“Lord Jesus, teach us to internalise the doctrine of the breaking of bread. In Your name, we pray. Amen.”
Act 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
The church broke bread from house to house. Acts 2:46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
The breaking of bread was the communion which the Lord had instituted. Matthew 26:26-28 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” (27) Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. (28) For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
The breaking of bread was not separate from the regular meal which they ate. Yet, even as they ate, they were reminded of His body, which was broken. They were also reminded of His blood which was shed. This was the new covenant relationship, for the remission of sins
Therefore, the breaking of bread was a regular feature in the fellowship of His church. I Corinthians 10:16-17 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? (17) For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.
As His church broke bread, they were reminded of the core doctrine of the body and the blood of Christ. His church is built on Jesus Christ, of His body and of His blood. This is where we as His church renew our covenant marriage vows with Him.
Luke 22:19-20 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” (20) Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.
It is in eating His flesh and drinking His blood that we have life. John 6:53-58 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. (54) Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. (55) For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. (56) He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. (57) As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. (58) This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”
This life that we have in Christ is the eternal life of being in the habitat of God. This life begins now and continues for eternity.
Eating His flesh and drinking His blood is about abiding in Him. This communion represents our submission and obedience to His word, without which we cannot abide in Him. John 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
We live to keep His word. We do not live to survive. God knows and He provides our bread needs. Our life, though, is entirely given to obedience to His word. Matthew 4:4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD.’ “
Sadly, many in His church, give lip service to this doctrine. We claim to be His disciples but our pursuit is not obedience to His word but it is to meet the bread needs of life, just as the people of the world.
The matter of eating the flesh of Jesus and drinking His blood sounds ghastly. The Lord made it known to the Jews and to His disciples that His teaching was spirit and life. John 6:60-63 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” (61) When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? (62) What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? (63) It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
After this teaching, many of His disciples decided that they would not follow Jesus. John 6:66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
Nevertheless, the twelve chose to remain with the Lord and with His words. John 6:67-69 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” (68) But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. (69) Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
The church is built on the breaking of bread, which is hard doctrine but it is life.