I can’t imagine hearing the interpretation of this dream! Oh, what a shock it must have been. How agonizing it would be waiting three more days to see if the interpretation of the dreams would prove to be true. One man was excited to be lifted up and restored to his original position and the other terribly frightened that he would be lifted up to and put to death on a pole.
As we take a look at this dream we can see how it shows the wonder, beauty and joy of the cross.
Pastries (bread) in the baskets: The chief baker had bread in the baskets on top of his head. Evil men took “The Bread of life”, struck His flesh and tore it apart like the birds that ate the bread out of the baskets, beating Jesus within an inch of His life and hanging Him on a pole (Numbers 21:9; John 3:14).
“So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.” John 6:53 NLT
“Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. 33 The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” John 6:32-33 NLT
“For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:40 NLT
Oh friend, do you see Jesus being lifted up for you. Dying on the pole for you. Breathing His last breath and giving up His spirit so you could receive the Spirit of life, love, and liberty! Come and see and partake of the bread broken for you! Come and die to self and sin and be raised now to new life walking in the power of the Spirit!
Baskets on top of the chief baker’s head: The chief baker had three baskets full of bread on top of his head in his dream. The baskets would have been made from twigs woven together to hold the bread. Jesus had a crown of thorns woven together and pressed into His head. Not a crown of honor but a crown of dishonor and disgrace that pierced His head, wearing and carrying the curse of sin and death, thorns and thistles in His flesh.
“...the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. 18 It will grow thorns and thistles for you…” Genesis 3:17-18 NLT
“Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. 2 The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they put a purple robe on him. 3 “Hail! King of the Jews!” they mocked, as they slapped him across the face.” John 19:1-3 NLT
Under the immediate sentence of death: The chief baker was under the sentence of death upon hearing the interpretation of the dream but it would not be carried out until the third day. Jesus was under the constant sentence of death but it wouldn’t be carried out for thirty-three years.
“After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” Matthew 2:13 NLT
Jesus entered our death sentence while on the cross, (He took the “sticks of death” from us) was hungry and thirsty as He tasted death for us so we could live through Him (Hebrews 2:9).
“And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God.” Romans 8:10 NLT
“But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” Galatians 3:13 NLT
The same day the chief baker was lifted up on the pole and put to death, the chief cup-bearer was lifted up and restored: The chief cup-bearer and the chief baker were thrown into prison for their wrongdoing, for upsetting and making Pharaoh angry enough to put them in prison. Both were sentenced on the same day—one was hung on a pole and the other restored to his position. Jesus fulfilled both The Chief Baker who was lifted up and impaled on the pole and the Chief Cup-Bearer who was lifted up out of the prison and restored to his previous position on the third day.
And now think about the application of this passage to your own heart and life. Friend, the same day of your physical birth you were sentenced to death (Psalm 51:5), but the same day you believed the message of the cross is the same day you died with Christ, your flesh was cut away, your sins were forgiven and you rose from the dead and seated with Christ in heaven! The same day you died with Christ you rose in Christ!
“But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4-6 NLT
“You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.” Colossians 2:13 NLT
The baker and cup-bearer would taste the food and drink from the cup to ensure that the Pharaoh would not be poisoned to death. But, “Jesus tasted death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9) with His sacrifice on the cross, our anointed bread in the basket (Leviticus 8:31), the living bread that was burned up in the fire of God’s wrath (Leviticus 8:32).
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.” John 6:51 NLT
The real bread from heaven is Jesus’ flesh which He would offer to the world. Jesus, the bread of life would go to the cross and be baked in the oven of God’s wrath. With the leaven of our sin so He could rise from the dead and give Himself to all who come, see and believe.
“Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35 NLT
Friend, Jesus is the “white” bread that came down from heaven (Genesis 40:16 NLT). The One who was dressed in scarlet and made red like crimson bleeding from head to toe while on the cross to make you white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). Jesus unclothed Himself of His majesty and honor to take the place of dishonor and humility, clothing Himself with human flesh sin and death to save and sanctify you. Now pleading with His wounds for you to come and see. Come and believe. Come to Jesus and receive the cup of wine and the bread broken in pieces for you.
“For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.“ 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Question 5. What thoughts do you have of Jesus now as you look at The Bead of Life broken in pieces for you?
Log in / create an account to enroll or continue where you left off.
Dear, pastor, elder, church leader or member, what a privilege and honor we have to share the cup and the bread together. We are to always remember the cross. Remember the price paid. Remember the suffering servant. Remember that there is power only in the blood of Christ. Power that removes sin from us and power to keep us from being removed out of His hand! Of friend, let’s pray together that the church rediscovers the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection and becomes immovable from it!