Jesus’ Death: The Beginning of a New Covenant

Here are some metaphors used to describe Jesus’ death:

Bread of Life – Jesus taught his disciples about being the everlasting Bread of Life. In John 6:47-51 (KJV) Jesus says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” This analogy of flesh and bread refers to Jesus satisfying our spiritual needs. If we eat Jesus’ bread we shall receive eternal life.

Corn of Wheat – Jesus says in John 12:24 (KJV), “Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth more fruit.” Jesus compares his death to a seed that falls to the ground and dies which thereby produces many seeds. The point of this metaphor is that Jesus’ death will bring benefits of salvation to humanity. Without Jesus' death there would be no such benefits.

Matthew 27:50-51 (KJV) says at the moment of Jesus’ death, “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His Spirit. And behold the veil of the Temple was torn from top to bottom.” Jesus’ death tore the very fabric of the Godhead (the Father, Son and Holy Ghost). It was this separation from God that was the price Christ paid for our sins. The “law of commandments and ordinances” which enforced the separation between the Jew and Gentiles was abolished in the flesh.

Ephesians 2:12-16 (KJV) says, “…But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peach, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in the flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.”