Come to the Table

 This is a sermon that was given at Wayside Community Church near Mercer PA for the Sunday morning worship service in which the sacrament of communion was shared. The sermon is based on some of Paul's words in First Corinthians 10 and shares some comparisons between coming to the table at a family dinner and coming to the Lord's Table. Those who wish to view a video recording of the worship service in which this sermon was preached may click here.

Written Excerpts:

1 Corinthians 10:21 ^(NKJV) You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons.

Introduction:

When the Apostle Paul speaks about the sacrament of communion, he sometimes referred to it as “The Lord’s Table.” Because of his use of the phrase, many preachers and authors have likewise used it when they are speaking about the Lord’s Supper or Communion. I don’t know what thoughts or images may come to your mind when you hear the title of today’s sermon, but the phrase brought a few memories for me.

During my childhood there were times when my mother would finish preparing a meal for our family, and she would signal that fact by saying, “Come to the table.” Mom wasn’t a gourmet cook, but she sure could prepare a feast for her family that included 3 hungry sons. The announcement, “Come to the table,” was not only the signal that the time to eat had arrived, but it was the signal that something delicious was waiting. I don’t know about your house, but the dinner table was also a place where many enjoyable and meaningful conversations took place. – Something that doesn’t happen too much in many homes today.

When Paul talks about the “Lord’s table,” he certainly isn’t referring to a great feast in the literal sense, even though there is evidence that the NT Christians did share a common meal at their celebrations. When he speaks of the “Lord’s table,” he is referring to the bread and the cup which represented the body and blood of Jesus. Today, as we share the sacrament of communion, I want to share a couple of observations about the “Table of the Lord” that I hope will be an encouragement to each one of us.

1. At the table there is provision for all.

I don’t know how it was at your house, or how it was at your grandma’s house, but in my mind, whenever it was time to “come to the table,” I always knew there was going to be enough for everyone in the house. We had some pretty hard times when I was growing up, as I imagine most of us can say. So, there were times when the table wasn’t covered with a huge Thanksgiving-style feast, but whatever the menu included, there was always enough for everyone in the house.

At the table of the Lord, there is room for everyone.

1 John 2:2 ^(NKJV) And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

John 1:29 ^(NKJV) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

John 6:51 ^(NKJV) I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world."

Matthew 26:28 ^(NKJV) For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

All of these references emphasize the truth that Jesus gave himself for the whole world – everyone who has/will ever live. We believe the atonement of Christ is universal. There is provision for everyone. No one needs to be left out.

2. At the table there is both inclusive and exclusive fellowship.

Some Bible teachers have observed that many of Christ's lessons were taught while sharing a meal with his followers and hearers. There is something about sitting down to a meal with others that just draws you closer together. I have drawn an analogy about the fellowship around the table by suggesting it is both inclusive and exclusive. Those who have been invited to “come to the table” are individuals that belong. In some cases, they “belong” because they’re part of the family. In other cases, they “belong” because they have been invited to join the family, even if for a few hours or some limited time. Everyone who has been invited is included in the fellowship around the table. There is something special and unique about that.

Likewise, in the spiritual sense there are many invitations recorded in Scripture. Not all of them have to do with sharing a meal, but Jesus offers a standing invitation for whosoever will, to come unto Him.

Matthew 11:28 ^(KJV) Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Luke 14:17 ^(KJV) And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

Luke 14:23 ^(KJV) And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

Revelation 22:17 ^(NKJV) And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

So, the table of the Lord is inclusive. It is for everyone who will respond to the Lord’s invitation and come to Him for salvation. Paul described it as a communion (fellowship) with the Lord. We are all one body, there is communion/fellowship/participation between each member and there is communion/fellowship/ participation with our Lord.

However, the table of the Lord is also exclusive.

Jesus told a parable and said that the kingdom of heaven is like a king who planned a marriage for his son.

Matthew 22:8-11 ^{(NKJV) 8} Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. ⁹  Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.' ¹⁰ So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. ¹¹ But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment.

In this story, the man who did not have on the wedding garment was cast out of the wedding celebration. Everyone was invited (so it was inclusive), but not everyone was accepted (therefore, it was also exclusive).

The invitation to the Lord’s table is for everyone, but only those who accept His offer of salvation through faith are granted access.

Here is an interesting passage from the book of Isaiah:

Isaiah 65:13 ^(NKJV) Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, My servants shall eat, But you shall be hungry; Behold, My servants shall drink, But you shall be thirsty; Behold, My servants shall rejoice, But you shall be ashamed;

In the context of this verse, the prophet was giving God’s description between those who have deserted Him and resorted to worship of idols and others who have remained faithful to Him. So, the Lord says that He will give food and drink to His servants, but those who have been unfaithful will be turned away.

The Apostle Paul describes another scenario. He addresses the matter of eating food that was offered to an idol. (1 Cor. 10:14-33)

Notice verse 21 ^(NKJV) You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons.

(Leon Morris, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries) – [Paul does] not dispute the contention of the Corinthians that an idol is not a god at all. But he will not agree that therefore idols can safely be treated as nothing more than so many blocks of wood and stone. The demons use people’s readiness to worship idols. Thus, when people sacrifice to idols, it cannot be said that they are engaging in some meaningless or neutral activity... Paul has shown from the usage of both Christians and Jews that to share food is to establish fellowship. Idol worshippers are entering into fellowship with demons…

“… The Lord’s table reminds us that the Lord is the host at the sacrament. By parity of reasoning the table of demons indicates that there may be other hosts. But those who accept the Lord’s invitation cannot in good conscience also accept the invitation of demons. If we are really in fellowship with the Lord, we cannot also be in fellowship with demons… All that Paul is saying is that the Holy Communion, in one aspect, is a feeding at the table of the Lord, an enjoyment of fellowship with him. Similarly, participation in an idol feast means having fellowship with demons….

Paul is saying to the Corinthian Christians, “It is one or the other. You can’t have both. You can’t eat at the Lord’s table and at the table with demons.” Why? Because you cannot have fellowship with both the Lord and with demons. You cannot have two loyalties. You cannot have two masters. The table of the Lord is not a place where you can come and receive the benefits of Christ's sacrifice unless you are willing to forsake all you other idols/loyalties and devotions. There is a standing invitation for everyone, but it excludes those who still want to hold on to the other things that steal our love from Christ.

Conclusion:

A little more than a week ago, Kris and I attended a small conference in KY. In the last session of that conference we gathered around a table and shared the sacrament of communion. The speaker had given a message about the kingdom of God and he came to a point when he mentioned the “full meal” that believers will enjoy at the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb.” He stated however, that there is still work to be done before we get to that supper. Then, as he gestured toward the communion tray of emblems, he said, “Until that time comes, let’s enjoy the appetizer.”

Today, I present to you the Lord’s table not only as a reminder of what Christ accomplished for our redemption and the sacrifice He made, but also as a reminder that this is only a small taste of the great meal we will someday get to share with Christ in person.