The bread and wine of Passover are God-ordained ritual symbols that must be observed thoughtfully, not on autopilot, as Paul's rebuke of the Corinthians shows (I Corinthians 11). Passover resembles a peace offering, a communion meal in which the bread and wine join participants to Christ, to God, and to one another in thankful, peaceful fellowship. The elements echo the fellowship meal of Melchizedek and Abraham, on the eve of a covenant. Bread, a biblical symbol of sustenance, represents Christ's body, and in John 6 it consistently signifies life rather than death. It stands for His sinless, living flesh, which He gives so that He may abide in believers, teach them to live as He did, and strengthen them to serve, as He was strengthened to wash the disciples' feet. Eating it is about ongoing relationship, not atonement. Wine, a symbol of rejoicing, represents Christ's blood of the New Covenant. Biblically, blood can mean payment for sin, but in covenants it is life pledged in faithfulness. The Old Covenant was sealed with blood from burnt and peace offerings, not sin offerings. Remission of sins comes within the covenant, which also promises knowing God and being perfected, so the wine is a pledge that God will finish His work in the faithful. Taken in, not merely sprinkled, the blood must not be counted common. Both elements look forward to Passover's fulfillment in the Kingdom.

During the Passover observance, the bread and wine serve as profound symbols of fellowship and covenant with God. The bread represents Jesus Christ's body, symbolizing His sinless life that strengthens us spiritually as we partake of it, uniting us with the living Savior. It embodies a life that endured to its tragic end, yet remains a source of eternal life and acceptance into God's presence. The wine, in turn, symbolizes the blood of the New Covenant, a pledge of God's faithfulness and a testimony of eternal life. It signifies a relationship that goes beyond mere forgiveness, encompassing a deep, ongoing communion with the Father and the Son. This covenantal blood, ingested into our innermost being, represents God's commitment to complete His purpose in us, culminating in our spiritual fulfillment. Together, the bread and wine form a sacrificial meal that joins us in divine fellowship, celebrating the peace and well-being we have in Christ, and reflecting God's gracious acceptance and mercy as He overlooks our shortcomings to initiate this sacred bond.

At the New Testament Passover, Jesus told His disciples to partake of unleavened bread and wine, which represent His body and blood (Matthew 26:26-29; Luke 22:19-20). Through this command He charges His followers to observe the Passover as a memorial of His death for all time. Because His death completely fulfilled the Old Testament symbolism of the festival, slaughtering a lamb is no longer necessary. The bread and wine take its place. They are not a sin offering but a shared meal, in keeping with the peace offering the Passover most closely resembles, and they picture the fellowship, peace, and well-being God gives His called-out people in Christ. Jesus says that unless we eat His flesh, represented by the unleavened bread, and drink His blood, represented by the wine, we have no life in us and will not inherit eternal life (John 6:48, 51-54). This shows how vital it is to observe the Passover every year. The apostle Paul taught the Gentile Corinthians to keep the Passover with these same symbols of bread and wine that Jesus instituted (I Corinthians 11:23-26). Christians are to keep it until He comes.

The symbols of bread and wine at Passover carry profound significance, representing the blood of Jesus Christ in multiple facets. When we drink of the cup, we acknowledge the divine pledge and guarantee that He and the Father have put forward to prove their seriousness, reaffirming our devotion to Them in return. The Passover wine serves as a vivid token of God's unswerving commitment to make us complete, a purpose that goes beyond forgiveness and culminates in spiritual completion. In Matthew 26:27-28, Jesus speaks of the cup as His blood of the New Covenant, shed for many for the remission of sins, highlighting that this remission is an aspect of the covenant, not standing alone. This covenant, sealed by His blood, provides for forgiveness but includes much more, promising that God will put His law in our minds, write it on our hearts, and ensure that we will know Him, bringing us into a relationship of eternal life and spiritual abundance. Furthermore, in John 6:53-56, Jesus emphasizes that drinking His blood grants eternal life, stating that unless we eat His flesh and drink His blood, we have no life in us. His blood, even after His death nearly 2000 years ago, remains a record of a sinless, perfect life, representing a supreme quality of life rooted in oneness with the Father. When we partake of this undefiled blood, it begins to change us internally, manifesting in how we live, provided we do not resist Him or neglect this great salvation. The blood of the New Covenant, unlike the external application of blood in the covenant with Israel, is ingested, going deep within us as individuals, reflecting God's individual calling and transforming us internally due to the quality of Christ's blood. As Hebrews 13:20-21 states, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, God will make us complete in every good work to do His will, working in us what is well pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ. Thus, the Passover observance is an annual memorial of Christ's death that sealed the covenant, as well as a grateful recognition of the spiritual abundance and hope we have because of God's faithfulness.

