Unleavened Bread Day 2

 

And He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” (Luke 22:15 NASB)

Before the end of the Last Supper, the Passover Seder,  Jesus broke the bread on the table and took a cup of wine, 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 being given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying,

“This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant in My blood." (Luke 22:19-20 NASB)

This was no ordinary bread.  It was “matzah”.  It is unleavened, flattened (pressed), pierced, pierced, and bruised; symbolic of Jesus Himself.  During the course of the traditional Jewish Passover Seder, there are 3 pieces of matzah bread placed into a bag of linen.  The middle one becomes quite unique.  It is broken and the largest piece is wrapped in  linen (buried and hidden) and then returned to the table at a later time before the meal ends.  Why 3 pieces? Most say they represent Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Others say that this mysterious tradition may have in fact begun with the Nazarenes, Jewish Believers in Jesus the Messiah.  

Regardless of the origin,  this bread, “called the Afikomen” (translated as, “the one who has arrived”)  symbolically represents Jesus. It is hidden in the home and the children go looking for it.  Once found, it is "redeemed" by the father at the conclusion of the meal.  

Just as the afikomen is hidden and returned, such is the same with Jesus.  He will return again and we will have our final redemption! 

Prayer Points:

This Passover, as we break bread, may we remember “the One who has arrived,” looking forward to the deliverance we have in Jesus.

May we also remember those whom Jesus is still hidden (both Jews and Gentiles);  that He may be revealed to them.

~Come back tomorrow for more "unleavened bread!"