BIBLICAL BREAD

The very first time bread is mentioned in the Bible is when God sentenced Adam (man) and told him that by the sweat of his face he'd eat bread until the day he dies (Genesis 3:19). Biblical Bread was the first thing Abraham offered to Jesus and the two Angels of the Lord when they visited him (Genesis 18:5). The feast of unleavened bread is an important part of the Passover celebration reminding the Hebrews that there wasn't time to wait for their bread dough to rise as God brought them out of slavery in Egypt (Genesis 12:39).

The Lord rained Living bread from Heaven, called manna, for the children of Israel to eat for 40 years in the wilderness on their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land (Exodus 16:4, 35). David referred to manna as Angel's food (Psalms 78:25). Moses told the children of Israel that man doesn't live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord (Deuteronomy 8:3). In the Tabernacle, and in the Temple, there was a table with bread called showbread that was set continually before the mercy seat (Exodus 25:30, 2 Chronicles 2:4).

Biblical Bread was used as a symbol in a man's dream that the sword of Gideon would defeat Midian (Judges 7:13). God sent Living bread with ravens to feed Elijah when he hid by the brook during 3½ years of draught (1 Kings 17:6). A psalm of David says that bread strengthens man's heart (Psalms 104:15). The Biblical bread term is used metaphorically in the Bible as the bread of idleness (Proverbs 31:27), the bread of wickedness (Proverbs 4:17), the bread of sorrow (Psalms 127:2), the bread of tears (Psalms 80:5), and the bread of adversity (Isaiah 30:20).

When the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness he told Jesus to command that stones be made into bread (Matthew 4:3). In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus said, Give us this day our daily bread (Matthew 6:11). And at the last supper, Jesus took bread and said, Take, eat; this is my body (Matthew 26:26).

Jesus explained more clearly, I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will never hunger and who believes in me will never thirst. You've seen me, and don't believe. Everything the Father gives me, I will receive, and whoever comes to me, I will not forsake in any way. I didn't come down from Heaven to do my own will, but to do the will of God. And this is the will of God who sent me, that of all (people) that He has given me, I should lose none, but should raise it up again at the last day. And it's the will of God, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. Jesus was talking about the Rapture when He said that, and you can read more about it in 1 Thessalonians 4:16.

Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the Bread that comes down from Heaven, that a man can eat and not die. I am the Living Bread which came down from Heaven. If any man eats this bread, he will live for ever, and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

The Jews argued among themselves, saying, How can this man give us His flesh to eat? Jesus answered them, Truly, I say to you, Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood, has eternal life, and I'll raise him up at the last day. My flesh is truly meat and my blood is truly drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. As the living God has sent me, and I live because of the Father, Whoever eats my flesh will live because of me. This is that bread that came down from Heaven, not like your fathers ate manna, and are dead, but whoever eats this bread will live for ever.

Even many of the disciples, after Jesus explained this for the third time, said among themselves, This is a complicated thing, who can understand it? Jesus sensed in His Spirit that the disciples were troubled about it and He said to them, Does this confuse you? What if you see the Son of man ascend up where He was before? It's the spirit that gives life, the flesh has no value. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they give life. But there are some of you who don't believe. Jesus knew from the beginning who would betray Him, so He said, That's why I said to you that no man can come to me, unless the Father calls him.

From that time, many of Jesus' disciples went back and didn't follow Him anymore. Jesus asked the twelve Apostles, Will you also go away? Peter answered, Lord, who would we go to? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and are sure that you're the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus replied to them, Haven't I chosen you twelve and one of you is a devil? He was talking about Judas Iscariot, because he was the one who Jesus knew would betray Him even though he was one of the twelve.

There's a really cool thing to notice about all of this bread talk in our Jesus is the Bread of Life study ... Why did Jesus use Biblical bread Bible verses as a symbol for Himself? Could it be because He wanted us to be reminded of Him each time we eat? What if every time you ate bread you're reminded that you're abiding in Jesus and Jesus is abiding in you, what a difference that could make in your life. Also, usually a meal is shared with other people. Maybe Jesus chose Biblical bread as a symbol of Himself so that we would share Him with one another often. Whatever the reason, it's time to recognize Him as The Bread of Life.