
Adobe Stock
As He taught his followers how to pray, Jesus included the plea "Give us this day our daily bread." As the "staff of life" from the beginning of this earth down to the present time, daily bread has provided us with basic food—and so much more.
Christian author and enthusiastic bread expert Karen Whiting has written "devotional cookbooks" including The Gift of Bread: Recipes from the Heart and the Table—combining the Bible with family favorites. She has extended the blend: "the words, ‘give us this day our daily bread,’ This implies a dual request for both our essential needs and for Jesus, the Bread of Life. We need Jesus and scriptures to be with us daily.
Daily bread began with Adam. Sending Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden to experience mortality, God told our first parents that growing grain and making bread would not be easy and relaxing. Bread was designated first; other flour-based items would develop. God would ensure the growth, but Adam and Eve would provide the labor.
And bread development does not seem to have been slow. Bread was the staff of life throughout the Bible. Alimentarium, a museum devoted to bread, informs us that biblical persons cultivated millet and spelt for their daily bread in addition to wheat and barley, and that herbs and oil provided seasoning. Matzah, unleavened "bread of haste," was the bread of Passover, when Israel had to get out of Egypt faster than leaven could raise it. For "sedentary" folks who weren't in that kind of hurry, the leavened version (hametz) has been just fine.
When the Israelites ran out of their unleavened bread, they had a long sojourn in the wilderness to come. As they were missing "bread to the full" that they had had in Egypt, the Lord took care of it—"I will rain bread from heaven for you." He sent manna (to the full). We don't know about its appearance, texture, or taste—only that it had to be gathered daily except the Sabbath, and it could not be stored in advance. Manna got the people through the days, with meatier things provided at night.
Scarcity of bread has also been a major Biblical issue. When people were wicked, famine was often the consequence; famine also brought about some miracles. How the ravens fed Elijah bread and meat for three years would definitely have been miraculous. When it was time for Elijah's decisive challenge of King Ahab, God prepared a widow rather than ravens to be sure he was strong enough. The widow had very scant meal and oil, which would be the last food before death for her son and herself. She had the faith to make a small cake for Elijah, and she did not run out of meal or oil until the famine ceased.
Paul, who was gifted with appealing ways to present abstract principles, exclaimed, "For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread" (1 Corinthians 10:17). Breaking and sharing bread has, from Old Testament times onward, represented togetherness and regard.
When God and two angels appeared at Abraham's tent, he offered them bread to which he added butter, milk, and meat (Genesis 18:208). Later two angels visited Lot at Sodom; Lot might have had little warning, for he provided them with unleavened bead (Genesis 19:3).
A supreme example of high level unity in worship is Melchizedek serving bread to Abraham, who came to him to pay tithes. Christ's birthplace, Bethlehem, means "house of bread," which might refer to sustenance or fellowship—likely both.
A well-know and well-loved example of bread as identifier and unifier occurred as Jesus encountered at his sepulcher followers who were puzzled at His death. They did not recognize Him, as He began to walk and talk with them—correcting what they misunderstood and teaching them the scriptures that testified of Him. As they entered their chosen village, they invited Him, "Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." As they prepared to eat together, "He took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight" (Luke 24: 24-42).
The Apostles were to get their unifying bread as well. After a night of fishing without catching fish (like one three years earlier) they heard a voice telling them to let the nets down on the other side of the boat (again repeating that night). Realizing that the Lord was there, they shifted the net and hurried to shore with 153 fishes. "Come and dine," He invited. He was there, providing bread along with fish—both representing the precious time the apostles had had with Him.
The apostles were to continue their traditions of breaking daily bread together. In the early Church the people had "all things common," selling "all their possessions and goods" and giving to each what was needed. "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, did eat . . . with gladness and singleness of heart."
Sometimes eating bread can be a life and death matter. Once when bread had been broken and consumed, and Paul was engaging in one of his lengthy discourses, one bread-indulged young man fell into a "deep sleep" fell out a "third loft" window and was found to be dead. Paul went to him, embraced him, and assured the crowd, "Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him." The gathering broke and consumed more bread, Paul talked through the rest of the night, and the young man survived.
