Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Holy Thursday: Around the Lord's Table

 As with many families the main gathering place is the household table. It is here at the table that families share their lives and their problems. Yet, in spite of these problems the family members find, and have found, a place to be accepted a place where they belong in spite of who they, or we all are.


As many Christians will be gathered at the Table of the Lord on Holy or Maunday Thursday consider this gathering at the Lord's Table and what it means to each of us.

 The table is a place of fellowship and family communion and has always been important to the life of the family. The table brings people together, sometimes from many backgrounds. Often , the table is the common place of gathering and the center of family life.

The Last Supper/The First Supper

As Jesus and his Disciples came together at what was , in every sense the last Supper of the Old Covenant, and it was here, that Jesus would introduce a new meaning and simplified Sacraments which focused upon who he is and all that he has accomplished for each and all who will but freely receive it.

This new focus on the person of Jesus show us the true intent of the New Covenant, which is, that God’s new relationship offered to any and all who will but freely receive it. This new relationship is available  to all humanity ,not just Israel and is symbolized by the Lord’s Supper, the Communion or Eucharist. This gathering could be called the First Supper of the New Covenant as it was the Last Supper of the Old Covenant.  

 We can read of Jesus being very intentional giving instructions to his disciples regarding the preparation of this supper which under the Old Covenant had been called  the " Passover”. Jesus wanted to be certain that this gathering would accomplish his purposes.

 "Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the Passover must be killed. And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the Passover, that we may eat" Lk:22:7-8

 Again , it is recorded that Jesus gave instructions to his Disciples regarding the Supper preparation. 

"And they said to him, Where will you that we prepare?And he said to them, Behold, when you are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he enters in. And you shall say to the manager of the house, The Master said to you, Where is the guest room, where I shall eat the Passover with my disciples? And he shall show you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. And they went, and found as he had said to them: and they made ready the Passover". (9-13)                                                    

The Lord's Supper Instituted

After all the preparations were completed Jesus and the Disciples gathered around the table and they engage in the century’s old ceremony of the Passover which commemorated, when the Death Angel had Passover the first born of Israel and led to the deliverance of the people of Israel out of Egyptian Bondage. Ex: 12:14-17. 

But then, here in the upper room in which they gathered for the meal, Jesus transforms the Old Covenant Passover into a whole new sacrament with deeper meaning , not just for Israel but for all peoples, this transposed sacrament is the Lord's Supper or the Communion.

It is also noted that it is here as well Jesus not only transpose the elements of the Sacrament but Jesus is also transposing the entire Liturgical structure of those who would worship the great God, the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, a worship led by the Spirit which would lead the followers of Jesus to a Liturgical Calendar focused upon Jesus.

Around the Table

Jesus had desired this gathering with his closest Disciples ,for he was well aware that this would be  the last time they would gather in such a setting this side of eternity. 

"And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said to them, With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer: For I say to you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God." (14-16)

Jesus introduced the transposed meaning which was always intended and implied in the Old Covenant Passover.. Jesus tells the Disciples, and we all, to "do this in remembrance of Me". This "remembrance” is not just a recalling of a past event, but it has the meaning that we always keep Jesus in the forefront of our hearts and minds that we are perpetually mindful of Jesus.

 "And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave to them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you"(17-20)

 Jesus gave thanks, but not just for a blessing on the symbols they were about to share in, but Jesus is also thanking His Father that He can give His life for our redemption and forgiveness so that we can have Communion with our God.

Around the Table

So often when we read the Gospel accounts our focus is mostly upon our Lord Jesus, and this is right that we look to him as the focus of what is happening in the Gospel narratives, but notice and consider what is taking place among the Disciples who are there around the table with Jesus.

Betrayal 

When we look upon the Disciples who were gathered there at the Table of the Lord we see sin and expressions of the carnal nature. We see betrayal.

