Some thoughts about the Lord’s Supper

       Several years ago, my wife pointed out that if there is someone we appreciate, one of the first things we want to do is sit down and eat with them (or at least have coffee and a donut with them).

        Back in Genesis 18, three men showed up at Abraham’s tent door and his big concern was to get a meal for them. Joseph, in Egypt, brought his unknowing brothers to his house and said, “They are to eat with me at noon.” Gen. 43:16.

        Turning to the New Testament, one of the nastiest insults is that inflicted by those people who were invited to the king’s dinner and made excuses or just never showed up. Matt.22:5.

        Then Luke tells of a Pharisee who wanted to honour Jesus. What did he do? He “invited him to eat with him.” Luke 11:37.

        Jesus had often eaten with his followers but what was his heart’s desire in the upper room? “Eat with me!” It was kind of a graduation banquet cum farewell dinner. It was so important to him that he projected it down the ages, even to us— “Do this in remembrance of me.”

1 Cor.11:24.

        This was the “last supper”, but it was also the first “Lord’s Supper” or “Breaking of Bread”. These men were his friends, but he was also setting a precedent for believers to follow until he returns.

        After the resurrection, Jesus walked to Emmaus with two disciples and what did they ask— “Eat with us!” Also about this time, Jesus ate in front of his disciples to prove he wasn’t a ghost. Later, by the Sea of Galilee, he prepared the meal for them and again, his invitation was “Come and have breakfast.” John 21:12.

        Another classic example would be Revelation 3:20, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Remember Holman Hunt’s painting of Christ standing at the door and knocking. Also remember that, when someone complained that there was no handle on the door, Hunt said, “The only handle is on the inside.”

       So, the burden is on us. He won’t save us against our will and, equally, he won’t force us to “remember him” and attend the Lord’s Supper. It is our choice. But always remember this too— “We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19.