Jesus was addressing a crowd of 5,000 men (and some women and children). He knew that they had been a long time without bread or anything else to eat, and He had compassion on them. The disciples could manage to find five loaves of bread and two fishes, but that was enough for the Savior. He blessed and broke these items, all ate all they wanted, and 12 baskets of food remained. During another session, He was addressing 4,000 persons; this time seven loaves of bread and "a few" small fishes were found. Again the Savior blessed and broke the food, and again all ate all they wanted (women and children as well). This time the leftovers filled seven baskets.
Jesus could turn small quantities of bread into innumerable provisions. But when He gave the bread a deeper, eternally significant meaning, many of these bread-fed followers left him. Bread symbolizing His flesh and wine symbolizing his blood were not the kind of free meal they wanted. Jesus was saddened, but pleased that his most faithful followers remained with Him.
The true bread-flesh and wine-blood meaning culminated during the "last supper" Passover meal Jesus shared with His apostles. He took bread, gave thanks, and blessed and broke it. Giving it to His apostles, He instructed them, "Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me."
He then took the cup, and after giving thanks he passed it to them, saying, "Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins
(accounts in Matt 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22 brought together).
On this simple sequence, the Communion /Eucharist is based. Christian denominations have different procedures and interpretations of symbols. But their worship and adoration of the Savior is utmost.
Steve Manskar, who has published books on discipleship, wrote of effects on Communion participants:
Holy Communion is a re-presentation of God’s love for the world in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When we come to the table to receive the bread and cup we remember Jesus’ breaking bread with sinners, tax collectors, prostitutes, lepers, Pharisees, Scribes, and Gentiles. We remember the feeding of the five thousand when everyone was fed. Christ invites everyone to his table where he gives himself away. He supplies the grace we need to repent of our sin and to receive the forgiveness and healing we need to live and serve with Christ in the world.
From His earliest creations, God has and does bless His people with bread. They've had to work for it, but that is part of the blessing. They've learned physically and spiritually. Bread has been provided miraculously and withheld in times of wickedness. Sharing bread has always promoted friendship and fellowship. People love to rejoice in bread broken together.
Of utmost importance, bread represents eternal links with our Savior. At His final meal with his Apostles, He taught them how to bless and partake of bread and wine as symbols of His great love and transcendent sacrifice for all.
Daily bread, daily blessings, daily fellowship—daily worship, daily love.
Christian author and enthusiastic bread expert Karen Whiting has written "devotional cookbooks" including The Gift of Bread: Recipes from the Heart and the Table—combining the Bible with family favorites. She has extended the blend: "the words, ‘give us this day our daily bread,’ This implies a dual request for both our essential needs and for Jesus, the Bread of Life. We need Jesus and scriptures to be with us daily.
Biblical Bread Saga
Daily bread began with Adam. Sending Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden to experience mortality, God told our first parents that growing grain and making bread would not be easy and relaxing. Bread was designated first; other flour-based items would develop. God would ensure the growth, but Adam and Eve would provide the labor.
And bread development does not seem to have been slow. Bread was the staff of life throughout the Bible. Alimentarium, a museum devoted to bread, informs us that biblical persons cultivated millet and spelt for their daily bread in addition to wheat and barley, and that herbs and oil provided seasoning. Matzah, unleavened "bread of haste," was the bread of Passover, when Israel had to get out of Egypt faster than leaven could raise it. For "sedentary" folks who weren't in that kind of hurry, the leavened version (hametz) has been just fine.
When the Israelites ran out of their unleavened bread, they had a long sojourn in the wilderness to come. As they were missing "bread to the full" that they had had in Egypt, the Lord took care of it—"I will rain bread from heaven for you." He sent manna (to the full). We don't know about its appearance, texture, or taste—only that it had to be gathered daily except the Sabbath, and it could not be stored in advance. Manna got the people through the days, with meatier things provided at night.
Scarcity of bread has also been a major Biblical issue. When people were wicked, famine was often the consequence; famine also brought about some miracles. How the ravens fed Elijah bread and meat for three years would definitely have been miraculous. When it was time for Elijah's decisive challenge of King Ahab, God prepared a widow rather than ravens to be sure he was strong enough. The widow had very scant meal and oil, which would be the last food before death for her son and herself. She had the faith to make a small cake for Elijah, and she did not run out of meal or oil until the famine ceased.
Bread for Friendship and Unity
Paul, who was gifted with appealing ways to present abstract principles, exclaimed, "For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread" (1 Corinthians 10:17). Breaking and sharing bread has, from Old Testament times onward, represented togetherness and regard.
