The Table of the Lord humbles the honest, comforts the distraught, forgives the repentant, nourishes the hungry, establishes the church, preaches the gospel, summons the world, and overwhelms the devil. And of course the Table as a mere set of physical objects does none of those things—any more than the Word of God, considered simply …
There Is No Better Christ
When the Lord walked with the two unnamed disciples on the road to Emmaus, the conclusion of the affair, as they narrated it, was that the Lord was known by them “in the breaking of the bread” (v. 35). The breaking of the bread in this scriptural usage clearly refers to the sacrament, and means …
Invited to Stay
Jesus Christ invited Judas to this meal, knowing what was in his heart. Jesus Christ warned Judas about his peril, in much the same way that God warned Cain about sin lying in wait for him. And the greatest possible grace and the greatest act of treachery met together. But the Table was not defiled. …
A Wedding Banquet
The Lord’s Table is a wedding feast, and unless we understand our relationship to Jesus Christ as our Bridegroom, and ourselves collectively as His chosen Bride, we will not understand what is happening here. The book of 1 Corinthians has a great deal in it about the relationship of the two sexes, and we too …
Love Them Now
God has given us bread and wine, but not so that we would be distracted by the bread and wine. Remember that we dwell in a universe created by the Word of God who both was God and was with God. The Word of God is the exact representation of the image and nature of …
A Great Deal Worse
As we look back over the passage we have been considering, a few reminders are necessary. This is the Lord’s Table, and it does not belong to you. This means you are not in charge of the invitations and place cards, and have no authority to decline an invitation that has been graciously extended to …
A Table, Not a Trophy
In the book of 1 Corinthians Paul sets a number of disorders concerning the Lord’s Supper straight, presumably addressing the more significant disorders. But there were other disorders, as indicated by his closing words on the subject, where he said “the rest will I set in order when I come.” So we do not come …
Partaking Together
Jesus tells us to do certain things in order to commune with Him. These things are not only to be done, they are to be done in a certain way. The service of the Passover was the time when He instituted the fellowship of the Lord’s Supper, and we are to begin where we are …
How Much Bread and Wine?
In order to correct some of the disorders that had crept into the worship of the saints at Corinth, the apostle tells them to deal with their hunger at home. Apparently, the love feast that accompanied the Eucharist in the first century was being used as an occasion to fill the belly, at the expense …
Lockstep or Likemindedness?
We are told to tarry for one another. This is why we take and eat together, and why we take and drink together. The point of this is not communion in lockstep, but rather communion in likemindedness. We are told in various places of Scripture that likemindedness is one of our great duties – we …