THE LORD'S TABLE
Text: 1 Corinthians 11:23-34
A little girl asked her mother, “Mommy, why do you cut the ends off the meat before you cook it?”
The girl’s mother told her that she thought it added to the flavor by allowing the meat to better absorb the spices, but perhaps she should ask her grandmother since she always did it that way.
So the little girl found her grandmother and asked, “Grandma, why do you and Mommy cut the ends of the meat off before you cook it?”
Her grandmother thought a moment and answered, “I think it allows the meat to stay tender because it soaks up the juices better, but why don’t you ask your Nana? After all, I learned from her, and she always did it that way.”
The little girl was getting a little frustrated, but climbed up in her great-grandmother’s lap and asked, “Nana, why do you cut the ends off the meat before you cook it?” Nana answered, “I had to; my cooking pot wasn’t big enough.”
We do a lot of things in life, and seldom stop to ask why. We develop habits and traditions, and if we’re not careful, we can forget why we do certain things...
Often we lose the real significance of why we do certain things such as partaking of the Lord’s Supper.
Just what is the significance of communion for us in the 21st century?
We live in a fast-paced technological society where we rush through our days failing to look back at the reasons why. We just go through the motions and go on to something else.
We don’t often stop to think about the meaning behind things that are a part of our worship. It’s just always been DONE THAT WAY.
Can we give a true explanation for it? Is it some form of vain tradition that has become a means within itself?
Or is it a significant practice, truly observed for the "building up of the child of God?"
A recent survey showed that most Christians aren’t quite sure about this practice that was handed down from Jesus to His disciples and to the Church.
The Lord’s Supper was and still is a standing provision against man’s forgetfulness of what Jesus has done and is yet going to do for us.
Today hopefully with the help of the Holy Spirit we come to an understanding of what this table before us represents.
First of all it is: 1. A TABLE OF OBEDIENCE Vs 24 & 25
The command, the imperative of the Lord was: "This do! In
remembrance of Me!"
The disciples who heard their Lord say those words clearly did they really understand what He was saying and doing!
John 14:15 (KJV) 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 14:21-24 (KJV) 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
Jesus links obedience to His commands as a sign or proof of the genuine love of His followers.
All of us as parents know that our children will obey us for many different reasons.
I know there have been times that my kids have obeyed me to get something that they wanted real bad; at other times they have obeyed because they were afraid of being punished, and believe it or not there have even been times that I have had to make them obey.
Yet there is no better feeling as a dad, than when I know my kids obeyed me simply because they love me.
Let me ask you a question: Why Do You Obey Jesus?
• Do you obey Jesus because you are looking forward to the reward of heaven?
• Do you obey Jesus because you are afraid of being punished?
• Do you obey Christ’s commands because you have no other choice; is it a self-imposed self-righteousness like the Pharisees?
• Do you obey Jesus simply because you love Him?
We should be here because we want to be-- but we are also here because Jesus has commanded us to come!
This is also…
2. A TABLE OF REMEMBRANCE -VS. 24
“This do in remembrance of me.” This means much more than just
recalling the death of Christ.
It means to actively stir up one’s mind and to actively meditate upon the person of Jesus Christ.
What is it that we should remember?
a. He wants us to remember the cross as the ultimate demonstration of his love for undeserving, self-centered sinners. How He suffered and died for every person to be born in this world. How He paid the price for you and me!
b. He wants us to remember that following him means being identified with him.
It means taking up a cross
suffering as he suffered,
forgiving as he forgave,
loving as he loved,
and dying to self as he died.
c. He wants us to remember His life..
a perfect life in every way,
a perfect example in every way.
We are to be like Him and imitate His life.
d. He wants us to remember the words that He taught.
His teachings were truly revolutionary…not against any government or nation…but against the sinful philosophy of an unregenerate world.
He taught us to be holy.
He taught us how to loving your enemies.
