“The Breaking Of The Bread”

by Micky Galloway

“And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and prolonged his speech until midnight” (Acts 20:7). We often quote this passage when we prepare to observe the Lord’s Supper each Lord’s day. It is crucial that we do this in a proper manner (I Corinthians 11:27-28). It is our practice to sing a song before we observe the Lord’s Supper to help prepare our minds. One of the songs we sing is “The Breaking Of The Bread” by Ellis J. Crum (1928-2011). In 1956, Crum published “Sacred Selections,” in which this song first appeared. This is perhaps one of the most popular songbooks ever produced and was almost universal among churches of Christ for many years. The tune for this song was composed by William F. Sherwin (1826-1888) in 1877 for Mary A. Lathbury’s hymn, “Break Thou The Bread Of Life.” The song, “The Breaking Of The Bread” helps us remember the purpose for the Lord’s Supper.

The first verse of the song centers on the breaking of bread.

“Dear Lord, we break the bread, In memory, Of that great sacrifice on Calvary; This we do each Lord’s day As Christ hast said, Bless all disciples now who break the bread.”

We break the bread, “In memory” (Luke 22:19). This is a memorial of the great sacrifice of Jesus. Our minds are carried back to that awful night in Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed to the Father, “If it be possible, let this cup pass away from me” (Matthew 26:39), to the cruel mob who “cried out exceedingly … let him be crucified,” to the cowardly verdict of Pilate, “see ye to it” (Matthew 26:23-24; cf. Luke 23:24). We are to remember how the soldiers mocked him and, “led him away to crucify him” (Matthew 26:34). We are to remember the nails that pierced His hands and His feet as His body hung on the cross awaiting death. Crucifixion was an ancient method of deliberately slow, disgraceful, and painful execution. We partake of this bread as Christ has commanded. “For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of me” (I Corinthians 11:23-24). May we be blessed as we remember.

The second verse of the song centers on the cup.

“Bless Thou the cup, dear Lord, To us this day, May we with hearts prepared His Word obey; We now His death proclaim, In His own way, Until He comes again, We keep this day.”

The cup is the fruit of the vine which represents Christ’s blood. “And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many” (Mark 14:23-24). “In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as often as ye drink (it), in remembrance of me” (I Corinthians 11:25). We remember the spear that pierced His side, and the blood “which is poured out for many unto remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28). The Lord’s Supper is also a proclamation of His return. No sermon, however eloquent can speak as effectively as the congregation solemnly, faithfully, and discerningly observing this sacred meal.

The third verse centers upon Christ raised and exalted.

“Our Savior now doth reign, In heav’n above, Death’s pow’r He overcame, such matchless love; To heav’n He did ascend, There He’s enthroned, He is our dearest friend, For us atoned.”

Christ who died, overcame death’s power by His resurrection. Peter said, “This Jesus did God raise up, whereof we all are witnesses. Being therefore by the right hand of God exalted …” (Acts 2:32-33). When God raised Him from the dead, He “made Him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come” (Ephesians 1:19-21). This became the theme of the preaching of the apostles (Acts 3:12-15; 4:8-10; 5:30-32; 13:23-32). If it were not for the resurrection of Christ, there would be no hope for us. There would be no victory over sin and death. We would be of “all men most pitiable” (I Corinthians 15:12-19). The fact that Jesus was raised up gives us assurance so that we can say with Paul, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?” (I Corinthians 15:54-55). Indeed, it is comforting to know that our dearest friend is the one who has overcome death and has “the keys of death and Hades” (Revelation 1:18).

Let us steadfastly, humbly, and reverently remember the Lord upon this first day of the week as we observe the Lord’s Supper.