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Acts 20:7-12 – A Real Life Visual Aid
In Acts 20:7-12, Paul, Luke, and their friends meet with the church in Troas to “break bread.” This innocuous term, to “break bread,” has a deeper meaning than simply tearing bread into pieces or eating. To “break bread” with someone, whether in a common meal at a home, or as the Lord’s Supper in church, is a symbol of caring and sharing, commitment and communion. Bread is a universal symbol for life. In “breaking bread,” we are sharing life by sustaining life. And in Jesus’ supper, the meaning is even deeper. We are sharing eternal life.
What does the bread represent? Jesus said it is His body. Why? What happened to His body? A most painful form of torture – nails affixed His body to a cross. As coolly and calmly as we might hang a picture, the Romans hung our Lord. As unconsciously as we might break a branch off a tree, Jesus consciously allowed His body—but not His bones—to be broken on a tree:
1 Corinthians 11:24 – And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. (KJV)
Galatians 3:13 – Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”—
In “breaking bread” together we also share in a common drink. The fruit of the vine, according to Jesus, is His blood in symbol. Why? Those same nails which broke through and tore His flesh produced a flow of blood, dripping to the ground beneath.
Body and blood!
Death and destruction!
And celebration?
Yes, celebration and salvation, because there isn’t only death and destruction in this spiritual feast. Part of the symbolism with the Lord’s Supper is found in His words: “But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” (Matthew 26:29)
In prophesying His own death, Jesus prophesied His own resurrection! Jesus prophesied that when we partake of His “supper of death” that He partakes with us after rising from death.
So, in His supper, in our Lord’s Supper, what symbolizes His resurrection? The day we break bread, the first day of the week, the resurrection day, the Lord’s Day (Revelation 1:10). That is why we commune with Him in this supper:
On the first day of the week.
Only on the first day of the week.
Every first day of the week.
Every Sunday is Resurrection Sunday! Every Sunday is a celebration!
Since the Lord’s Supper is an application of a lesson lived and a blessing received, a good question for us is, are we applying this lesson in our lives? Are we celebrating Christ every Sunday in His Supper, as He celebrates with us? Is this something your church does?
Sadly, too many are too busy. Isn’t it wonderful Jesus wasn’t too busy for us?
Thankfully these people in Troas celebrated with Jesus. But unlike the rest of their bread breaking assemblies, this time in Troas was special. After they had eaten, Paul talked until midnight, only interrupted by a sleeping young man falling out of a window to his death.
Body and blood!
Death and destruction!
And celebration?
Yes! This is the day of the resurrection! These believers had just shown and celebrated their belief in Christ’s victory over death. Could it happen again? Could it happen to someone in Christ? “They took away the boy alive, and were greatly comforted.” (Acts 20:12)
What a powerful visual aid for the power of the resurrection for the Troas brethren—and for us. May we also be greatly comforted because we know Jesus was and is victorious over death – and one day we and our loved ones will be too (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) – if we “break bread” with Jesus in His real life visual aid.
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