His Table

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

HIS TABLE

Matt 26:26-30

26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."  27 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."  30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

NIV

These are most likely the most repeated words in the postmodern church, in fact they are repeated perhaps throughout the whole of the New Testament church. Although the recital of these words does seem to be more prevalent in most of the more evangelical or mainline churches which practice communion with passing out both some form of bread and a cup of juice to each congregant. Some have taken up the practice of a common cup as well as a common loaf of bread, breaking pieces off for each.  Many actually use the words of the Apostle Paul:

1 Cor 11:23-26

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me."  25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."  26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

NIV

These instructions continue about not taking these elements in an unworthy manner.

1 Cor 11:27-32

27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32 When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

NIV

Jesus did not mention these conditions when we shared these words with this disciple, however we also know that all scripture is God-breathed and therefore we cannot simply eat of the bread and drink of the cup in remembrance of Jesus without also considering the state of our sin. This is not just a ritual to participate in as a member of some church. This is a time of personal examination. This is a time that if we have unconfessed sin in our lives we need to get it out and confess before the Lord. Sure we might sit quietly in our seat or pew and converse with our Lord, but that is a certain course we should take before accepting the elements of communion. We just need to consider the word or the idea of communing with our Lord. The Idea that this was the last time he would drink wine until we all drink together in the glory of heaven or in the new city of Jerusalem. He was preparing to head to the cross. In telling his disciples that he would not drink of this cup until he drinks it anew with them in the kingdom of his Father, he was assuring them they would indeed be in that kingdom with him. This also serves to assure us that one day we will drink of the fruit of the vine in heaven with Jesus. What a glorious day that will be when my Jesus I will see. When we sit together, or recline around some table, or however it will be and have him hand us the cup and drink together with him. It is not the focus on the dinking which is the issue, but the fact we will be there with him having communion with him. This too should be a focus of our time in the present age. As we examine ourselves and confess any sin, but more importantly recognize the body the Christ. What does that mean? We need to know without a doubt that he was bruised for our sin, that by his stripes, the whip marks in his flesh, we were healed. Jesus suffered and died for us, to redeem us from the penalty of death. He paid it all. This is the state of our mind and spirit as we accept the bread and the cup. It is not a ritual, it is a spiritual experience remembering all that Jesus did for us, so that one day we too may recline with him at his table. Even in the singing of a hymn, it is not about the quality of our voice, but about the condition of our heart. This whole experience is about our heart. Let us rejoice, we are and will be at His Table.