In the history of God's church, across both Old and New Covenant times, the Passover stands as a critical observance, often under attack by forces seeking to undermine its significance. Jesus Christ, on the last Passover night before His crucifixion, introduced new symbols of bread and wine to represent His body and blood, marking the foundation of the New Covenant relationship with His followers. As recorded in Matthew 26:26-28, during this final meal with His disciples, He took bread, blessed and broke it, saying, "Take, eat; this is My body." Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and instructed them to drink, declaring, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." These symbols of bread and wine are vital to the annual reaffirmation of the covenant, serving as a solemn memorial of His death. Jesus Christ commanded His followers to partake of these elements to remember Him, emphasizing the importance of this act in maintaining an ongoing relationship with God. In John 6:53, He states clearly, "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you." The bread represents His body, and the wine His shed blood, underscoring that without this participation, there is no spiritual life. Further, in John 6:55-57, He affirms that His flesh is true food and His blood true drink, promising that those who partake will abide in Him and live because of Him. The proper keeping of the Passover, through these symbols, is a matter of life and death, just as it was in the Old Testament when God passed over the homes of the Israelites. This observance is essential to the continuation of the relationship with Jesus Christ, beginning the process that leads to salvation. Each memorial occasion renews the believer's covenant with God, highlighting the enduring importance of bread and wine as symbols of His sacrifice.

In the observance of Passover, the broken unleavened bread serves as a profound symbol of Jesus Christ's broken body, reminding us annually that the true Bread from heaven was broken for our sake. His body endured severe beating and whipping, resulting in welts, lacerations, and open wounds, spilling His blood, yet not a single bone was broken, fulfilling prophecy. The wine, in this sacred ritual, represents His shed blood, symbolizing the sacrifice that enables our healing and reconciliation with God. As we partake of the bread and wine, we are called to reflect on whether we have been healed by His stripes and to discern the significance of His body, acknowledging our personal guilt in His suffering and committing to turn from sin. Through these symbols, we proclaim the Lord's death until He returns, understanding that God's ultimate pleasure lies in our spiritual healing and preparation for His Kingdom, far beyond mere physical restoration.

Bread and wine are the symbols of the New Testament Passover, in contrast to the lamb and bitter herbs the Israelites used in Egypt. Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High, brought out bread and wine to Abram after Abram's victory over the kings who had taken Lot captive. This event in Genesis 14 is probably the first recorded Passover observance, though it is not named as such, and it foreshadows the Night to be Much Observed in Egypt 430 years later. The Hebrew word for bread is a general term that can mean either leavened or unleavened bread. No sacrifice is mentioned, which is understandable, since Melchizedek, the One later called Jesus Christ, needed no propitiation to approach God on another's behalf. The priest comes to the man on behalf of God, and not the other way around, which shows that God initiates the relationship and that man cannot worship Him properly without His prior involvement. The bread and wine accompany Melchizedek's blessing of Abram by God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, who delivered Abram's enemies into his hand. In the same way, the Passover is a blessing God gives so that His people can be victorious, through the Lamb He provides.

