Merry Christmas! ‘Tis the season for lots of festivities, concerts, parties, cookies, shopping, decorating, carols and loads more! In thinking about Christmas, what are your favorite foods during this time of year? Are you a fan of Christmas cookies? Do you like eggnog? Are you a Christmas ham person? What are the treats you enjoy during this season?
To be sure, lots of “breaking bread” goes on during the holidays with all of the parties and get-togethers. Let’s take a few minutes to look at the occasions when Jesus broke bread and see what that could look like in our own life.
The first places we see Jesus breaking bread are in His multiplication miracles with the supernatural provision of fish and bread for the massive crowds. In Matthew 14:19b we read, “He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.” On this occasion, Jesus multiplied five loaves of bread and two fish to feed a crowd of more than five thousand people. In the next chapter, we read that Jesus did the same bread-breaking and multiplication to feed more than four thousand people.
I’m bringing these provision miracles to your attention to remind and encourage you that Jesus can provide for us when our needs far exceed our limited resources.
On another occasion—the Last Supper—Jesus broke bread for a very important reason. We read in Matthew 26:16, “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’” In this situation, Jesus broke bread and ate with His disciples to prepare them for the horrible things that would happen in the next few days. Jesus’ actions were very grounding to His disciples, and maybe this Last Supper served to remind His followers of His love for them despite His tremendous suffering and death.
Finally, Jesus broke bread again after His resurrection. This was a powerful experience for two of His followers who were at that meal. These followers were walking to the town of Emmaus, discussing Jesus’ death and the absence of His body in the tomb. Jesus joined their journey and conversation, even though they didn’t recognize Him. He agreed to stay with them as they stopped for dinner. In Luke 24:30-31 we read, “When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.”
On this occasion of Jesus breaking bread, the eyes of His followers were opened, and they recognized Him. After He disappeared, they talked about how their hearts had been on fire as they listened to Jesus explaining the scriptures that talked about Him in the Old Testament. Let’s allow this situation to remind us that Jesus is with us, even when we don’t recognize Him. He is always present with us!
Finally, as we break bread throughout this season, remember that Jesus is our Bread of Life, always with us, providing and preparing us throughout our lives. Merry Christmas and happy breaking of bread!
