The Table of Showbread: Christ, Our Sustenance

Exodus 25

Adrian Rogers


Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Exodus 25

The Old Testament tabernacle is a picture of Jesus Christ. The Table of Showbread in Exodus 25 tells us that He is our sustenance—the One we feed upon.

According to Exodus 25:23-28, this table is made of wood and gold, which speaks of both Christ’s humanity and His deity. He was the God man, fully God and fully man.

The crown around the table speaks of Christ’s sovereignty as our royal Savior. The long rods and gold rings enabled them to carry this table through the wilderness, which reflects Christ’s omnipresence—He is with us always. The utensils used to handle the showbread tell us of God’s availability. (See Exodus 25:29.) And this table that lifted the bread up prophecies Christ exalted.

Exodus 25:30 says, “And you shall set the showbread on the table before Me always.”

Both the table and the bread upon the table picture Jesus, the Bread of Life. (See John 6:48.)

The preparation of this bread, described in Leviticus 24, pictures Jesus.

As the wheat was crushed and beaten, Jesus was bruised for our iniquities. (See Isaiah 53:5.)

He was sifted, revealed to be pure, without any blemish. The unleavened showbread represents Jesus, who was without sin. And as the bread baked in the oven, Jesus faced the fiery wrath of God.

The twelve loaves of showbread represent the twelve tribes, telling us that only God’s people can partake of this precious portion.

As we need food daily to survive, we need to feed upon Jesus daily in order to be satisfied. We do this by reading His Word; the Word of God is what sustains us.

When we read in Scripture about disciples “breaking bread” together, it meant they were eating around a table in fellowship. Likewise, we are fed by our time with Jesus, together, as a Church. He is the Bread of Life that does not run out; He sustains, entertains, and maintains us each and every day.

Adrian Rogers says, “You don’t have to be in the back alley eating tin cans with the devil’s billy goats, or down in the far country eating husks with Satan’s swine. You can sit at the table with the King of Kings and feast upon Jesus.”

Apply it to your life

Have you feasted upon Jesus, the Bread of Life? Spend time in His Word and consider your fellowship with Him.