December 8, 2021
Old Testament (Micah 5:2), and New Testaments (Luke 2:4), both say Christ will be and was born in Bethlehem. Bethlehem in original Hebrew: בֵּית לֶחֶם Bet Leḥem, Hebrew pronunciation: [bet ˈleχem], "House of Bread".
The House of Bread! Bread is the perfect metaphor for Jesus. Examples of Jesus as life sustaining bread are scattered throughout the Old and New Testaments.
- The mana--bread from heaven to sustain Israel in the desert (Exodus 16:4)
- The feeding of the 5000 (Matthew 14:16-21)
- Jesus calling himself the bread of life (John 6:35)
- "Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed." (Luke 22:7) as commanded to the Israelites (Exodus 12:18).
- When Jesus served The Last Supper (celebrating Passover) to his disciples and said, "While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” (Matthew 26:26)
- Jesus was born in a unlikely space and placed in a feeding trough for sheep/rams (Luke 2:7), but the original Greek has been less than perfectly translated to 'manger' in traditional stories.
To recap, baby Jesus arrived as the bread of life to satisfy the hunger in our souls. He served bread and addressed the human need of physical hunger over and over by offering bread to outcasts --the poor sinners, the rich sinners, prostitutes, tax collectors, the uneducated fisherman, Jews and Gentiles, all in need of salvation--just like you and me. What set these sinners apart from pious religious leaders? They realized the hunger in their souls and they agreed to dine with the bread of life to satisfy their stomachs and open their hearts. At the end of his life, Jesus invites his disciples (all who trust He took our place on the cross as the final sin sacrifice) to partake in a meal with him. He breaks bread and reminds each of us--we need a Savior! We need him EVERY DAY. His purpose for coming in flesh culminated, and when the time came, he sacrificed himself as the final perfect offering for each of us. For me, for you. In that moment, some 2000 years ago, it was time for the bread of life, to die. The Lord Jesus (like grain of wheat) would be plucked, threshed with a (flail) whip by human hands, and after three days, ready to rise--just like wheat. He is the Bread of Life!
Am I inclusive? Carefully consider how the Pharisees treated others in a lower social class. How can I be more like Jesus?
Is there anyone I can invite to a physical meal this Christmas season? Be in prayer about how to share the bread of life that will satisfy the hunger in their soul.
Do I practice receiving the bread of life by repenting and regularly partaking with other believers?
He was born in the house of bread. Placed in a feeding trough, and is our bread of life. Without him, we will not survive. I am praying we feast on The Word today and encourage others with what He has graciously revealed to us.
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