Resurrection Bread

 

“And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me’” (Luke 22:19).

When Jesus and His disciples gathered to celebrate Passover on the eve before His crucifixion there was a profound combination of prophecy, tradition and meaning coming together. By the time of Jesus, the Passover had already been celebrated for over 1,400 years by the Jews since the days of Moses.

During the traditional Passover Seder, it is customary to place three pieces of matzo (unleavened bread) inside a bag with three compartments. Early in the Seder, the middle piece of matzo is removed, broken in half, and one half of the matzo is hidden away until later in the evening. This hidden matzo is called the “afikomen.” At the end of the meal, the children are sent out to find the hidden afikomen, which is then broken into small pieces for everyone to eat as the dessert part of the meal. It is often said that the eating of the afikomen brings long life from God because it signifies observing the commandment to celebrate the Passover (Exodus 12).

Such a fascinating tradition whose origins are shrouded in mystery! The earliest explicit reference to the eating of the afikomen comes from the Mishnah, an early rabbinic work written in 200 AD. Scholars have concluded that it is possible, even probable, that the bread held up by the Lord was an early version of the afikomen, but it is impossible to know for sure.

What’s more amazing is how the parallels between the Jewish afikomen tradition and Christ are striking. We know that Jesus reinterpreted the meaning of the Passover bread to symbolize His body. The unleavened bread pictured His sinlessness, as leaven in the Bible is always a picture of sin (Ex. 12:15; 1 Cor. 5:6-8.

Then, there are three pieces of matzo in the bag, but only the second one is broken, which is reminiscent of the Son of God – The Second Person of the Trinity - who was slain for our sins (John 3:16).

The afikomen is hidden away after being publicly broken, which is reminiscent of Christ’s burial after His public death (John 19:38-42). Then the afikomen is found—which alludes to Christ’s resurrection and our Savior walking out of His tomb where He was discovered by many witnesses (Acts 1:3).

Then the afikomen is given to all present as a symbol of God giving life to those who follow Him. This is reminiscent of what Jesus said, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst” (John 6:35).

Amazing! For some communion is a sleepy hour in which wafers are eaten and juice is drunk and the soul never stirs. It wasn’t intended to be as such. It’s not just a time to look back at the cross and marvel at the prophetic fulfillment, but also to look forward to His crowning return in anticipation. “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes” (1 Cor. 11:26).

Notice that last part – until He comes! For believers, the Rapture of the Church, then the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, are next on God’s prophetic calendar. Beloved, the wedding is not far off! Perhaps today we’ll hear, “Behold the Bridegroom comes. Go out to meet Him.”