God has fashioned the world in such a way that table companionship is filled with meaning. And it is not just one meaning, but a multitude of meanings, running in every direction. But one of those meanings is the implied pledge of mutual fidelity. We can see this in the implications found in the words …
An Adverb, Not an Adjective
We are instructed in Scripture to examine ourselves as we come to this Table. But because we are instructed to do so, we must also follow instructions in the way we do so. “Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood …
Somebody Touched Me
In Luke 8, we are told the story of the woman with a hemorrhage who approached Christ in the press of the crowd, touched Him, and was healed. She came to him in true faith, but as she thought, anonymously, and yet was healed. But it was not a secret to Christ. He felt the …
A Singing Christ
When the Lord instituted this meal, it was in the context of a Passover supper with His disciples. We are told that at the conclusion of the meal they sang a hymn, and then went out (Matt. 26:30). It is almost certain that they followed the Jewish custom of singing the Hallel psalms, six psalms …
A Meal That Means
As we gather repeatedly for this meal, one of the things you may have noticed is that the portions are small. You all receive a morsel of bread, and you receive a small communion cup of wine, a bit larger than a thimble. In one respect this is simply a function of what is necessary …
The Necklace of the Church
The neck of the Church is that which attaches her to her Head, the Lord Jesus Christ. And what is it that brings us into union with the Lord? Is it not our faith? Living and evangelical faith is therefore the neck of the bride, without which there can be no bride at all. We …
Each Morsel Contains Worlds
When we partake of this meal we are partaking of both the Lord’s disgrace, and His promised glory. “Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, He shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonied at thee; His visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the …
No Perplexity At All
We know that when we sit down to partake of this meal, we are partaking of our forgiveness. The broken body and blood of Christ are the meal, and our resurrected and forgiving Lord is seated at the head of the Table. We also know that when we partake of this meal we are partaking …
Host, Guest, Food
In this meal we eat family style. We both receive the food and we pass the food. In addition to this, because it is a covenant meal, we consume the food that is made up for all the others, and we offer ourselves to be consumed to all the others. We are enabled to do …
Southern Exposure
We have come here to eat and drink; we have come here to be nourished. Now one of the central reasons why God nourishes us is that He wants us to bear fruit. His intention for us is fruitfulness. Nutrition is not a dead end process. He nourishes us so that we might flourish and …