“衪就擘开〔饼〕，说：‘这是我的身体，为你们舍得。你们应当如此行，为的是记念我。’” - 林前 11:24
主餐（圣餐）中的饼，象征滋润身体和维持信心的食物，但它也同时象征耶稣受死，拯救我们不致灭亡。这有点像水和酒的象征物，这些象征就像一把两刃的剑：水能维持生命，但它也可以造成致人死地的泛滥。酒能畅快人心，但它也可以毁灭人的一生。
旧约圣经中有些关于食物的故事，也包括了象征意义的特色：贪婪的人收取过多的吗哪、但第二天便变坏不能吃（出埃及记 16:20）；士兵在梦中见到一个饼撞毁了米甸的军营（士师记 7:13）：以西结吃特别的饼，来警告百姓将会被围困（以西结书 4:16）。在哥林多前书，主餐提醒和警告我们将会有审判，又指出耶稣已经到来拯救我们不致被毁灭。
来到主的桌前时，特别是当我们聚集在一起用饭，我们对神和彼此之间是完全敞开的。没有人愿意自己的生命受到鉴察，然而，在神所鉴察的的桌前必定有怜悯。怜悯强过审判；供应多过缺乏；生命胜过死亡；“爱里没有惧怕”（约翰一书 4:18）。藉着基督所赐的粮，神与我们同在，衪的同在胜过任何我们所求所想的。
祷告
耶稣啊，感谢你为我们受死，你受死是为了要赐我们永远的生命。阿们。
哥林多前书 11:23-34
23我当日传给你们的，原是从主领受的，就是主耶稣被卖的那一夜，拿起饼来，
24祝谢了，就掰开，说：“这是我的身体，为你们舍的。你们应当如此行，为的是记念我。”
25饭后，也照样拿起杯来，说：“这杯是用我的血所立的新约。你们每逢喝的时候，要如此行，为的是记念我。”
26你们每逢吃这饼、喝这杯，是表明主的死，直等到他来。
27所以，无论何人，不按理吃主的饼、喝主的杯，就是干犯主的身、主的血了。
28人应当自己省察，然后吃这饼、喝这杯。
29因为人吃喝，若不分辨是主的身体，就是吃喝自己的罪了。
30因此，在你们中间有好些软弱的与患病的，死的也不少。
31我们若是先分辨自己，就不至于受审。
32我们受审的时候，乃是被主惩治，免得我们和世人一同定罪。
33所以我弟兄们，你们聚会吃的时候，要彼此等待。
34若有人饥饿，可以在家里先吃，免得你们聚会自己取罪。其余的事，我来的时候再安排。
Whenever You Eat This Bread
"He broke [the bread] and said, 'This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.'" - 1 Corinthians 11:24
In the Lord's Supper (communion) bread symbolizes nourishment and sustenance in faith, but it also symbolizes the death of Jesus that saves us from destruction. It's like water and wine. These symbols are like a double-edged sword: water can sustain life, but it can also create deadly floods. Wine can gladden the heart, but it can also destroy people's lives.
Some stories about bread in the Old Testament include this element as well: manna that was greedily kept until the next day became rotten and unsafe to eat (Exodus 16:20); a soldier's dream showed a loaf of bread destroying the Midianite camp (Judges 7:13); and the odd bread that Ezekiel had to eat warned the people of an impending siege (Ezekiel 4:16). And here, in 1 Corinthians, the Lord's Supper reminds us and warns of judgment and how Jesus came to save us from certain destruction.
There is an element of being completely open with God and each other when we come to the Lord's table, especially because we gather to eat together. None of us really wants our life to be scrutinized, but at God's table, there is always mercy. Mercy is greater than judgment; provision is greater than scarcity; life is greater than death; "perfect love drives out fear" (1 John 4:18). And God's presence with us through the bread of Christ is greater than anything we could ever ask or imagine.
Prayer
Thank you, Jesus, for your death, which gives us eternal life. Amen.
