According to Wikipedia “Bread is a staple food prepared from a dough of flour (usually wheat) and water, usually by baking. Throughout recorded history and around the world, it has been an important part of many cultures’ diet. It is one of the oldest human-made foods, having been of significance since the dawn of agriculture, and plays an essential role in both religious rituals and secular culture.”

In Judaism, for example, this prayer is to be said before a meal “Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who bringest forth bread from the earth.” In ancient times in the Temple as instructed, the Jews placed twelve loaves of bread, presumably one for each tribe, in the sanctuary before God’s face. These loaves were called the Bread of Presence, a reminder that God was always with them. 

Easton’s Bible Dictionary points out that in the Bible “The word bread is used figuratively in such expressions as “bread of sorrows” (Ps 127:2, “bread of tears” Ps 127:2, i.e., sorrow and tears are like one’s daily bread, they form so great a part in life. The bread of “wickedness” (Prov 4:17) and “of deceit” Prov 20:17) denote in like manner that wickedness and deceit are a part of the daily life.”

For Christians bread plays a very important symbolic part. At the Last Supper, “…as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.'” (Matthew 26:26). With these words, Christ raised the symbolism of bread up to that of a representation of His own body which would be broken during his arrest, “trial”and execution. Realizing this, has given me a new appreciation of the presence of bread in worship. His body was broken that we might have union with God. Can you relate?

Since that time, in worship, Christians have shared bread in what is known as Communion.

So what is a staple in most diets has become for Christians an ultimate symbol of His atonement for sins and our union with Almighty God. It is celebrated in different ways and with different meanings. For some it is merely a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice, to others His presence is all around the bread and even within each piece.