Eating a bagel this morning, I pondered how many times Jesus, gave, broke, and shared bread.
He was born in Bethlehem – the House of Bread, a fact all of us carb lovers remember quite well.
I love that Jesus said He is the Bread of Life (John 6:48). He is a vital part, a crucial part, of our daily life. He didn’t say He was the lettuce or meat. Makes sense. Let’s be honest, we go days without eating a salad or may choose to be vegetarian.
Bread is a staple - an everyday part of our lives. These days I like cream cheese with my bagel, gravy for my biscuit, and fresh butter for my toast, please and thank you. I put cheese on breadsticks or oil and seasonings at the Italian restaurant. I cover up the bread with all manner of toppings, but it is always there: the foundation.
The Bible shares many stories of Jesus and bread. With five loaves of bread and two fish, He fed thousands of people. At the Last Supper, He used the bread as a symbol of His body that would be broken. One of my favorites is told in Luke 24:13-35.
On the very first Easter, two men were traveling home to Emmaus. They were deeply disturbed at the goings on in Jerusalem. When Jesus, whom they did not recognize, walked up, He asked them what had them so downcast.
If you’ve read the story, you know they were astounded He hadn’t heard that the One they thought was the Messiah had been crucified. It’s a dramatic story when you read it, picturing the whole conversation as they walked the seven miles to Emmaus.
After they told Jesus all that had gone on and their disappointment, Jesus spoke. Oh, yes, He did. My beloved once said in a sermon, “He didn’t do a miracle; He pointed them to Scripture.”
Jesus went all the way back to Moses, explaining to the confused and saddened disciples what the Scripture told about HIM. When they reached their destination, Jesus acted like He was going on, but they wanted more time with Him. So, they invited Him in.
Jesus was at the table with them, took the bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them. Then…this is the part that gives me chills every time…they KNEW it was Him and suddenly He was gone
They asked each other, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us while He talked with us and opened the Scriptures to us?”
I call that a delicious case of heartburn. And I hope you will have one, too. One that Nexium can’t help. Here are other things I’m hoping:
Shew, who knew so much was in a morning bagel?
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Dawn Reed is a pastor's wife, newspaper columnist, and the author of Weiner Stew: Inspiring Stories from Appalachia. Reach her at preacherswife7@yahoo.com.
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