Last week we had a look at the ten
menorahs that were standing in the Holy Place in the Temple. These
menorahs represented His Spirit Who wants to communicate with us
and wants us to grow in maturity in Him so that He can entrust us
with even more.
Today I want us to have a look at
the golden table of showbread. This table had twelve breads on it,
representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Once a week the priest
would come in and exchange the old breads with new ones. He could
eat of the bread, but only in the Holy Place. He couldn't take it
outside as it was holy.
Now according to the 'Tabernacle
place' website the symbolism was as follows:
"Showbread" also was called "bread
of the presence" because it was to be always in the Lord's
presence. The table and the bread were a picture of God's
willingness to fellowship and communion (literally speaking,
sharing something in common) with man. It was like an invitation to
share a meal, an extension of friendship. Eating together often is
an act of fellowship. God was willing for man to enter into His
presence to fellowship with Him, and this invitation was always
open."
Isn't it a wonderful symbol? God
wants us to fellowship with Him. Jesus showed this to us too.
Throughout His ministry He would eat with all kinds of people, with
'obvious' sinners, with His disciples and with religious people. He
ate with everyone and fellowshipped with everyone. He came to show
God's heart of love to all.
And in John 6:33, 35 He made a
profound statement to the people of the day:
"For the bread of God is He who
comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. I am the bread
of life."
Jesus was in fact saying the time
for the showbread has come to an end. He is now the bread
of life. He is the One fellowshipping with them. He even went a
step further with the Holy Communion and said that they must eat
the bread of life now:
"And as they were eating, Jesus
took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and
said, "Take, eat; this is My body." Matthew 26:26
Jesus wants us to eat of the bread
of life, Him. He wants us to fellowship with Him and to take in the
life that He came to give us. He came to give us life and life in
abundance (John 10:10). But we must understand this principle. True
life is in the Holy Place, surrounded by His Spirit, fellowshipping
with Jesus. True life is found in being close to Him. True life is
where He is. The question is where are you? If we are still running
around in the outer court yard, chasing after this world, craving
after things that will fade away, then we cannot have true life. We
will get tired and worn out. We will get discouraged and lose hope.
Our bodies wouldn't be able to cope and our minds will be racing.
And at the end of the day we will be wondering where this abundance
of life is that Jesus promised us. But you see we haven't been
soaking in His presence, we haven't been fellowshipping with Him.
We haven't been growing in the spirit as He wants us to. He has
given us everything we need to succeed on a spiritual level, but we
do not take it. We rather run around on the outside and Jesus is
standing with all His fullness inside, waiting for us to come to
Him.
Go in and fellowship with Him. Take
Holy Communion and share in His sacrifice. Drink in His blood
filled with life and eat His body, the bread of life. See how His
life flows through your veins. Be quiet with Him and be filled to
the brim with His life and life in abundance.
Thank you Jesus that You came to
give us life and life more abundantly! You have given it freely to
us. The problem is that we are too busy to take it. We are so sorry
about that. We want to fellowship with You and spend more time with
You. We love to do that, with You alongside us. Amen