anyone may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
This is one of the seven great “I am” statements by Jesus Christ in the book of John. The phrase “I am” has its roots in Exodus 3:14, when God revealed his name to Moses. This statement, and the paragraph that follows, shocks the crowd. The reason it shocked them was simple: Jesus was claiming to be God. He claimed that if people put their faith and trust in him, they would have eternal life. Suddenly, the Jews that had been along with Jesus for the free meal become uneasy and start to grumble. They like the free bread of Jesus, but not the bread of life, Jesus.
This passage should cause you to pause and ask yourself, “Am I a ‘bread’ Christian or a ‘bread of life’ Christian?” Do I follow Jesus for what he can do for me or for who he is? Bread Christians are always on the fence. They’re always looking for one more sign and saying things like, “If God makes himself crystal clear to me, then I’ll do what he wants me to do.” They demand that God reveal himself to them on their terms, and thus, they settle for some form of cultural Christianity. Don’t be like this.
Critical thinking is good, but chronic doubting is bad. Following Jesus always requires faith. And faith, by definition, means there will be some things we do not fully understand. Become comfortable with this and trust in Jesus, even when not every question you have is answered.
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[1] Midrash Rabbah Eccles. 1:9
