No where in the temple design do we see
God's heart for mankind displayed more vividly than with the table of
Showbread. This small table of acacia wood which was overlaid in
pure gold stood on the right side of the Holy Place. On it stood 12
loaves of bread representative of the 12 tribes of Israel. The bread
lay before the Lord for a week and then was eaten by the Priests in
the Holy Place on the Sabbath.
Showbread was also called bread of
presence and represented God's presence and willingness to commune
with man. In John 6 Jesus tells us that He is the bread of life.
Jesus exemplified this when he ate with tax collectors, prostitutes
and sinners, because He came to call sinners so that they could walk
in relationship with God.
The most important life that Jesus
desires for us to have is eternal life and this is where the beauty
in the bread analogy lies. In Matthew 26 when Jesus broke the bread
and shared it with His disciples He said, “Take eat, this is my
body.” In the table of showbread, started thousands of years
before Christs birth, God showed His intent towards man that He would
one day send His Son to die for our sins and restore us to ever
lasting relationship with Him. Isn't that Awesome!
Jesus broken body gives us access to
fellowship with God. We celebrate communion to remember this truth.
Let us never forget Jesus wonderful invitation to us:
“Here
I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and
opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”
(Revelations 3:20)
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