Submitted by Pastor Reggie Koop, Watson Baptist Church 

Question: “What sustains you?” There can be many answers that people may give, but basically, food, water, and air. Easter is a little ways off, but it will be here before we know it. The night before Jesus was betrayed, He celebrated the Passover with His disciples. I Corinthians 11: 23-26 tells about what Jesus did and there is a lot of symbolism in this supper. Jesus has told us to celebrate this supper in remembrance of Him until He returns for his Bride, the Church. In this supper, Communion or the Lord’s Supper, there are two elements that have significant meaning. The first element is the bread. Jesus said in John 6:35, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty.” Throughout the Bible, bread is a symbolic representation of God’s life-sustaining provision. 

When Jesus told the hungry crowd that He was the bread of life, He was teaching His followers that He alone was their true source of spiritual life. The bread of life Jesus represents never perishes, spoils, or runs out. Believing in Jesus Christ as the source of our spiritual existence is how we gain eternal life (John 3:16). John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Christ’s sacrifice on the cross enables us to receive eternal life. To all who believe in Him and accept Him as Savior, He is the bread of life. “Give us this day our daily bread” in the Lord’s Prayer. Part of feeding on our daily bread means spending time each day in the word of God. 

The second element is the blood. Jesus observed the Passover. Drinking a cup during the meal was an official part of the observance. In fact, an ancient rabbinic source, the Mishnah, instructs those celebrating to drink from the cup four times during the Passover.

The cup taken after supper, which is traditionally the third cup, means, “I will redeem.” Jesus calls this cup “the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you.” Christ shed His blood and died on the cross for our sins. When we talk about the blood of Christ, we’re talking about the act of dying that leads to our redemption. Jesus paid that ultimate price – once and for all. 

Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior (Sustainer)? If you haven’t, that is your first step. Jesus Christ will sustain you forever!