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Category: Appointed Times

What's This Service to You?

Tags:  afikoman, breaking bread, communion, cup of blessing, four cups, haggadah, matzah, Passover, seder

By Aaron Eby

Bread and wine are historically common elements of every meal. So what was going on behind the scenes that would motivate Yeshua to say 'this' bread and 'this' cup?

Many believers participate in 'breaking bread' together. And most services employ these verses while so doing.

...the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. (1 Corinthians 11:23b-26)

In this short passage of Scripture, the word 'this' is used six times alone. Is the word 'this' a reference to a church communion service? Probably not. Bread and wine are historically common elements of every meal. So what was going on behind the scenes that would motivate Yeshua to say 'this' bread and 'this' cup?

When He said 'this,' He was referring to the unleavened bread of Passover, one of the cups of Passover wine, the bitter herbs of Passover and the entire seder meal! In other words, He was saying, "Make Passover a memorial to Me."

Breaking Bread

One apparent conflict with the view that 'breaking of bread' always indicates a Passover meal is found in Acts 2:42, 46:

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer...Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart...

From these verses it may appear that the Apostles 'broke bread' every day. However, there is no reason to believ...

End of Guest excerpt:
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© 2009 First Fruits of Zion. All rights reserved. We encourage you to share this material with your friends for further personal study. However, This material may not be republished, in print, electronically, or any other form without our prior permission. Adapted from messiah magazine #90 .

For more information about this issue, click here.