He taught us how to forgive.
e. He wants us to remember His promise to come again.
Next we see…
3. A TABLE OF SELF-EXAMINATION -VS. 28
There are events in our lives that cause us to take a good look at ourselves.
The death of a close friend or loved one, especially if death comes in an accident or at a young age, tends to make us stop and recall life and look deep inside our souls.
The word of God say’s that you are to judge yourself!
That is precisely what the Bible teaches us to do every time that we participate in the Lord’s Supper.
We are to examine our relationship with God!
We are to examine ourselves to be sure we are not living in sin or carrying some known and un-confessed sin in our hearts. Who better than you for this. You Know What’s Inside!
That takes us directly to…
4. A TABLE OF CONFESSION - VS. 31
1 John 1:8-10 (KJV) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [10] If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
We are certainly not to partake of the Lord's Supper if we are living in known sin.
Very frankly, having sin within one's heart and life is what is meant by partaking unworthily.
Look at what John is saying in verse 9!
If we confess our sins. . . not if we hide our sins.
If we confess our sins. . . not if we pretend we have none.
If we confess our sins. . . not if we insist that no one can tell us what to do.
If we confess our sins. . . not if we are blind to them.
If we confess our sins. . . that is when we find forgiveness, and not until.
Certainly, if we eat the bread and drink the cup with un-confessed sin in our hearts and lives, how can we be counted worthy?
We have no righteousness of our own, so the only conceivable time we could be counted worthy would be when we are walking in constant fellowship with Him.
There is confession then comes repentance!
Now we see that it is…
5. A TABLE OF COMMUNION (UNITY) VS 16-18
Paul saw division which was wrong.
Participation in the Lord's Supper identifies us as a worshipper of the Lord (1 Cor. 10:16, 17). In Christ we are one.
When we partake of the cup and the bread, we declare that we worship the Lord...
Turn to John 17 and let’s see what Jesus prayed for you and me on that night before the cross.
John 17:20-23 (KJV) 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Jesus knew that the church could never make an impact upon the world that He wanted unless the world could see a oneness, a unity in the church. Without that oneness it would be hopeless.
Are we in communion and fellowship with Him.
Let this table show us that we as a body of believers are bound together as one with Christ by His body and blood. The Church!
Next we see this as…
6. A TABLE OF THANKSGIVING -VS. 24
My dad, a long time ago taught me that if somebody gives you something, you just don’t receive it, walk away, and act like they owed you something.
The proper response you are supposed to say is, “Thank you!”
There are believers that wake up every morning, and don’t say a word.
God puts clothes on your back, and we don’t say a word.
God puts food on your table, and we don’t say a word.
God puts a roof over our head, and we don’t say a word.
And on and on it goes.
But I have made up my mind that every time I get a chance, every time I get an opportunity, to say thank you to God, I am going to open up my mouth, I am going to raise my hands, and I am going to tell God, “thank you!”
Thanks to Calvary. All I am, have or ever will have or be I owe to Him.
Thanks to Calvary: I'm Not The Man I Used To Be
I’m thankful for my salvation, our church family, and the blessings that God showers upon us each and every day.
With Jesus we have so much for which to be thankful for!
His Love, His Mercy & Grace, His Death & Resurrection
Last of all we see…
7. A TABLE OF EXPECTATION -"TILL HE COME" VS. 26
I want to direct your attention to one word found in verse 26. It is the little word “till.”
What is the central idea that Paul is trying to tell us? Is that Jesus died, rose again and one day He shall return again.
What a promise “Till He Comes”
We the people of God are waiting for someone.
Jesus is coming again, and at the Lord’s table we affirm that fact.
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
1 Thes. 4:16-18 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. [18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
CONCLUSION:
In the Lord's Table, those hands which were once bloody with the results of their sins are now stretched forth to receive and partake of the emblems and seals of the Redeemer's love.
It is a foretaste of the joy of Glory when all God's saints gather around the feast table at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
