Children's Bread

Bread is more than something baked in an oven. For many cultures, it is a staple upon which daily life depends. Because of this, bread isn’t something reserved for the deserving; it is basic nourishment provided even for the smallest children. Yet, as common and readily available as bread may be, it only benefits those who consume it. Only those who partake of it receive its nourishment and strength.

That Jesus referred to Himself as the Bread of Life is therefore deeply significant. He is the readily accessible and essential source of life itself. From Him comes the nourishment and strength that life requires. Yet, for what He provides to become ours in experience, He indicates that He must be consumed. Through His sacrifice for all, He has made Himself available to all; what remains is for us to receive and partake of Him.

One of the essential provisions for life is healing—the restoration and recovery from affliction. Jesus actually referred to this provision as “the children’s bread,” revealing it as something that belongs at the Father’s table for His children. It isn’t something reserved for those who somehow become deserving, but a provision made available through their place in His family. What belongs to them must simply be received and partaken of.

Healing, then, isn’t presented as a rare provision reluctantly given, but as part of the continual substance of life found in Christ and received by His children. To partake of Him is to partake of the healing virtue He is.

Notes

Healing - the children’s bread

Matthew 15:21-29 (NKJV) 21 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” 23 But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us." 24 But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!" 26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs.” (Bread as a staple - readily available to all members at the table) 27 And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." (Requires partaking - to be strengthened and nourished, must consume) 28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

An essential benefit continually given - healing.

Psalms 103:2-5 (NKJV) 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

He bore all our punishment and sickness - already ours.

Isaiah 53:4-5 (NKJV) 4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

In His sacrifice - became the substance of health in life.

Luke 22:19 (NKJV) 19 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

Jesus is the Bread of Life

John 6:48-58 (NKJV) 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world." 52 The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”

Though available for all, only life to those who eat.

53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”

How to partake of healing as our bread:

Be convinced of its power — know what Christ has accomplished and what His life can do.
Know it belongs to you — approach as a child at the Father’s table, not as an outsider begging for scraps.
Be tenacious in receiving it — refuse to let symptoms, delay, circumstances, or contrary evidence redefine what you believe has been provided.
Every day - as a staple for life.

Overview:

Jesus referred to healing as the children’s bread.
Bread in many cultures is the basis upon which all nourishment and strength is gained - something that is plentiful and available to all the family.
An abundance of bread is good, but completely ineffective until it is consumed consistently.
Jesus also referred to Himself and His body as bread.
Though He came to bear our transgressions and afflictions it is only by partaking of Him and all He’s done that we have life in Him.
As children of God, to partake of Jesus is to partake of the healing virtue that’s in Him.
We partake by believing Jesus bore our sins and sickness, knowing it’s ours through our union with Him as children, and tenaciously possessing it.
Healing, for us, is provided and available in abundance to bring life and health continually at His table.

Prayer:

Father, I’m so grateful for Your amazing love and grace that have provided me with everything I need for life and godliness as Your child. I desire to fully partake of all You have provided for me through Jesus and His sacrifice, where He bore the punishment for my sins and carried my sicknesses. Fill my heart with an unwavering assurance that what You have provided is mine. Help me to receive, consume, and continually partake of the healing life that is in Christ. I take hold of healing as my daily bread—the children’s bread—and I will not let it go. Thank You that as I partake of Jesus, I partake of His life, His strength, His wholeness, and His healing. Amen.