Protocol One Studies - The Gospel of John - Week 4
Jesus the Bread of Life
A Study in John 6-7
Imagine standing in a crowd of thousands, your stomach growling, your soul aching for something eternal. A man stands before you, transforming five loaves and two fish into a feast for all. But that miracle? It’s merely the prelude to a greater revelation.
In John 6, Jesus performs His most public miracle: the feeding of the 5,000. What follows is even more profound—He declares, I am the Bread of Life (John 6:35). The crowd sought full bellies; Jesus offered eternal satisfaction. They pursued a provider; He revealed Himself as the provision itself. In John 7, at the Feast of Tabernacles, He extends this promise, offering “living water” to the thirsty (John 7:37-38). These declarations mark moments of decision: some sought to crown Him king (John 6:15), others grumbled (John 6:41; 7:12), many walked away (John 6:66), yet a few remained, confessing, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).
The miracles draw the crowd. The message tests their faith. And the Messiah stands resolute, offering Himself to all who believe.
1. The Feeding of the 5,000: Jesus as Provider and Shepherd
As the only miracle recorded in all four Gospels besides the Resurrection, the feeding of the 5,000 underscores Jesus’ universal provision and public declaration of His messianic identity. Jesus’ journey to “the other side” (John 6:1) reflects a move across the political boundary dividing Philip’s and Herod Antipas’s territories, grounding the miracle in the historical realities of His day. This miracle isn’t about spectacle—it’s about revelation and discipleship. Jesus intentionally involves the disciples, saying, “You give them something to eat” (John 6:6; cf. Mark 6:37; Psalm 23:1). When they falter, He demonstrates that His provision is abundant and sufficient, with twelve baskets of leftovers symbolizing God’s covenantal care (cf. Exodus 16:4-18; 1 Kings 17:14-16). The imagery evokes manna in the wilderness and Elijah’s multiplied oil, pointing to Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s provision. The crowd sees the sign and wonders, “Could this be the Prophet foretold by Moses?” (cf. Deuteronomy 18:15). Some even seek to make Him king (John 6:15). But their vision is limited to earthly hopes. Jesus didn’t come to distribute bread from a temporal throne—He came to be the Bread that grants eternal life (John 6:35). This miracle is a signpost, not the destination, urging us to look beyond physical needs to the spiritual hunger only Christ can satisfy.
2. I AM: Jesus’ Divine Identity Revealed
After the feeding, Jesus withdraws, then walks on the sea to His disciples amidst a storm. In their fear, He declares, “It is I” (Greek: Ego eimi)—not a casual greeting but a divine self-identification echoing God’s name in Exodus 3:14, “I AM WHO I AM” (cf. Isaiah 43:10-13; 45:23). The sea, a symbol of chaos and threat in Old Testament thought (cf. Psalm 107:23-29), underscores human helplessness, making Jesus’ mastery a call to faith in the One who tames chaos. John’s Gospel repeatedly uses “I AM” statements to assert Jesus’ deity (John 8:58; 10:11; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1; 18:5-6). The One who treads upon the waves is the Lord of creation, wielding sovereign authority over nature and fear (cf. Psalm 89:9; Job 9:8). This miracle also serves as a corrective to the disciples’ failure to grasp the feeding’s deeper meaning (cf. Mark 6:52), revealing Jesus’ divine authority to teach them trust amidst chaos.
3. Salvation: Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility
John 6 balances two truths: “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me” (divine sovereignty; cf. Ephesians 1:4-5) and “Whoever comes to Me I will never cast out” (human responsibility; cf. John 3:16). Jesus’ vivid imagery—“eat My flesh, drink My blood” (John 6:53-56)—is not a direct reference to the Lord’s Supper but a call to faith that fully embraces Him (cf. John 4:13-14; Isaiah 55:1-3; Hebrews 11:6). This imagery also lays the theological groundwork for the Lord’s Supper, where bread and wine symbolize His sacrificial death (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:23-25), though here the focus is appropriating Christ by faith. This is no superficial belief but a transformative trust, akin to consuming Christ as the source of life. Salvation is God’s gift, yet it requires active reception through faith (cf. Romans 10:9-10). No one drifts into salvation; it demands intentional dependence on Christ, rooted in the Father’s gracious election.
