There are two great questions that should be answered in your minds as you come to the Lord’s table. These questions should not just be answered at one point in your life, but rather should be part of your conscious heart and mind each time you approach the Table.
The two questions are these: what are you eating and drinking, and with whom are you eating and drinking? The answer to both questions is the same. You are eating the body of Christ, and you are sitting down to eat with the body of Christ.
This is not an appeal to superstitious magic. This is not a crude metaphysical statement about any transformation in the molecular make-up of the bread and wine. Rather, this is to see the covenant with the eyes of faith. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him, and those who fear Him are shown the covenant.
When we look at a man and a woman living in the same house, what is the difference between marriage, a glorious picture of the gospel, and shacking up, a vandalization of that same gospel? The difference is that in the former instance we see the covenant, but what do we mean, see the covenant? How much does the covenant weigh? What color is it? What are the other dimensions? Height, breadth, width? What do we mean see the covenant? But we do—this couple is married and that couple is not. It is not the case that the former couple has been transubstantiated somehow. But they have been transformed, and it is the covenant that has done it.
It is the same here. This ritual, this liturgy, commissioned by Jesus Christ Himself, is intended to strengthen us in the covenant, and to show us the covenant. When we look at the bread and wine, we should see the covenant God has made with His people. When we look at the bread and wine, we should see the people. When we look around us at all the people, we should see the bread and wine.