Bread: More than a baker’s dozen!!

Bread brings joy to any gathering and a warm, fresh, loaf, round or flat is loved at meals served around the world. It should come as no surprise that bread is represented strongly throughout the scriptures. We are first introduced to bread in Genesis 3:19 where God tells Adam “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread.” Although this outcome was a punishment for sin, we hear God’s voice providing assurance that out of his abundance we are able to sustain life.

God’s authority over all nature and circumstances is displayed when the Lord tells Moses “Behold I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day,” (Exodus 16:4). Imagine what it must have been like for Moses and the Israelites going to bed grumbling and hungry, but the next morning when the dew had lifted there was indeed bread and they “gathered as much as they could eat”. (Exodus 16:18)

When the Lord spoke to Moses regarding vows and offerings one of the requirements was to bring “a basket of unleavened bread, loaves of fine flour mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers smeared with oil”. (Numbers 6: 15) Think of the preparation, care and love (true artisan bakery quality for sure) that went into baking and presenting such an offering to the Lord.

Jesus had many experiences and lessons involving bread during his life and ministry. In Matthew 4 Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights and when the devil taunted his hunger by saying “command these stones to become loaves of bread” Jesus answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” What an amazing command of the scriptures and obedience to his father’s will Jesus showed in the face of this temptation.

All these previous references lead us to John 6, which is a veritable storehouse of bread. First, we travel with Jesus across the Sea of Galilee. A crowd follows in anticipation of his healing and teaching. Jesus, ever thinking in his servant nature (and, also testing his disciples) wanted to feed the thousands. He took five barley loaves, gave thanks for them (a reminder for us to be thankful even when we may not have enough to go around), and HE distributed the loaves to those who were seated. Visualize the scene as Jesus walks through this throng, passing out bread and all are able to eat until they are full; then the disciples gather up another twelve baskets of leftovers!

Next, Jesus begins to expand on what people had witnessed with the miracle of the five loaves and turns his teaching toward “food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you”. He reveals “I am the bread of life: whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst”.

Finally, Jesus declares “I am the bread that came down from heaven” and “If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” These statements resulted in much grumbling, consternation and conflict amongst the religious leaders and disciples and even caused some to stop following Jesus. Thankfully for us Jesus did not stop there but continued his journey to the cross where all his declarations were proven true.

We have the opportunity to be reminded of God’s practical and spiritual provisions through our celebration of the Lord’s supper. Let’s follow the early church’s example as “they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers”. (Acts 2:42)

I pray that as you bake or share your next loaf, round or flat of fresh bread that you will enjoy the warmth and aroma, but even more will seek after the real bread of life.