The Table of the Lord

"For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."
(1 Corinthians 11:26)

It is regrettable that what Christ made so simple and enjoyable man has made into something complicated and stressful. What a blessing it is to sit at the Table of the Lord with His brethren and proclaim His death! The symbols of the bread and cup speak so powerfully to our minds that the Word preached is enforced and made more effective in our hearts. We go away from the Table more refreshed and strengthened than at any other time. At the Table, there is no magical change of the elements, but there is a spiritual force in the symbols we may not find anywhere else. Our Lord did not establish His Table for nothing! This is the Table of the Lord, and we should not be surprised that the Spirit uses this as one of the things of Christ by which He ministers the gospel of Christ to us. To miss the Table is to miss much.

But, man is ever ready to pollute and destroy what Christ has ordained for our good. The Table of the Lord has been corrupted into a mere ceremony, encrusted with human tradition and rules to such a degree it is almost impossible for men to participate in it to any good. If there is no argument over the elements used, there will doubtless be an argument over who should participate. All is answered by the question, “Why do we observe the Lord’s Table? What is its purpose?” The answer is given in plain language: to proclaim the Lord’s death. All else bows to that.

What should be used to do that? Broken bread to illustrate His body broken for sin, and the juice of the vine squeezed out to symbolize the pouring out of His soul unto death.

Who should participate? All those who desire to show forth the death of the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s Table is not an opportunity to show forth any worthiness on our part. THE LORD’S TABLE IS NOT A CONFESSION OF OURSELVES, BUT OF CHRIST; NOT OF WHO WE ARE OR WHAT WE HAVE DONE, BUT WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE HAS DONE. So let us be done with the outward show of pious humility or self-righteous worthiness and happily come to His Table!

“Ah, but I do not feel worthy enough to come,” says one. And I hope you never do. There is only one Worthy One at the table of the Lord, the Host, Himself; and He invites sinners to His Table. It is not our worthiness but His that set the table and gives us a warrant to be there. The Worthy One has spread His feast and called us: we do well not to ignore His invitation.

“But I am not member of your church.” This is not the Table of the Church, but the Table of the Lord. If you are His, then you have a seat at His Table. Sit down; we’re glad you’re here!

“But I am not sure I believe.” Do you believe that you are a sinner? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is a sufficient Savior for sinners? Have you called on the name of the Lord according to the promise of God that all who do so shall be saved? What is left to believe? Once again, the Table is not about you, it is about Christ.