"But, behold, the hand of him that betrays me is with me on the table. And truly the Son of man goes, as it was determined: but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed! And they began to inquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing".(21-23)

Blame and Accusations

As the narrative in the Gospel of St. Mark's account unfolds, we see among the Disciples shifting of responsibilities and accusation.

 "And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Truly I say to you, One of you which eats with me shall betray me. And they began to be sorrowful, and to say to him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I?" Mark: 14:18-19

Who is the Greatest?

Here, at the Table of the Lord, we witness the Disciples who were gathered in midst of one of the most significant moments in the history of Salvation with their Lord , ambitions and agenda driven strife arises only hours away from Jesus' arrest and death. Here at the Lord's Table the Disciples descend into posturing and bickering over position.

"And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. And he said to them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority on them are called benefactors. But you shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that does serve. For whether is greater, he that sits at meat, or he that serves? is not he that sits at meat? but I am among you as he that serves".(24-27)

  Even Denial

 At the table we see even denial of Jesus himself. Jesus cautions St. Peter that he will refuse to acknowledge his association with Jesus in  moments of stress not only once but three times. Yet along with this caution there is grace and encouragement for St. Peter and for us all as well.

"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not: and when you are converted, strengthen your brothers. And he said to him, Lord, I am ready to go with you, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell you, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that you shall thrice deny that you know me".(31-34)

 Through the Years

 Even years after the death, resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ there were problemsThe Christians at Corinth had disorder, selfishness, and over indulging even as they gathered at the Lord’s Table. We can read of St. Paul addressing this catalog of problems in 1Cor: 11:2-22.

 Same Issues

Years may pass, and the place may change, but these issues have been with Christians all along down through the years and still arise among Christians even in our time. Where there are people there will be these issues no matter what time we are living in.

All This Around His Table

Yet, these issues are the very reason that we all need to come to the Table of the Lord. This weakness resident is humanity are the very reason that we are invited to come and share in the Lord's table. 

When coming to the Lord's table to share in the Lord’s Supper we are confessing our need we are acknowledging that we cannot save ourselves. We can neither earn nor deserve to sit and eat the Supper of the Lord yet Jesus graciously makes a place for us all and invites us to come to his Table none-the-less. Everything about us which we think would keep us from the Table of the Lord is the very reason that Jesus is inviting us to come to his table.

Some have stated that they will come to the Table when they get their lives in order, or they feel , that somehow Jesus will disapprove of their participation so they decline the invitation to join in the Communion, but in truth , if our participation was based upon merit that gained our inclusions and invitation then there would be none at the table expect one person alone; Jesus.

There is no other place to bring our brokenness, weakness, our lostness and sin, no other place where we can appeal to for the grace and forgiveness which is offered so freely. There is no other that we can call out to for help but to our living Savior Jesus Christ who died for us all.

It is also at the Table of the Lord where we can be included in his unconditional love and fellowship, his Communion. Here at the Lord's Table, we find belonging and unity in spite of our selves. It is at Jesus' Table alone that this inclusion is found for us all in in spite of who and what we are, and when we come, we bring to it all of our inherent brokenness of our humanity.

When we come and gather around the Lord’s Table on Holy Thursday or at any time, we come to his Table we are acknowledging our need for Jesus, for our Lord Jesus Christ whose Table that we sit at in Communion is all through grace, and we share in what Jesus alone can offer us.

We will never, nor can we be, worthy in our own selves to sit with Jesus at his Table and yet this is where our Lord want us all to be. This is something we all need to remember as we gather around the Lord’s Table on Holy Thursday or at any time, we hear the invitation to come.

Benediction: May we each and all in spite of our brokenness come and gather as a family at the Table of our Lord Jesus and join in for the sacred communion with our God, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen 



Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor

Topinabee Community Church

Topinabee Michigan

If You Would Like to Know More About or to Support the Ministry of Topinabee Community Church You Can go to Our Web Site.

https://topinabeechurch.org/index.html

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                       “If Its Not About Jesus, Its Not About Anything!”  

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