I think we have all seen signs outside restaurants that read,

NO SHOES, NO SHIRT, NO SERVICE!

I think my mother originated that rule long before it became popular with eating establishments.  And before there were so many restaurants, most of all my meals were at home. And supper time was almost sacred in our home. During my childhood I often heard my mother calling me to come in from play, “Son, come home it’s supper time!”  Many of you may remember the Southern Gospel song, “Come Home, Its Supper Time!” But quite honestly, I was so involved in playing with others or riding my bicycle that I often found trouble with Mom because I did not respond to her call very quickly.  But when I did come to the table I knew certain things would have to happen.  First, I had to make sure my hands were washed and if I was especially dirty, I sometimes had to have a sponge bath. I had to take off my ball cap.  And I knew I had to have on a shirt as she would not want you bareback at the table. And when we were seated at the table, there was a normal place where my father sat and then other chairs where all the children normally sat.  Everybody had a place which was their normal spot at the table.  I’m sure that some of you today may have had certain rules or rituals about coming to the supper table.  And of course, we always had prayer or a blessing over the meal.  And the food was hearty and delicious!

Today we are coming to the Lord’s Table.  And I thought it would be good to reflect over how we come to this table and take these holy elements of bread and the fruit of the vine.

 First, WE COME TO THE LORD’S TABLE WITHOUT PARTIALITY

When the disciples came to the table that night, I am not sure if they had a particular spot where they were expected to sit.  But there is indication that they were fussing over where they were going to sit and who was going to be seated next to Jesus, as this was seen as an honored position. And who would not want to sit by Jesus, right?  In my Emmaus Walk I sat at the table of John.  And we often boasted about this saying, “I sat at the table of John, the beloved disciples who sat at the right hand of Jesus!”  This gave me further thought about where we find ourselves in other dining or meal room situations.

When I was in high school the cafeteria was a place where all the students and faculty, staff and even maintenance personnel had lunch together.  As in most places there were friends and even cliques of people who would always sit together.  Athletes would sit with other athletes.  Cheerleaders and majorettes would often sit together.  Band members would sit together.  And then, there were those who were not a part of any particular group that somehow found each other and sat together.  And there was little or no interaction of these different groups during lunch.

I have discovered this is not isolated to high school years.  The same type of experience happened at college.  But in our particular school it was not so much the table where you were sitting as much as which side of the cafeteria you were sitting. Somehow it felt like an early arrangement of the sheep and goats, where the sheep sat on the right side and the goats on the left side!  Everybody seemed to stay on their side of the cafeteria.

 And often when I visit hospitals and eat at the cafeteria, I find that doctors are sitting together at a table.  Nurses are sitting together at other tables.  People who work as technicians or maintenance are sitting at other tables.  Then there are family and friends who are visiting patients in the hospital which make up the largest number of people sitting at other tables.   But there was hardly any mix of people outside their table  I suppose this may be normal behavior especially if you do not know the other people.

As I reflect over this behavior in many different settings, I wondered, “Which table would Jesus be setting at if He came to a public cafeteria?    Or where would Jesus sit if he came to our dining table?     I think we can affirm that Jesus would not have shown partiality to any person, regardless of their rank or social status or position in society. I am inclined to believe that Jesus may go by and speak to every person and would probably be speaking to the entire crowd!

Now let’s go back to the night of this event with Jesus and the disciples. Jesus knew about their arguing over positions at the table. Almost like school children arguing over who is riding in the front seat.  But Jesus did something rather extreme to teach them about having the right attitude or mindset when coming to the Lord’s Table.  Jesus took a basin of water with a towel and began washing the feet of the disciples.  This was quite shocking to them because he was regarded as their Rabbi and Master.  This action was seen as being the work of a slave or servant.  It was mind-blowing, especially for Peter who at first refused to let Jesus wash his feet.  This would be like Coach DeBoer or Coach Freeze becoming the waterboys for the football team.  But maybe if Bama didn’t beat LA Monroe Auburn didn’t beat Ball State that might become the waterboy!  But seriously, this was a position that nobody expected Jesus to take.  But Jesus was teaching a powerful lesson.  People who have higher positions are not above others when it comes to serving in God’s kingdom and especially when we come to the Lord’s Table.

God is no respecter of persons according to the scriptures.  (Romans 2:11)

At the Lord’s Table we are all standing on equal ground.  Or as one preacher put it, “All ground is level at the foot of the cross.”  This means that each person who comes to the Lord’s Table is a sinner saved by grace. And all human distinctions of class and notoriety are removed.   The President and “Joe the plumber” come to share in the meal together…for this is no partiality when we come to the Lord’s Table.  Very similar to this is the next point.

Second,  WE COME TO THE LORD’S TABLE WITHOUT PRIDE

In the first century there was a great distinction between Jews and Gentiles. The world in the first century biblical context was broken down into two major groups.  Jews and the rest of the world, called Gentiles.  Jews considered Gentiles unclean and undesired.  They had no table fellowship with Gentiles because they would be considered unclean. This was also true of Samaritans.  To the Jews, there was no such thing as a “Good Samaritan”.

