Reading Time: < 1 minuteIt’s significant how appropriate the emblems of the bread and the wine are as representatives of our Lord’s broken body and spilt blood. Bread is a staple in our diets, the most important food staple grown in a region. How fitting that Jesus is the Bread of Life!
Psalm 104:15 says that “bread . . . strengthens man’s heart.” Through the Lord Jesus who strengthens us, we can do all things (Philippians 4:13).
The showbread, or the bread of the presence (Exodus 25:30), which was always on the table before the Holy of Holies, may have symbolized God being ever present with His people. Jesus came as Immanuel – God with us. The Bread of Life always indwells His people and is ever present to save (Matthew 1:23; 28:20).
The bread we partake of at the Lord’s Supper to symbolize Christ’s broken body is unleavened. It is humble and certainly not puffed up. This also represents Jesus, who humbled Himself more than any other when He took the form of man, suffered, and died on the cross for you and me (Philippians 2:5-8).
Regarding wine, Psalm 104:15 says that it “makes glad the heart of man.” Though wine is precious, Jesus is much more precious to us.
Wine is also medicinal. Likewise, Jesus is our healer, physically and spiritually.
Hosea 2:8 says that new wine is a gift from God. We can see this in how the gift of wine at the wedding in Cana of Galilee pleased the common people (John 2:1-11). Even greater is God’s gift to us: Jesus.
The hope that Christ offers gladdens and strengthens our hearts more than anything else. He is the gift of life.
David Kidd and his wife, Angella, live in Tauranga, New Zealand.
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