Now, when bread is used as a symbol for Christ's body, it is overwhelmingly a symbol of life, even eternal life. This springs from the symbolic usage of bread in Scripture that we saw, which always relates to life rather than death. We find Christ's own explanation of the bread symbolism in John 6, if you would turn there.
This is Christ's explanation of bread as a symbol for His flesh. He speaks of bread that endures to everlasting life; the bread of God; the bread of life; and the living bread. Please note this: When Jesus uses bread to represent His flesh or body, it is consistently a symbol of life. He says that He is the living bread in verse 51, which indicates that His flesh is not merely something that leads to eternal life, but within this metaphor, His flesh is living. The picture is of living bread, indicating living flesh, and thus a living body.
At the end of verse 51, He says He would give His flesh for the life of the world. Because we hear so often about Jesus giving Himself for the sins of mankind, we commonly read this verse in a similar way. It sounds like He is saying He would give His flesh in exchange for all those under the death penalty. But we need to consider that carefully.
Another way to understand this verse is that Christ lived His life so that the world, in time, could likewise experience life as He lived it. That is, His complete and sinless life would be a gift that everyone can receive. Those who receive the life He gives are then sustained by Him. It is about becoming one.
There is a specific aspect of Christ's life that adds to this picture. The metaphorical bread - His flesh - can only provide true satisfaction and immortality because of its absolute purity. There was nothing in His life (which we share now) to separate Him from God. The bread of life is a symbol of the sinless life that Jesus lived, which He offers to His followers.
When we partake of Christ's flesh, we are taking in and being joined to His sinless life. Eating the bread symbolizes the living Savior abiding in us, and our abiding in Him. Thus, we eat living bread to continue our connection to Christ and the others who are also eating of the living bread. Eternal life - which the bread represents - comes from knowing Him and the Father. So, eating the bread is about the ongoing relationship rather than atonement.
Now, here is something to think about carefully. Having our sins forgiven does not, by itself, give us eternal life. Justification simply means that Christ paid the death penalty so we can be in legal alignment with God and His standard of righteousness. But something more must happen for us to have a life that will be sustained beyond the grave. We could have our sins wiped clean, and yet without God teaching us how to truly live, we would only continue as slaves of sin. And God is not going to give immortality to someone who does not practice living as Christ lived. The righteousness imputed to us must become real.
This helps us to understand the bread. One of the reasons Christ came in human flesh was to give eternal life after He wipes the slate clean. As we ingest Him, He lives His life in us. If we remain faithful to this feeding process, He sustains us - that's what bread does - and He will give us everlasting life in the resurrection. Eternal life comes through the living Savior abiding in us, teaching us how to live, and thus the bread is a symbol of divine life.
Jesus Christ's body is a multi-faceted symbol. Sometimes Christ's body is a symbol of His death, but at other times it is a symbol of life. So, it says here that the Passover bread represents Christ's body. When Jesus uses bread as a symbol for His body, it is a symbol of life, even eternal life. We won't turn to it, but John 6 explains this symbol very clearly. There, Jesus speaks of bread that endures to everlasting life. He speaks of the bread of God, the bread of life, and the living bread. When Jesus says that He is the living bread (John 6:51), it means that His flesh is not merely something that leads to eternal life, but He indicates a body that is alive. As we partake of the bread, we become one with the living Savior.