When God and two angels appeared at Abraham's tent, he offered them bread to which he added butter, milk, and meat (Genesis 18:208). Later two angels visited Lot at Sodom; Lot might have had little warning, for he provided them with unleavened bead (Genesis 19:3).
A supreme example of high level unity in worship is Melchizedek serving bread to Abraham, who came to him to pay tithes. Christ's birthplace, Bethlehem, means "house of bread," which might refer to sustenance or fellowship—likely both.
A well-know and well-loved example of bread as identifier and unifier occurred as Jesus encountered at his sepulcher followers who were puzzled at His death. They did not recognize Him, as He began to walk and talk with them—correcting what they misunderstood and teaching them the scriptures that testified of Him. As they entered their chosen village, they invited Him, "Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." As they prepared to eat together, "He took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight" (Luke 24: 24-42).
The Apostles were to get their unifying bread as well. After a night of fishing without catching fish (like one three years earlier) they heard a voice telling them to let the nets down on the other side of the boat (again repeating that night). Realizing that the Lord was there, they shifted the net and hurried to shore with 153 fishes. "Come and dine," He invited. He was there, providing bread along with fish—both representing the precious time the apostles had had with Him.
The apostles were to continue their traditions of breaking daily bread together. In the early Church the people had "all things common," selling "all their possessions and goods" and giving to each what was needed. "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, did eat . . . with gladness and singleness of heart."
Sometimes eating bread can be a life and death matter. Once when bread had been broken and consumed, and Paul was engaging in one of his lengthy discourses, one bread-indulged young man fell into a "deep sleep" fell out a "third loft" window and was found to be dead. Paul went to him, embraced him, and assured the crowd, "Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him." The gathering broke and consumed more bread, Paul talked through the rest of the night, and the young man survived.
Bread as the Sacred Symbol of Our Bond with Christ
Jesus was addressing a crowd of 5,000 men (and some women and children). He knew that they had been a long time without bread or anything else to eat, and He had compassion on them. The disciples could manage to find five loaves of bread and two fishes, but that was enough for the Savior. He blessed and broke these items, all ate all they wanted, and 12 baskets of food remained. During another session, He was addressing 4,000 persons; this time seven loaves of bread and "a few" small fishes were found. Again the Savior blessed and broke the food, and again all ate all they wanted (women and children as well). This time the leftovers filled seven baskets.
Jesus could turn small quantities of bread into innumerable provisions. But when He gave the bread a deeper, eternally significant meaning, many of these bread-fed followers left him. Bread symbolizing His flesh and wine symbolizing his blood were not the kind of free meal they wanted. Jesus was saddened, but pleased that his most faithful followers remained with Him.
The true bread-flesh and wine-blood meaning culminated during the "last supper" Passover meal Jesus shared with His apostles. He took bread, gave thanks, and blessed and broke it. Giving it to His apostles, He instructed them, "Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me."
He then took the cup, and after giving thanks he passed it to them, saying, "Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins
(accounts in Matt 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22 brought together).
On this simple sequence, the Communion /Eucharist is based. Christian denominations have different procedures and interpretations of symbols. But their worship and adoration of the Savior is utmost.
Steve Manskar, who has published books on discipleship, wrote of effects on Communion participants:
Holy Communion is a re-presentation of God’s love for the world in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When we come to the table to receive the bread and cup we remember Jesus’ breaking bread with sinners, tax collectors, prostitutes, lepers, Pharisees, Scribes, and Gentiles. We remember the feeding of the five thousand when everyone was fed. Christ invites everyone to his table where he gives himself away. He supplies the grace we need to repent of our sin and to receive the forgiveness and healing we need to live and serve with Christ in the world.
From His earliest creations, God has and does bless His people with bread. They've had to work for it, but that is part of the blessing. They've learned physically and spiritually. Bread has been provided miraculously and withheld in times of wickedness. Sharing bread has always promoted friendship and fellowship. People love to rejoice in bread broken together.
Of utmost importance, bread represents eternal links with our Savior. At His final meal with his Apostles, He taught them how to bless and partake of bread and wine as symbols of His great love and transcendent sacrifice for all.
Daily bread, daily blessings, daily fellowship—daily worship, daily love.
1/21/2025 7:14:59 PM