As we seek to be brought to maturity through this Table, by the Lord who presides over this Table, we must take care to head His teaching. The Word always accompanies the sacrament, and as we sit at this table, we do not sit in silence. The Lord from His position at the head of the table is not quiet.
He speaks to us constantly – we are held responsible to listen. When He spoke with the disciples on the Emmaus road, Luke tells us this about Jesus, who began with Moses and all the prophets: “he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” Jesus is not here and there in the Old Testament; He resides on every page. This meal is the culmination of all the covenant meals of the Old Testament; it is the fulfillment of every festival; it the place where God feeds us with manna, fruit from the tree of life; water from the rock; forgiveness from the impaled serpent; and water over the threshold of the Temple.
If the Old Testament is a closed book in your life, then when you come to this Table, in ignorance and disobedience your mouth is closed. Open your mouth, God says through the psalmist, and I will fill it. Read your Bibles. Open your mouths, then, doing it the way you are instructed. You are the children of Israel, the offspring of Abraham, lesser sons of David – you are all invited to sit with us here. But when it comes time to eat, open your mouths. Open your hearts to encouragement. Open your minds to Scripture. One greater than Solomon is here.