During the Days of Unleavened Bread, we are reminded of our journey out of sin and this world to follow God, a process that spans a lifetime of cooperation with Him to build the character needed for eternal life. In this context, bread and wine serve as profound symbols. At the Passover service, we partake of unleavened bread, which represents His flesh, and wine, which signifies His blood, symbolizing our cleansing and the taking on of His nature. Through these symbols, we rededicate ourselves to the purpose of becoming like Him. However, this act alone is not sufficient; we must also study and live by the Word of God, digesting it daily to sustain our spiritual growth. This Word, described as pure, faithful, spiritual, and full of grace, compels us to do His will, mirroring how it energized Jesus Christ to fulfill the work given to Him by the Father. Thus, eating unleavened bread and drinking wine during Passover, coupled with a life of applying God's Word, reflects our ongoing commitment to spiritual transformation and active service in alignment with His purpose.

The bread of the Passover represents Christ's body, not a broken body. Paul's words in I Corinthians 11:23-24 and Jesus' statement in John 6:51, "the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world," speak of the bread as representing His body given, and only Luke's account adds the word "given." The idea of a "broken body" is not in Scripture as a phrase, and the presumed Greek klao or klazo in the present passive would mean His body was being broken at that moment, which it was not. Nor can the breaking of His skin by scourging and crucifixion justify it, since klao/klazo is used in Scripture only for breaking bread into pieces at a meal. Jesus broke the literal bread so the Twelve could all eat of it, and in doing so He spoke of sharing His life. His body itself was not broken. John 19:36 records that the Scripture was fulfilled, "Not one of His bones shall be broken," and Psalm 34:20 is likewise fulfilled in the unbroken legs of Christ. The symbol must therefore be understood accurately: the bread is broken so that it may be shared, while the body it represents remained unbroken.

The bread and wine of the sacred Passover service are set aside only for those whom He desires to be one with. It is an incredible honor to be invited to partake of the body and blood of our Savior, the great God of creation, a privilege granted to very few in human history. This invitation should humble us, as nothing we do can make us worthy of this gift. God's elect are invited to drink the symbol of His blood, acknowledging a far more spiritual and intimate relationship with our God and Savior, and recognizing our oneness with the true Lamb of God.

The Passover bread symbolizes Christ's living, unbroken body, and the wine symbolizes His shed blood. Bread throughout Scripture stands for the substance of life, vitality, and strength, and even the "bread of affliction" points to life, though a hard one. In John 6 Jesus calls Himself the bread of life and the living bread, and He ties eating His flesh to eternal life and resurrection. The bread is therefore a figure of living flesh, not a dead or broken body. Christ was not defeated or divided; though marred beyond recognition, He remained unbroken, and His death was a victory that fulfilled the sin, burnt, grain, drink, and peace offerings. The bread is broken only so that it can be shared. In I Corinthians 10:16-17 Paul calls the cup and the bread a communion, meaning sharing, participation, and fellowship, and says we are one bread and one body because we all partake of that one bread. A sacrificial meal joins the participant to the object of the sacrifice, so the Passover unites us with Christ. The wine does picture death, as does the slain lamb, because shed blood pays the death penalty. But only a body undefiled by sin has blood that can pay it, so the bread represents the sinless life He lived in devoted service. Eating it symbolizes the living Savior abiding in us and we in Him. We are baptized into His death, but we are saved by His life.

In the observance of Passover, the bread and wine serve as profound symbols of fellowship and relationship with Jesus Christ. These elements remind us of the immense sacrifice He made, a gift of immeasurable cost freely offered to us. We are called to examine ourselves carefully before partaking, ensuring we do not participate in an unworthy manner. The focus must remain on Christ's work and His shed blood that redeems us, rather than on our own spiritual condition. Through His righteousness, we are covered, and by the Father's grace, we are forgiven and accepted into His Family. This sacred meal is not to be taken lightly, as it represents the most precious gift we could ever receive.

In the institution of the Lord's Supper, Jesus introduced bread and wine as profound symbols during the last Passover supper. As they were eating, He took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, Take, eat; this is My body. He then took the cup, gave thanks, and offered it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. These emblems represent His broken body and shed blood, serving as a memorial to look back on His death. This ordinance, transformed from the Old Testament Passover, no longer involves killing and eating a lamb since the Lamb of God has been sacrificed once and for all. Instead, the bread and wine are taken annually at the set time after sundown on the 14th of Abib, commemorating deliverance from sin through His sacrifice.

