Bread for Life

Last week I talked about manna and the Lord’s daily provision through this unusual substance. The Israelites were encouraged to gather as much as they needed. It is a physical picture of the spiritual presence of the Lord in our own lives. We need Him daily, and we can gather as much as we need. But this is not where this comparison stops. Bread is used as a symbol all over the Bible.

One place bread shows up is in the story of David and Saul. After Saul tries to kill David, the starving, would-be king flees to the temple at Nob where he asks the priest for five loaves of bread. All the priest has is consecrated bread – bread left on the altar of God as an offering. The priests called it the Bread of Presence, or Showbread. It represents God’s presence with His people and His provision for them (1 Samuel 21:1-6).

This consecrated bread is placed fresh on the altar each Sabbath. There are twelve loaves, one for each tribe of Israel (Leviticus 24:8-9). This bread is not meant as food for God, but as an offering of thanksgiving for God’s faithful provision. Generally, the priests would eat this bread, but in David’s time of need, it is given to him.

We see bread in Luke 11:2-5 when Jesus teaches us how to pray. Verse 3 says, “Give us each day our daily bread.” “God, give us food each day” is surely what I thought Jesus was saying. Maybe you did too. Yes, it does mean physical “food,” but it also spiritually means His daily presence. Jesus specifically reminds us, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). We need the physical and the spiritual to be healthy. Both of these references harken back to manna and our need for God’s daily presence and provision.

Jesus shows this same symbolism when he says, “I am the bread of life.” After feeding the five thousand with five small barley loaves and two small fish, Jesus retreats to the other side of the lake. The next day many follow him there. They want a sign: “What will you do? Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: ‘[Moses] gave them bread from heaven to eat”. Jesus quickly let them know it was the Father who gave them manna, not Moses. He reminds them those men died, but the one who eats the “true bread” will live. Then Jesus says, “I am the bread of life . . . I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6: 30-32, 48-51). They wanted a sign that day, but their sign would not come until later when Jesus gave his life on the cross so that they might live.

At the last supper, Jesus uses a specific piece of bread to further the disciple’s understanding of how he is the bread of life. The Passover meal uses unleavened bread to symbolize being without sin. There is one piece of unleavened bread that is broken at the beginning of the meal. Part of this broken bread is put back on the table, but the other part is wrapped in a cloth and hidden until later. At the appropriate time, this hidden piece of bread is found and returned to the table. This particular piece of bread is called the “afikomen,” which is Greek for “the coming one.” The afikomen is a clear picture of the Messiah, who was broken, wrapped and hidden in a tomb, and on the third day returned to us. Not surprisingly, this piece of bread is brought out at the third cup of wine in the Passover meal – the cup that represents redemption. That night at the Last Supper, Christ holds up the afikomen and says, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). This unleavened, broken, hidden-but-returned piece of bread points to Jesus, “For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:33). When we take the bread during the Lord’s Supper, we should remember these things.

God’s word continually uses bread as a symbol of His provision for our spiritual and physical needs, as a symbol of His presence with us. Just like we need food daily, we need Him daily, and He is readily available. I love the sweet invitation in Isaiah 55:

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.”

These same words echo in Revelation 22. Come, whoever wishes . . . Our Heavenly Father gives an invitation to come daily and fill up on His goodness, His life. He gives abundantly more than we could ever imagine. He gives us His presence, His spirit, and life through His son, Jesus Christ. If you have been feeling empty but can’t figure out why, it is very possible that you are hungry for the bread of life? Don’t wait. Take the LORD up on His sweet invitation, on the bread of life already prepared for you. There is plenty. Gather as much as you need!

Dear LORD, You are amazing! I am totally thrilled by you. Thank you for your daily presence. Thank you for promising me daily bread and offering as much as I need. I do need you – sometimes more than I know. Sometimes I am starving for Your presence and yet I don’t seek You. I seek the monotony of things that do not fill me up. You are the One who satisfies. Remind me LORD that I need You daily. Thank You for Your unfailing love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.