 You may recall that Peter was reprimanded by Paul because Peter started eating with Gentiles but then refused to eat with Gentiles after his Jewish friends showed up.  This event is found in Galatians. Paul was very upset about Peter’s behavior.  Listen to what Paul wrote: 11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. 12 When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. 13 As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.

We might call this spiritual pride, but it is pride, no less.  The Jews thought themselves as God’s chosen people being from the lineage of Abraham.  They received the covenant and the promises of God handed down to them. But they missed a very important point.  Why did God choose Abraham?  Quick answer: To be a blessing to all nations.  Jesus’ mission would not stay in Jerusalem!  But it would go to Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.  It was not confined to the Jewish people only.  While these 12 men were chosen to sit at the table with Jesus…their position was not for their own glory or fame.  It would be for the world.  In greater perspective echoing the lines…for God so loved the world.

The disciples were not only arguing over where they were going to sit at the table. They were also arguing over who was the greatest disciple even while they were at the Lord’s table.  Here is how Luke conveys it: Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them. (Luke 22:24).  Luke goes to record what Jesus told them, Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ 26 But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. (Luke 22:24-26)

I mentioned earlier about Jesus taking the form of a slave, washing their dirty feet. He modeled for them and for us, that we come to the Lord’s table without pride.

Please note here, the scripture teaches us to examine ourselves as we come to the Lord’s table.  We come with humble hearts recognizing we are sinners who deserve hell.  But this meal represents the sacrifice of Christ who took our place…Who freely laid down his life… So that we might have life abundant and eternal. Or as Paul put it in 2 Corinthians, 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich (2 Cor 8:9). This is the greatest example of humility that we follow, the One who invites us to His table.  We come to the Lord’s Table without pride.  Let me quickly move on to what I consider the best part!   

Last, WE COME TO THE LORD’S TABLE WITHOUT PESSIMISM    

When the disciples came to eat this meal, it was during the Passover.  It commemorated the Exodus event giving the Hebrews their freedom from Egyptian bondage where they were captives for over 400 years. Think about that for a moment.  That is nearly twice the timespan in the history of our nation.  It was a monumental event in Jewish history. But Jesus transformed this meal into an even greater Exodus. But this new Exodus was not just the Jewish people, but everyone who would come to believe and follow Jesus in the centuries following this event up until our own time and even beyond us!

I find it interesting that this meal is called, “The Last Supper”.  I was more curious about the terminology of the Last Supper.  So I did a little more research. The name “The Last Supper” originates from the traditional Christian interpretation of the event, as described in the gospels. It was the last earthly meal with his disciples…so Christian tradition used the name, “Last Supper”.  But here is the interesting thing…

The term “Last Supper” itself is not found in the New Testament.

I am not sure if the disciples really knew this would be the last earthly meal with Jesus.  Jesus told them he was going to be killed and raised to life on the third day.  This meal would certainly be very sobering for them. During the meal when He took the bread and said…take the bread and eat…this is my body… and then take the cup and drink… This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.  Surely they knew at this pivotal point that their Lord and Master was going to be sacrificed for them and for the world.  It would indeed be their last earthly meal together. But not the last supper they will eat!

You may recall last meals you had with people you love.  I can remember the last meal I had with my father before he died. Cream of Wheat was about all he could eat.   I cannot remember the last meal with my mother before she died. But I can remember the last words they spoke to me and how significant those words were then and still are today!  It was not just what they ate and drank…the bread and wine. But it was what those symbols represented that was most powerful then and now.

I talked a little bit about this last week when I mentioned the story about the woman dying and reminded everyone about keeping your fork because the best is yet to come!

In our humanity it is hard for us to come to last suppers or endings of things that we value or regard as most important or meaningful to us.   Jesus knew that.  But the gospel writes want us to know is that Jesus was very excited to eat this meal because He knew its meaning for them and what it would mean for us today!  Luke reminds us that Jesus was doubly desiring to have this meal!  Surprising since it was the Last Supper.  But hold on to your fork the best is yet to come!   Here is how Luke records it,

14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”  (Luke 22:14-16)

Jesus knew the best was yet to come when this meal would be eaten in the kingdom of heaven! He made that very clear to the disciples when they came to the table.  Perhaps that is why “The Last Supper” terminology is not in the scriptures.  For indeed, this is not the Last Supper. It is simply pointing to a greater supper to come!

So, now we come to the Lord’s Table without pessimism over this being a “Last Supper” or only looking to the past.  We remember Christ’s sacrifice, yes.  But we remember the purpose of Christ’s sacrifice most of all!  And this is why Jesus was eager to eat this meal.  Not as a somber Last Supper but the initiation of a New Covenant, sealed by His blood that would never end.  And when Jesus took that bread and cup in hand, He was looking forward to the glory that was coming.  And that should be the posture of our coming to the Lord’s Table.  We are looking forward to beholding the glory of His coming Kingdom when we share this meal together in heaven!

 Now we come to the Lord’s Table without partiality, without pride and without pessimism, filled with hope and wonder at the inheritance we have that can never perish, spoil or fade (I Peter 1:4).  Hallelujah!