4. The Offense of the Gospel
The crowd recoils: “This is a hard saying; who can accept it?” (John 6:60). Their offense arises because Jesus defies their expectations of a political Messiah. The Bread of Life demands total surrender, not partial allegiance. To “eat and drink” Christ is to embrace Him wholly—His lordship, His sacrifice, His terms—forsaking self-reliance and sacrificing personal ambitions (cf. Luke 14:26-27). Many turn away (John 6:66), but Peter’s confession shines: “You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). True faith trusts Christ alone, even when His call is costly. This pattern of divided opinions about Jesus—good man or divine Messiah—continues throughout John’s Gospel (cf. John 7:12, 43) and persists in our world, urging us to choose His lordship. Like the crowds of Jerusalem, our culture today divides over Jesus—some see Him as a moral teacher, others as a myth, but He calls all to recognize Him as the divine Messiah.
5. Eternal Security in Christ’s Hands
Jesus declares, “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that I should lose nothing of all that He has given Me, but raise it up on the last day” (John 6:39; cf. John 10:28-29; Romans 8:38-39; Jude 1:24-25). Our security rests not in our hold on Christ but in His unyielding grip on us. Judas, though physically following, was not among those granted by the Father (John 6:65), distinguishing true believers from temporary followers. The Father’s will, the Son’s obedience, and the Spirit’s sealing (Ephesians 1:13-14) ensure that no one given to Christ will be lost. This is no excuse for complacency but a foundation for confidence, anchored in God’s unchanging purpose (cf. 1 Peter 1:3-5).
6. The Greater Exodus: The True Passover Lamb
John sets this discourse during Passover (John 6:4), evoking Israel’s deliverance. The manna sustained temporarily (Exodus 16:35); Jesus, the Bread of Life, sustains eternally. The Passover lamb shielded from physical death (Exodus 12:13); Christ, “our Passover lamb” (1 Corinthians 5:7; cf. Isaiah 53:7), secures eternal redemption through His blood (cf. Hebrews 9:12). Just as the Passover lamb shielded Israel from God’s judgment (Exodus 12:13), Jesus’ sacrifice delivers believers from eternal judgment, fulfilling the feast’s promise of life. Jesus is the true Moses, leading a greater exodus from sin’s bondage to eternal freedom (cf. Colossians 1:13-14). This miracle and discourse reveal Him as both the provision and the path to eternal life.
7. Living Water at Tabernacles
At the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus declares, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37-38), promising the Spirit’s indwelling to believers post-glorification (cf. Isaiah 12:2; 55:1). Against the festival’s ritual of pouring water from the Spring of Gihon onto the altar and lighting a 70-foot menorah, Jesus offers eternal life through the Spirit, contrasting temporary water and light with His eternal provision. Believers, indwelt by the Spirit, become channels of witness, with “rivers of living water” flowing from them to others (John 7:38). This marks a shift from the Old Covenant’s temporary provisions to the New Covenant’s permanent indwelling of the Spirit (cf. Ezekiel 36:26-27).
Key Takeaways
Jesus satisfies spiritual hunger and thirst (John 6:35; 7:37-38).
Faith is active trust, receiving Christ as the sole source of salvation (John 6:29).
Believers rest secure in Christ’s promise to lose none given by the Father (John 6:39).
Miracles point to Jesus’ divine identity, not merely His power (John 20:30-31).
The gospel demands total surrender or rejection (John 6:66-68; 7:12, 43).
The Spirit’s indwelling empowers believers to share Christ’s life with others (John 7:38-39).
Worship Moment — Jesus, the Bread of Life and Living Water
This week, reflect on the God who meets physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. He feeds the hungry, calms the storm, offers living water, and declares, “I AM.” Pause to thank Him through prayer or a written reflection for His provision—daily bread and eternal life. Meditate on John 6:35 and 7:37-38, worshiping the Savior who satisfies completely, offering gratitude for His sustaining grace in every season of life.
