All that you never thought to ask about “bread” in the Old and New Testaments.
As soon as you begin to think about it, you’ll realize that “bread” is a popular biblical image in both the Old and New Testaments. Bread was an important part of the Old Testament sacrificial system. The absence of bread caused the Israelites to rebel against Moses (and God) in the wilderness. Eating consecrated bread from the Temple was a big deal in David’s life. Jesus refers to Himself as the Bread of Heaven, and bread forms a crucial part of our communion celebration.
What are we talking about here? A good, fluffy loaf of white bread? Sliced, or not? Maybe a Panera bagel? Or, (shudder), whole wheat bread?
During biblical times, the term “bread” was used for leavened or unleavened bread, porridge, gruel, and other cereal-grain-based food items; eventually, any solid food or nourishment was called “bread.” Most frequently for Israel, bread was made from either wheat or barley. Different types of soil, different harvest seasons, led people in biblical times to diversify their production. Wheat, more difficult to grow, was more expensive and a rarity for the average Old Testament Israelite who ate barley cakes instead. By Jesus’ time, much of the bread was wheat-based.
Much of everyday life revolved around the production, preparation, and consumption of bread. Providing most of the proteins and carbs needed for life, bread was the staple food for Israel and all surrounding cultures. Over 300 different kinds of bread are known to have been produced during biblical times. Following the harvest, the seed was separated from the husk, ground up to differing degrees, and then cooked by various means. Bread would be baked in an oven, fried in a pan over hot coals or on a griddle. Not like our loaf, the bread produced would be more like a roll or bun. A family affair, the production of bread would take up much of the day.
The centrality of bread for life—both enabling life and a dominating concern for life—makes it a perfect metaphor or analogy for our spiritual existence. During times of mourning, divine punishment or discipline, the Bible will speak of “the bread of adversity,” “of tears” or “of ashes.” So overwhelming were these suffering times, that it was like the very essence, the bread, of life. The Psalmist sings of Israel’s enemies eating people like bread—building on the horror of cannibalism to describe the everyday life experience of living under foreign oppression.
On the other hand, “to eat bread” with someone was to share a meal—to declare peace and harmony. Bread was understood to be a gift from God: It was He who prepared the land, made it fertile, gave the rain, provided for the harvest and allowed for the peaceful growth of the grain. Bread was a part of all life, and God is the essential element in the production and consumption of bread.
And, so it is today: Jesus is the bread of life—the essence of all we are. This week in worship we will celebrate communion together, a reminder of our daily dependence upon the life-giving sacrifice of our savior, Jesus Christ.
For worship this week, look at one line—“Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed; let us therefore celebrate the festival” (1 Corinthians 5:7-8).
1. Read the surrounding verses—how does this line fit in with Paul’s thinking?
2. Why might Paul use the term, “Christ,” here instead of Jesus?
3. The Passover lamb recalls the experiences of Israel during the Exodus. Read up on them in Exodus 12.
4. What are the characteristics present in the “Passover lamb” that distinguishes it from any other lamb? How are these related to Jesus?
5. Notice the tense of the verb in the first part of the verse, “has been sacrificed.” What does the “timing” mean/imply?
6. Why does Paul suggest we “celebrate the festival”? What “festival”? Why should we celebrate it?
7. What would a celebration look like? How is this connected to our Lord’s Supper/communion celebration?
