The Lord's Table

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