It’s interesting that Jesus says here, “I have eagerly desired to eat the Passover with you before I suffer.”   One translation reads “with desire I have desired”.

These words would give the understanding that there is true excitement about sharing this meal with the disciples.   It would be like going to meet your children and your grandchildren and spend supper with them.   Or perhaps with an old friend you had not seen in a long time.  Or perhaps going out to your favorite restaurant highly anticipating that event!  Or perhaps you may have a trip planned that you are excited about… We might imagine other instances that create a sense of anticipation for us.  It is evident that Jesus was highly anticipating what would happen at this meal with his disciples.

But, on the surface, his excitement seems quite odd because of the imminent harsh things about to happen to Jesus.  As a matter of fact, those bad things would happen right after this meal.   After all, we call it, The Last Supper, right?  The gospels inform us that this was the last supper that Jesus ate in his earthly life with his disciples.  So, you would think it would be more solemn. Let’s personalize this for a moment.   If you knew tonight would be your last supper on this earth, I don’t think you would get excited about eating your last meal, even if it was at your favorite restaurant with your favorite people in the world.  It would be more like a prisoner eating his last meal before he’s being executed.  You would not anticipate this being a “Happy Meal”.  So, then it raises the question:

Why was Jesus so excited about eating His Last Supper?

As we look across church history it is evident that Jesus knew what this meal would mean not only for his disciples then but for future disciples like you and me today!! So, what does this meal mean for us?  When we take the bread and the cup, what are we thinking?  Or what are we doing?  Or more importantly, what is God saying or what is God doing in this experience?  There are 3 things I want to mention today about the meaning and priority of Holy Communion.

First, this meal, represents the sacrifice of Christ as the only source of our salvation.  Jesus shared the bread representing his body given for us.  He shared the cup representing his blood poured out for us.  Later in the book of 1 Corinthians 11:26, Paul writes, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes again.”   The Greek word used is translated differently in various versions of the bible.  Let me give 2 or 3 different translations:

“You are showing the Lord’s death.”

“You are telling the Lord’s death”.

“You are proclaiming the Lord’s death”

However it is translated, the main idea being portrayed is this meal is centering on the death of Christ and the fuller meaning of Christ’s sacrifice for us.

 There is another incredible part about this. I believe 2000+ years later after his death on the cross, Jesus knew that we would be here today at 5 Rivers Church partaking of this holy meal together.  Jesus knew that through the shedding of his blood, forgiveness of sins would come!  And indeed, it has!   Not only for those disciples at the table in the upper room, but for disciples such as you and me today and for future disciples that are not yet in the church. Holy Communion represents Christ’s body and blood and reminds us that salvation is a gift we could never earn or deserve.  

A few years ago, while I was serving in another location, a visitor came to my door on Saturday morning. I knew he was from another church, and he wasn’t a Jehovah’s Witness or Mormon. He mentioned he was from a local church just visiting through the neighborhood.  He was talking to people about salvation, and he had literature in his hand as he went from door to door.   I talked to him for a moment and then let him know I was an Associate Pastor at one of the local churches.  He went on to relay that in his conversations around the neighborhood he concluded that many people in my denomination believed that they earned their salvation.   He was practicing a form of evangelism that he had been taught. So, people who were willing would respond by giving an indication of how they believed they were saved.  And he further mentioned that nearly every one of the people that called themselves Methodists believed their salvation rested upon or depended on their good deeds or works.   That is, they were saved because they went to church.   They were saved because they attended Sunday School. They were saved because they went to prayer meetings.  They were saved because they gave charitably to people who were in need.  As he was relaying this information, my first thought was that he must be talking about people  who are going to other Methodist churches in town…not the Methodist church where I serve, surely!!   But no, what he said really perplexed me. Here’s the reality.   If our salvation is based on our good works, then why did Jesus die for us?  The whole focus or emphasis on Holy Communion is it points us squarely at the source of our salvation.  It re-represents Christ’s body and blood given for us.  It is all about what Christ had one for us, not what we have done or could ever do to somehow merit or earn our salvation.    The scriptures surely reinforce this great truth.

Ephesians 2:8-9   “It is by grace you have been saved by faith.  And this is not from yourselves.  It is a gift from God, not by works so that no one can boast.”  Or as we sing in the classic hymn, “What can wash away my sins?  Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”  So, we make this meal a priority because it is the centerpiece of our salvation.  This meal represents the sacrifice of Christ as the ultimate and final sacrifice for our sins and the only means of our salvation

Secondly, this meal means that Christ is present with us at this table.

In church history, different church traditions give different understanding as to how Christ is present at the table.  Those in the Catholic tradition teach that the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ.   The technical term is transubstantiation.   In the Lutheran tradition they teach that Christ’s body and blood is mixed in with the elements. It is called consubstantiation.   In our Methodist tradition we believe that Christ is present in a mystical, yet real way.   It’s a little fuzzy language, isn’t it?   It’s unexplainable, yet real.

If you had the opportunity to sit down to supper with anyone in the world, past or present, who would it be?  Some of you are probably thinking “Bear” Bryant or Shug Jordan!   But more seriously…let this sink in to your minds and hearts…

In this Holy Communion…who are we communing with?  We are communing with each other… But most importantly we are communing with Jesus!  Jesus was excited about eating this meal because he knew beyond his suffering and death that He would be raised to life on the 3^rd day.  And when we come to this table, we are not just remembering Jesus’s death.  But I hope we are also remembering that Jesus is the risen Lord.  Even more, He is now present with us through the Holy Spirit in a mystical yet real way.  This is better than sitting at our favorite restaurant with our family and old friends here.  We are communing with the One who was the Co-Creator of the Universe.  We are communing with Jesus who has conquered death and hell!  We are communing with the One who knows us better than we know ourselves and who knows when a sparrow hits the ground.  He knows every need of our lives and our world!   And He is Present at His table with us!

