God has brought us together into the household of faith, and, like all households, we share a table together. But one common feature of most household tables going back into antiquity, is the feature of sibling rivalry.
At the first Lord’s Supper, there were two sets of physical brothers—Peter and Andrew (Matt. 4:18), and James and John (4:21)—and all the disciples were brothers in the new household that Jesus was gathering.
But from ancient times, brothers are famous for their striving, and not for the shoulder-to-shoulder solidarity that the Scriptures require of them. In pagan mythologies, we see representative examples like Romulus and Remus.
But we have to confess also that this is one of the major themes throughout all Scripture. We think of Ishmael and Isaac, and Jacob and Esau, and Perez and Zerah, sons of Tamar, and David with his brothers. And the striving and scuffling that characterized Christ’s disciples is also notable in this regard.
Scripture says that a friend loves at all times, and a brother is made for the day of adversity (Prov. 17:17). That is what a brother is supposed to be. But we in our rivalries have distorted this terribly.
What we need to take care to do, then, is come to this Table with the desire and expectation that God will give us our full inheritance here. We should also note that there is more than enough for everyone. If you struggle with sin in this area, then confess your sins, but seek to do it throughout the week, and at the beginning of the service, not here.
The author of Hebrews compares the covenant with a last will and testament, and so may we. This meal is our inheritance, and often the place where rivalries erupt is at the reading of the last will and testament. But our older brother, who died for us, has come back to life, and He is present at the reading of His will. And His will is that we love one another.