Why should Christians break bread together?

Food always seems to bring people together. From small dinners to large BBQ's, who could get upset in filling their belly? In John 6, Jesus feeds at least five thousand men, and then they follow him around. At this point, however, Jesus informs the crowd that he is the living bread of Heaven (John 6:51). In fact, Jesus goes on to mention that “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you (John 6:53). While many deserted Jesus on this point, the twelve did not (John 6:66-69).

Jesus' statement becomes especially interesting later on, when he does a special meal with the twelve. Mentioned in Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:17-20, & 1 Cor 11:23-26, Jesus declares the bread and wine his body and blood, said the wine is his blood in the new covenant, encourages the disciples to do it in remembrance of him and Paul says that through this we proclaim Christ death until he comes again. Simply Jesus discussion in John 6 seems good enough reason to break bread in this special way, for Jesus said “whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him” (John 6:56). Additionally, Jesus did tell the twelve to practice this meal (Matt 26, Mark 14, Luke 22). Surely, in partaking in the bread and wine, Christ own body and blood, we corporately remind ourselves of the forgiveness of sins that Christ has accomplished for us. By Acts 2:42, we also see that the breaking of bread was a core practice, which 1 Corinthians 11 corroborates. Since Christ instituted this in a group setting and Christ saved us, not just individually, but corporately, it only makes sense that we break bead together, proclaiming Christ death until he returns.