Table of the Lord – Part Three

And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. Luke 22:14-15 ESV

This time when we come to the Lord’s table, it is not a feast in a green pasture, nor is it a banqueting table under a beautiful banner. This table where Jesus invites us was where He ate His last meal on earth, sharing it with His closest friends. Here is the table where Jesus took bread and blessed it, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me” Later, as dinner was ending, Jesus took His cup and said, “This cup is poured out for you which is the New Covenant in my blood.” This is the table which He ate at while His enemies watched. This is the table where the banner of His love was spread over us. So, let’s take a moment and lift up our hearts in praise because, at this table we are asked to remember the terrible price that He paid for our salvation. Let’s worship Him in amazement, because this is the table overflowing with blessings that He has earnestly desired to share with us. But before we eat and before we drink: we are cautioned to ask, “Have we prepared our hearts for this table which Jesus has prepared for us?” If not, He invites us to seek His pardon, trusting that He will never turn away any child who comes with faith and a repentant heart. Here at the Lord’s Table, is the good news that He has done all that we need to make us ready to share this table with Him!

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An Unforgettable Prayer

And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”  Matthew 26:39 ESV

This prayer of Jesus was etched into the minds of His disciples, like none other He had prayed. At an earlier time, when the disciples had seen Jesus praying, they asked, “Lord teach us to pray.” But this prayer was not like that one. This midnight prayer left them so overwhelmed by sorrow, that they fell asleep. They had never seen Jesus like this. They were used to Him commanding the wind and waves or casting out demons. But at this moment it almost seemed as if Jesus was afraid. His words were so unforgettable that three of the four gospels repeat them. His words seemed shocking, “If it is possible, let this cup pass.”  It sounded like such a hopeless prayer. They must have wondered how that could be? Didn’t Jesus have enough faith? Had He done something wrong? NO, not for a moment! But the answer to His cry lay hidden even from Him for that moment. Hidden behind the suffering, shame, betrayal, and mocking was the miracle of our redemption. The Father would remove the cup from His hand, but not until He after had drunk from it for us all. When Jesus accepted that cup in Gethsemane, and drained it of its poison, He made it possible for it to be filled it with the new wine of salvation that is still running over with eternal life for you and me!

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He Wants to Sit With Us

And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer: 
Luke 22:15 KJV

When I was in Junior High, (more than a few years ago!) one of the most important things of the school-day was finding who to sit with at lunch. If, as a seventh grader, I could sit with the older cooler guys in 8th I knew I would be set for life! Considering the fact that Jesus already knew that Judas would soon betray Him, Peter deny Him and the rest turn tail and run, it is astonishing to read that He was looking forward to sitting down with them all for dinner. Adding to those disturbing details, a few verses down we learn that while Jesus is giving them the bread and the wine and telling them that it represented His body and blood, they were arguing over which one of them was the greatest. This sounds like the worst possible family get together that we could ever imagine! But as bad as the events occurring around that dinner table sound, it gives me hope! It gives me hope because there are times when every one of us has acted like one of those guys! We have been far less loving, more proud and unkind, yet Jesus still says, He is longing to sit down at the table with us. So, the next time you receive communion, remember that night, when it all began. There, Jesus gave His body to suffer for our sins and His blood to pay the price for us to begin a new life with God. What a loving Savior we have. How amazing that He wants to sit down at the table and share His life with us!

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