Reflection Challenge
1. What is the significance of this miracle of feeding? What does it teach us about Jesus?
This miracle is the largest and most public sign Jesus performs during His earthly ministry. It is an unmistakable attention-getter for Israel, announcing His ministry to God’s people in a way no one could ignore. It reveals His compassion, His sufficiency to meet needs, and His role as the promised Messiah who brings abundance to His people.
2. How does one receive the gift of salvation that Jesus offers? What does it mean to believe in Him?
Salvation is by grace through faith on the basis of the shed blood of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8–9). We are saved by faith, and even that faith is a gracious gift from God. Yet Jesus describes believing in Him as the one “work” God requires (John 6:29). Believing means trusting that Jesus is who He says He is, relying entirely on His finished work for salvation—not our own efforts.
3. What does this passage teach us about eternal security? On what basis can we be secure in our salvation?
We can be secure in our salvation based on the One who secures us. We are saved by God, kept by God, and God does not fail (John 6:39; Jude 1:24). Our confidence rests not in our grip on Him but in His grip on us.
4. What did the people of Jerusalem think of Jesus? How does this compare with our culture today?
Reactions to Jesus were deeply divided:
Some thought He was a lunatic or liar.
Others believed He was demon-possessed.
Some considered Him a prophet but not the Messiah.
This mirrors today’s culture—some dismiss Him, others respect Him but stop short of acknowledging Him as Lord, and still others bow in faith to Him as Savior and King.
What This Means for Us
Jesus offers more than answers—He offers Himself. His invitation is not to sample religion but to enter a life-giving, all-satisfying relationship with Him as the Bread of Life and Living Water. This is not about earning salvation but receiving it through wholehearted faith—a daily reliance that treats Christ as the only source of life and satisfaction. Even skeptics seeking God’s will can trust that He will reveal Himself, as Jesus promises that those willing to obey will know His teaching’s truth (John 7:17).
For the skeptic: Your soul’s hunger cannot be filled by anything else—come and see (cf. John 1:46).
For the weary: Cease your striving and rest in His sufficiency (cf. Psalm 46:10).
For the believer: Resist the temptation to merely nibble at faith; instead, feast continually on Christ through prayer, His Word, and obedience, becoming a channel of His living water to others.
True faith reshapes every priority, fuels obedience, and compels us to share the Bread of Life and Living Water with others. Let this truth press us toward deeper communion with Him and bolder witness for Him.
Commitment: Begin each day in Scripture before screens. Let your first hunger be for Christ, expressed in prayer. Share with one person this week how Christ satisfies your soul, inviting them to consider Him as the source of living water.
As We Close Week Four
We’ve stood in the crowd, bread in hand, and felt the wonder. We’ve heard the words that cut through the noise: I am the Bread of Life. We’ve seen the water poured and the menorah lit, hearing Jesus’ call to drink from Him. We’ve watched as some drew near and others walked away. This is no casual offer—this is a summons to the table of the King.
Don’t leave hungry or thirsty. Don’t wander off to scavenge for crumbs when the banquet is set before you. The Bread is broken, the cup is poured, the invitation is personal. Take Him in—not in part, not as a garnish to your own plans, but as your only sustenance.
Let the world chase its empty loaves; we have found the Bread that satisfies and the Water that refreshes. Once you’ve tasted, you cannot keep it to yourself. Share this Bread and Water with the one starving beside you. Carry it into the streets, the office, the family gathering. Offer it freely, in Christ’s name. Urge them: Come, eat, drink, live.
He is the Bread and the Water. We are the hungry and thirsty. The world needs this hope.
“Whoever eats this bread will live forever” (John 6:51).
--Protocol One
In Week 1, we looked at Jesus the Word, seeing how John’s prologue reveals His eternal nature and mission. In Week 2, we studied Jesus the Light, tracing how the Light of the world calls us to follow Him in truth. In Week 3, we explored the start of His ministry and first miracles—from turning water into wine at Cana to healing the lame man at the Pool of Bethesda—revealing His authority over both the natural and spiritual. You can revisit those lessons anytime at: protocolone.substack.com/s/studies
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