Examines the concept of Christ as the Bread of Life and the Bread of God commencing from John 6:24-63.

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The concept of Jesus Christ being the bread of life and to be eaten was difficult for the people to understand, as they thought on a physical level (Jn. 6:24-63). Many people followed Christ for the physical benefits he offered. Christ’s life was given for the reconciliation of the whole creation to God the Father. By eating Christ’s body spiritually at Passover we retain the Holy Spirit that ultimately leads to eternal life.

Our food too must be doing the will of the Father (Jn 4:34). If we drink in the mind of Christ and live a life reflecting this, we too can take on that divine nature of God (2Pet. 1:4 ff). Our spiritual lives are bound to the life of the Messiah as a chosen people, a priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God (1Pet. 2:4).

Our human existence is a transient thing, existing only to educate us in the responsibilities of the kingdom of God. God desires that we focus on the spiritual (Rom. 8:6-13).

Christ laid down his life to obey God. We must put to death our carnal attitudes to overcome sin. To live for righteousness often involves suffering (1Pet. 2:24).

Ancient Israel was brought out of Egypt as a unified people, fed on manna for a physical salvation. The lessons of Passover teach us what it means to be reconciled to God and unified with one another. This unity between us requires self-sacrifice in our lives, giving up pride, prejudices, personal ambitions and desires. The commission of Jesus Christ is to make disciples of all nations. We have no say in who is placed into his body, the church. We can only discern those in the body by the fact that they speak according to the law and testimony (Isa. 8:20).

At the Lord’s Supper when we eat the bread we are in fact saying we identify with the body of Christ, which is agreeing with the truth taught in that church. The piece of bread we eat symbolises our reconciliation with God and our partaking in that single spiritual organism, the church, through the Holy Spirit. Also it states our friendship with one another. Christ is not divided. He gave his life so we might become one united family.

The bread of the Lord’s Supper has specific lessons concerning the unity God wants to build in us. Christ chose bread to symbolise his body and the church. It was part of the staple diet and was a sign of hospitality. By eating the bread a guest became bound to his host. Also a servant who ate his master’s bread was bound to speak his word (1Kgs. 18:19). An example of this was the priests who ate at Jezebel’s table. They were tied to her false religious system and taught for hire, which God condemns (Mic. 3:11).

Grain, from which bread is made, is often used to represent humans in God’s plan of salvation (Jas. 1:18). The first fruits of the harvest were made into the sacred loaves in the tabernacle of the temple. Christ symbolised the wave sheaf of the first barley harvest and the people of God represent the wheat harvest at Pentecost. The Bible portrays the world as a field of grain (Mat. 13:24-51). True Christians are the wheat growing amongst the tares.

Grain also pictures the resurrection of the dead (1Cor. 15:35-42). Bread is a composite structure, like the many types of people making up the one loaf of the body of Christ. The diversity should strengthen each other, using the different gifts to serve and build up each other (Rom. 12:6-8).

The leaven in the bread represents a spirit. We must put out the old leaven of malice and wickedness. The unleavened bread at Passover represents sincerity and truth (1Cor. 5:8). The new leaven is of the Holy Spirit, symbolised by the loaves at Pentecost. The wrong spirit of competition, vanity, pride and hate divides and separates people. We must ‘deleaven’ our lives of these harmful attitudes that drive wedges between people, so we can be closer together as a church and in our relationships with all people.

Bread is flour mixed with water to make dough. Water in the body of Christ is the Holy Spirit (Jn. 7:37-39). As we drink in of that spirit it soaks through us and changes our minds and natures, binding us together. (1Cor.12:12-13). Oil also represents the Holy Spirit. It is used in bread making to give texture and smoothness. The people in God’s church must have a smooth harmony in their relationships with one another. The ultimate consequence of having God’s spirit is ‘agape’ love, a godlike love of outgoing concern for others; a self-sacrificial love for others. When we find other baptised people who believe as we do, we must not forsake gathering together to worship and fellowship. We work together to demonstrate we are part of the body. The fruits of God’s nature in us, help us to live together in unity. When we care and serve our brothers and sisters in kindness, humility and compassion, we will become one bread.

Salt in the bread of Christ signifies zest or enthusiasm for the ways of God (Mk. 9:50; Mat. 5:13). When we eat the bread at the Lord’s Supper we acknowledge to God we have discerned the church as Christ’s body, and as the bread is one, so we are committed to becoming one with the other members in the body of Christ; ultimately one with God as He becomes all in all.

Let us strive to become one bread, one body!