Become to Us the Living Bread

“Become to Us the Living Bread” is a communion hymn that centers on Christ as the true and sustaining Bread of Life. Written in 1970 by Miriam Drury, the text draws deeply from John 6, where the Lord Jesus declares, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35, KJV). The hymn is reverent in tone and devotional in spirit, inviting worshipers to approach the Lord’s Table with humility, faith, and spiritual hunger.

The phrase “Living Bread” reflects the truth that Christ is not merely a historical figure remembered in ritual, but the risen and present Savior who gives life to those who believe. The hymn does not treat the elements as magical or self-acting. Instead, it emphasizes the spiritual reality behind the ordinance. As believers partake of bread and cup, they are reminded of Christ’s sacrifice, His broken body, and His shed blood. The hymn gently teaches that communion is both remembrance and participation in the grace that flows from the cross.

The language of the hymn echoes 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, where Paul recounts the institution of the Lord’s Supper and urges believers to examine themselves. Drury’s text reflects this solemn self-examination. It calls the congregation to come not casually, but with repentant hearts and renewed trust in the finished work of Christ. The act of receiving the bread becomes an expression of dependence. Just as physical bread sustains bodily life, Christ sustains the soul.

There is also an Emmaus theme woven into the hymn, recalling Luke 24:30-31, where the disciples recognized the risen Lord in the breaking of bread. The hymn invites worshipers to encounter Christ afresh in the ordinance, not through visible manifestation, but through faith awakened by the Word and strengthened by the Spirit.

“Become to Us the Living Bread” therefore functions as both prayer and proclamation. It asks Christ to make Himself known and effective among His people as they gather at His Table. It affirms that true nourishment comes only from Him. In a reverent and scriptural manner, the hymn draws believers closer to the Savior whose body was given and whose blood was shed for the remission of sins.