When the Bread Breaks
Have you ever had an “ah-ha” moment? When something comes together and finally makes sense. Sometimes, for me, it’s watching that Youtube instructional video for the seventh time, but this time I watch the part I skipped through and find the step I’ve been skipping the whole time. I’ve felt this before watching a thriller or mystery movie, where either through the plot or my intuition I figured out the ending of the story.
Two of Jesus’ followers had one of these moments in Luke 24:13-35. Shortly after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus they were walking along the road towards Emmaus when a traveler joined them and began to ask why they seemed so solum. They told him that their Messiah had been murdered and though some women had said he had risen from the dead, they hadn’t been able to see him and assumed his body had been stolen.
The man wowed these two with his response, sharing not only facts about the prophecies Jesus had fulfilled in his life, but sharing with them the entire story of God’s word from the beginning to that point in history. The men we’re amazed and asked the traveler to stay with them just a bit longer. They sat down to eat together and when the man broke bread they instantly recognized him, It was Jesus himself!
This story is so interesting for many reasons but something that has always stood out to me was that Jesus was recognized by these men when he broke bread with them. Not as he walked with them, talked to them, or even shared scripture with them, but it was at the table that Jesus was recognizable. I don’t believe this was arbitrary or accidental but to teach us something about who Jesus was and is. Jesus was recognized when he broke bread because it was around the table that he ministered and it was around the table that his disciples were instructed to remember him.
This was symbolic of his mission. Early in his ministry (Mark 2:15) Jesus was criticized for the way that he gathered to eat with sinners. Throughout his ministry Jesus was often connected to food. Jesus ministry begins at a wedding feast (John 2:1-11) and was tempted with food by the devil (Matthew 4:1-4). Jesus fed crowds of 5000 men (plus women and children) and on another occasion he fed 4000 men (plus women and children). Jesus ministered to Zacchaeus by inviting himself over for dinner and often referenced other food related topics, farmings, water and mustard seeds to name a few.
Jesus even compared himself to food in John 6:35, “‘I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. ‘No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again’”.
Clearly Jesus loved to be around the table with people. This brought him face to face with humanity. Though not impossible, as parents of teenagers know, it takes some effort to ignore someone seated directly across from you. Jesus didn’t come to ignore our condition. This is why he was so recognizable at the table. It was there where he saw people and they saw his love for them. Jesus is not afraid to come face to face with our struggles or frustrations. He wants to be up close and personal with our habits and hangups. It’s in that closeness that he can offer healing and hope.
If we are to live as Jesus followers we also should reflect this habit. The life of a Jesus follower should not be one where we hide in our holiness, but one where we run to the darkness carrying the light! We must ask who is at our literal and metaphorical tables? Who are we entrenched in the lives of? Are we willing to step into the difficult and uncomfortable moments of people's lives, and share with them the love and light of Jesus?
Jesus was recognized in this moment, because this was a place of commonality for him, but it was also his place of finality. Luke 22 records the moment known as “The Last Supper”. Here Jesus gathers his disciples one final time before his crucifixion. Here he feeds them bread and gives them wine and promises, “For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’” (Luke 22:18)
On the road to Emmaus, when the bread broke it was now a reminder of his sacrifice. This is an important shift in our understanding. We need to see that Jesus didn’t just come to sit at the table, Jesus came to be the bread! We are called to live like Jesus inviting others to the table and to live in community. But our motivation is not just to be “Nice people”. Our motivation is that they might get a taste of what Jesus is like. There’s power when the bread breaks because it’s there that we remember Jesus’ sacrifice and in turn recognize our victory.
Living in the understanding of this we should now live as people who are, (A) Always inviting. We should be inviting people to the table to experience God’s mercy and goodness. We should be inviting others into a relationship with Jesus. We should also live (B) always remembering. Remembering that it was God who invited us and welcomed us into his family when we were undeserving. We should also be (C) always sharing the truth of God’s word through the love of Jesus which is inside of us.
What’s something that stood out to you from tonights message or your small group discussion?
Who are people in your life that are “at your table”? Do any of them not know Jesus?
Which one of the “Always” statements is the most challenging for you? How can our small group encourage you to live it out better?