It’s interesting that the word for sacrament is “mysterion” from which we get the word, “mystery.”   What is a mystery?  A mystery is something we cannot quite figure out or understand.  I used to read a lot of mystery books.  Many of us love mystery TV shows and programs or read mystery novels or dramas.   There are games involving mystery trying to figure out who the bad guy is.   I think sports are popular because there is a bit of mystery involved in who will win. When a team is losing will there be a great rally or comeback?  Will there be a rally in the 9th inning?  Will there be a 4th quarter comeback?   Often these events have people sitting on the edge of their seats and wondering in anticipation of what’s going to happen next?   What’s the outcome going to be? But we don’t know…  It’s a mystery still unfolding until the buzzer or horn sounds.

Let’s look at it from another direction. Ok here’s a warmup for Valentines’ Day.   If you are married, how would you describe the way you love your spouse?  As the poet says, “How do I love you?  Let me count the ways.”  Right?  I mean it’s really hard to explain, to define, to describe.   In many ways it is like the popular song, “It’s More Than Words Can Say”.   Or as a parent to your children, how could you describe or define how you love your children?  Or if you have grandchildren, how could you explain or describe your love for them?   Obviously if we really love them, we struggle to define or describe this love we feel.   It’s a mystery, isn’t it?

Jesus related this truth in Matthew 7:11 Jesus said if you being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him.  This means that Christ is present with us at this table and God’s grace is extended to us. But the way God’s grace is extended to us is a mystery that we can’t fully describe or understand.   But we believe that God does meet us at our need.  As a parent, you may know the needs of your children.  As a husband or wife, you may know the needs of your spouse.   As a friend you may know the needs of your friends.  It can be a physical need, financial need, spiritual need or emotional need.  Each of us came with different needs today. Sometimes people have financial needs.  Sometimes they need a hug.   Sometimes they need a word of encouragement.   Sometimes they need discipline and intervention.  So, we reach out in love to meet the person at the point of their need.  I believe that’s what God does with us.  When we come to this table, we’re sitting at the table of the Lord, Jesus Christ.  We’re limited in how we can help other people, even in the good gifts we give them.  But Christ is unlimited.  His love knows no end.   His grace abounds more than we could ever understand or describe or define.  His grace is greater than all our sins.   We come in faith to this table trusting in the sacrifice and in the living presence of Christ to meet us right where we are, whatever our need is.   Do you need forgiveness?  His blood was shed for the forgiveness of your sins.  Do you need assurance?   His love can fill your heart and give you the knowledge and acceptance as a son or daughter of God.  Are you anxious or restless?  His peace can fill your heart!  Are you weighed down with trouble or sorrow?  His spirit can give you rest.   Jesus said, “Come unto me and I will give you rest.”  His grace is sufficient to meet us at the point of our need.  Right here as we commune today with Christ and with each other.  Christ is present at His table, and He mediates grace to meet us at the point of our need.

Third, and lastly, this meal means we’re not just remembering but anticipating a glorious future.  I really believe this is another great reason why Jesus was so excited about eating this meal with his disciples.  Jesus knew this was not His “Last Supper”. He was anticipating the future glory that would come.  The first thing he mentions here if you look at verse 16, “I tell you I will not eat this meal until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.”  Jesus was looking into the future way past the cross, way past his passion and suffering and anticipating eating this meal with his disciples in glory.

He foresaw disciples like you and me and even future disciples who will be in the kingdom of God sharing this meal together.   He repeats it in verse 18, “I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

Let’s go back in biblical history to Moses.  You remember again God revealing his name to Moses at the burning bush experience.  There’s a lot of discussion about God revealing his name. Do you remember what God told Moses?  He said to Moses, “I AM”.  “I Am that I Am”. (Exodus 3:14).   And we’ve come to know that the “I Am” statements mean that God through Jesus is eternally present with us.  Jesus said, “Before Abraham was I Am.” (John 8:58)   He said, “I Am the Resurrection and the Life.  Those who live and believe in me will never die”. (John 11:25) God is the great I Am.  It is God who is with us now, Who was, and is and Who will come. It is God, the “I AM”, Who is eternally present with us forevermore! Alleluia!  He is the One who spoke creation into existence.   He is the One who holds the universe together by the power of his might.   He is the One who entails all human history and knows no beginning and no end.  It’s simply a mystery that we have trouble comprehending… But here’s the thing that’s even more mind blowing.  He’s inviting you to His table!  Now if that doesn’t excite you, we might as well close the doors and go home.   Folks, I have been through this ritual so many times, as have most of you.  And I hope that through our repetition that we do not lose the awe and wonder and the mystery of God’s grace and power as we come to the Lord’s table.

I’ve been excluded from a lot of invitations.  And I have missed a lot of invitations I have regretted. But I don’t want any of us to miss this one. I hope we will all make it a top priority in our Christian lives.  So, come and know: Christ’s body and Christ’s blood given for you for your salvation.  Come and know the Lord of all creation is present here and will give His grace to you.  Come and know that one day we will share this meal together with our loved ones who have died in faith and all the saints in glory, with Jesus at the center of all our celebration!  The great I AM invites you to come.