While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”

--Parallel verses:
‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭23‬
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”.‬‬

Jesus met with his disciples, and he broke the bread. This breaking of the bread symbolizes so much. First and foremost, Jesus’ body was broken. He was bruised, flogged, hit, and crucified for our sins. When he gave this bread to his disciples, he was giving the bread of his broken body because, as God, he knew the crucifixion would happen.

A few other things were broken on the day of Jesus’ crucifixion: 1) the light that shone in the day was “broken” and it was dark in the middle of the day. 2) The ground broke with an earthquake, which caused: a) The thick curtain in the temple that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple to be torn in two (or broken) and b) tombs and burial sites were broken open and many who had died rose from the dead and interacted with people. 3) By this sacrifice and the subsequent resurrection, the power of sin and death was broken.

Jesus, by his broken body, broke open new life for us. With our sins forgiven and the price for them paid on the cross, with his sacrifice as an innocent and blameless man dying in our place, we are free to relate to God directly. The broken curtain at the temple represents unrestricted access to God by all his people. And by conquering sin and death we can, by receiving his gift of salvation, live forevermore.

So today I take the bread of communion and remember Jesus and his sacrifice. I honor him by making sure I have repented of my sin and I receive his body in me — his heart, his power, his sacrifice, and I participate in his eternal glory.

Thank you, Jesus, for this time you had with your disciples and your willingness to break your body for them and for me. You are a model of complete surrender to the Father’s will, complete sacrifice for others, and complete love. Praise you!