The Table of Showbread

The Table of Showbread is a picture of our Lord Jesus. The designs for The Table of Showbread is described in Exodus 25:23-30. The table is made of shittim wood or acacia wood, which is a picture of Jesus being 100% man. This wood is then overlayed with gold, which represents Jesus being 100% God, it also represents the righteousness and the deity of Christ. There are 12 cakes of bread on the table, representing the 12 tribes of Israel. Bread represents Jesus's body. Bread is prepared by beating and pounding the flour, and finally it is baked in the oven. This is a picture of what our Lord Jesus went through, where His body was scourged by the Romans, and ultimately His body was subjected to the firey wrath of God's Judgement, just like the bread which is baked in the oven, which is why He said "I thirst" as recorded in John 19:2. Jesus said:

“...I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst” - John 6:35

The bread kept on the table of showbread are baked during the 1st day of the week (Sunday), and are left in the Tabernacle for 6 days. On the 7th day (Saturday), which is the Sabbath, the Levi priests serving in the Tabernacle feed on the bread. The Bible says that we are called to be kings and priests:

“...Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” - Revelation 1:5-6

As priests, we are to feed on Jesus, the Bread of Life when we come together as a Church. This is why it is very important to be a part of a Bible based Church, where the Jesus of the Bible is expounded and preached. The more we hear the Word, the more our faith grows. The Bible says:

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” - Romans 10:17

The Church is not a building, but it is the gathering of the believers in Christ Jesus, it is the many membered Body of Christ. The Bible says:

“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” - Ephesians 2:19-20

There are so many denominations in the Christian community, which one to join? Which denomination is right?

The Old Testament Church consisted of 12 tribes, or we can say 12 denominations. They were all rooted in God's Word. After the death of King Solomon, at one point in time, because of King Solomon's two sons Jeroboam and Rehoboam, the 12 tribes were divided into Northern Israel under King Jeroboam, and Southern Israel under King Rehoboam, as seen in 1 Kings 12:16 onwards. This way the Old Testament Church was divided.

The Northern Israel consisted of the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, and Joseph. The Southern Israel consisted of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. The tribes in the Northern Israel forsook the God of Israel and got into idolatry, whereas the tribes of the Southern Israel remained faithful to the Lord. Never has there been a point in the Bible, where the Lord had commanded to stop baking 12 cakes of bread, and to only bake 2 cakes of bread because the 10 tribes forsook the Lord. Although the Old Testament Church was divided, the Lord still saw Israel as one Church, and the table of showbread always had 12 cakes of bread. No matter what denomination you belong to, as long as you are rooted in Christ as a born again believer based on scripture, God sees you as His Church. Make sure the Church you belong to preaches the Jesus of the Bible, and not some other christ. The Bible says:

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” - 2 Timothy 2:19

Churches who are rooted in the Jesus of the Bible would serve The Bread of Life, fresh by pointing to Christ from scripture. Such Churches would be nourished with faith, and the congregation would be familiar with scripture. Ultimately the fruit of such Churches are good works. Be faithful to the Church which the Lord has planted you in, by shining as the child of the Most High God. If you are not a believer in Christ yet, will you give Jesus a chance?

How to feed on Jesus the Bread of Life?

Whenever you read the Bible, or whenever you are listening to Christ centered sermons, where the Jesus of the Bible is being expounded and preached, you are basically feeding on Jesus the Bread of Life. In the Bible, we come across two characters in Luke 10:38, Martha and Mary. Martha spent her time being busy, serving the Lord, and was worried about many things. Whereas Mary spent her time resting, by sitting at the Lord's feet and feeding on Jesus the Bread of Life. Martha had forgotten that the Lord who multiplied five loaves and two fish and had fed 5,000 people was at her house, and she spent her time serving Him. Whereas Mary spent her time being served by the Lord. Mary made the Lord feel at home. When Martha complained to the Lord about Mary not helping her, Jesus said:

“Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” - Luke 10:41-42

The word "good part" is the Greek word "agathen merida" which means "excellent portion". The excellent portion which Mary choose, shall not be taken away from her. What the Lord meant was, the blessings that follow Mary who heard the Word, who fed on Jesus the Bread of Life, shall not be taken away from her. When the seed of God's Word takes root and grows into a tree, you shall bring forth fruit in 30 fold, 60 fold, or 100 fold based on how much revelation of Jesus you had.

Finally, the golden crown around the table of showbread shows us that our Lord Jesus serves us with the Bread of Life from His finished work on the cross.