In the context of the Corinthian believers' congregational meals, the symbols of bread and wine carry profound significance. The bread and wine, when partaken during Passover, must be distinguished from common, daily bread to maintain their meaning. If any bread throughout the year is seen as symbolizing Jesus Christ's crucified body, the distinctiveness of His sacrifice becomes muddled through familiarity and repetition, leading to an unworthy observance of Passover. Additionally, the bread symbolizes the tortured, physical body of Jesus Christ, requiring a serious and conscious acknowledgment of personal sins that necessitated His excruciating sacrifice. Without this consciousness, the significance of His sacrifice diminishes in the mind of the participant. Furthermore, the bread represents the spiritual Body of believers, the church, as partaking of it signifies becoming part of this Body united in Christ. Failing to discern this spiritual Body, by not distinguishing it from the rest of humanity or by making distinctions within it, results in partaking of the Passover in an unworthy manner, as it shows a lack of respect for all brethren for whom Christ died.

In the context of God's sovereignty and our responsibility under the New Covenant, the symbolism of bread and wine holds significant meaning in illustrating our deep need for Jesus Christ. Certain references to bread, made during Jesus' change of the Passover symbols, tie the symbolism together with His crucifixion for our forgiveness. This second symbol is crucial to understanding what Christ teaches in John 15:1-6, where He describes Himself as the vine and us as the branches. Just as grapes can only be produced by a shoot remaining attached to the vine, we can produce spiritual fruit that pleases the Father and be in the Kingdom of God only if we remain attached to Jesus Christ. In this illustration, all nourishment resulting in fruit must come from the vine, showing that He not only pays the penalty of our sins but also supplies the spiritual nourishment to produce fruit that glorifies the Father and prepares us for life in God's Kingdom.

Bread and Wine as Symbols In the observance of Passover, the bread and wine serve as profound symbols of Jesus Christ's sacrifice. As recorded in I Corinthians 11:25-29, Jesus declared the cup to be the new covenant in His blood, a metonymy where the cup represents the wine within, symbolizing His blood. This covenant, established at the cost of His life, opens a relationship with God, essential for salvation. The bread and wine are not merely common elements; they represent the body and the most precious life ever lived, that of the Creator, shed to establish this vital connection. The failure to discern the true meaning of these symbols leads to taking Passover in an unworthy manner. Such lack of appreciation profanes the body and shed blood of Jesus Christ, treating them as ordinary rather than recognizing their profound significance. Properly judging the Lord's body involves forming a conviction that deeply affects conduct, ensuring that the observance influences one's approach to life and relationships with others. The symbols of bread and wine underscore the awesomeness of the cost of freedom and the extent to which Christ was willing to go without sinning. They evoke a profound sense of personal obligation to Him, emphasizing that He died individually for each person. This personal connection is crucial, as it drives the conviction needed to impact personal conduct and highlights the ongoing cost of staying free through a life striving toward sinlessness.

Bread and Wine as Symbols Within the sacred space of the tabernacle, upon entering the holy place, we find the table of showbread to our right, crafted from acacia wood and overlaid with gold, signifying the presence of a wealthy and dignified host. On this modest table, resembling an end-table, are placed twelve loaves of unleavened bread, accompanied by small golden cups of incense, a pitcher, and cups of wine, presenting a small dinner service as if God has prepared a meal to refresh us. Jesus declares in John 6:32-35 that He is the true bread from heaven, the bread of life, stating that whoever comes to Him shall never hunger, and whoever believes in Him shall never thirst. The focus of the table of showbread is the bread, though the wine is present as well, symbolizing a deeper spiritual act. Jesus later speaks of eating His flesh and drinking His blood, a concept misunderstood by many as physical, yet intended spiritually. This act, mirrored in the Passover service where we partake of unleavened bread and a little wine, represents our acceptance of the New Covenant with Him and our acknowledgment of His sacrifice for us. By eating and drinking of Christ, we symbolically agree to the terms of the covenant and accept the work of atonement necessary for attaining eternal life, signifying our commitment to be His people in the family of God.