The Bread Lady's Quest

Jesus held a flat bread in His hand, in a room prepared by the traditional mandates of Passover. After giving a blessing, He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, "... 'Take, eat; this is My body.' And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:26-28).

In applying the image of unleavened bread to His body, Jesus maintained His life contained no sin in order to fulfill the Messianic requirement spoken of in Isaiah 53:9: "His grave was assigned with wicked men, yet He was with a rich man in His death, because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth." Unleavened bread depicts the deity, holiness, and purity of Christ, while leavened bread reminds me of the moment in time when the humanity of Christ absorbed all our sins. The purity of Christ, as reflected by the unleavened bread, and the absence of leaven in the Jewish household in remembrance of Passover, both suggest those under the safety of the shed blood were seen as free from the corruption of sin before a holy God.

"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21

Examining Matzoh Bread – Matzoh is the unleavened bread eaten at the Passover. I purchased a box of kosher (prepared according to Jewish law) matzoh bread in order to investigate the contents. The label proclaims: A fat free, cholesterol free, sodium free food made with only Passover flour and water. If you want kosher matzoh bread that is suitable for Passover – check the label carefully because some boxes said, "Not for Passover use." Passover flour is guarded or watched continually from the time that the grain is harvested until the dough is put into the oven to ensure that no fermentation has taken place. In his article, "Passover," Steve Herzig explained, "To further ensure the absence of even a trace of leaven, special dishes are used, as well as special pots and pans to prepare food, none of which will have any leaven in them."2 Pure through and through, not a speck of yeast would be acceptable in the end product. The inclusion of the ingredient of water brings a flood of previously covered symbolism summed up in this thought: Jesus is the source of living water that encompasses our hope of eternal life. The square flat bread has holes throughout which appear like windows. When held up to the light, the rays of the sun shine through the openings. The bland taste of the bread did not call attention to itself. Having a dry texture, matzoh bread draws attention to the Savior's lowly background as He came "--like a root out of parched ground" (Isaiah 53:2). The likeness of matzoh bread to Jesus is fivefold: His purity and sinless nature, His gift of eternal life, the wounds that pierced His flesh, His outward earthly appearance, and the source of His earthly roots. Listen to the prophet Isaiah's physical description of the Messiah's sufferings. Consider the source of His sufferings. Remember the end result. And contemplate what this truth will mean to the people of Israel someday:

"For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face, He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him." Isaiah 53:2-6