The gathering for the Lord’s table is first to remember the Lord. Luke 22:19 says, “Having taken a loaf, when He had given thanks, He broke it, and gave it to them, saying, This is My body which is given for you; do this unto the remembrance of Me. ” First Corinthians 11:25 tells us, “Similarly also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in My blood; this do, as often as you drink it, unto the remembrance of Me. ” The gathering for the Lord’s table is not for anything other than remembering the Lord, with the remembrance of the Lord as its center for the Lord’s enjoyment. Everything in this meeting, whether hymn singing, prayer, Bible reading, or words of inspiration, should take the Lord as the center, speaking either concerning His person and work, His love and virtues, His living or suffering on earth, or His honor and glory in heaven, that others may consider these things in order to remember the Lord Himself. In such a meeting we should think of the Lord in our hearts and behold the Lord in our spirit that we may be inspired concerning Him. Then we shall express our inspiration through songs, prayers, reading of the Bible, or words, so that the feeling of the meeting will be directed to the Lord and that all will remember Him.
At the Lord’s table we remember the Lord by eating the bread, which signifies His body given for His believers ( 1 Cor. 11:24 ), and by drinking the cup, which signifies His blood shed for their sins ( Matt. 26:28 ). The bread denotes life ( John 6:35 ), the life of God, the eternal life, and the cup denotes blessing ( 1 Cor. 10:16 ), which is God Himself as our portion. As sinners, our portion should have been the cup of God’s wrath ( Rev. 14:10 ). But the Lord Jesus drank that cup for us ( John 18:11 ), and His salvation has become our portion, the cup of salvation ( Psa. 116:13 ) that runs over ( Psa. 23:5 ), the content of which is God as our all-inclusive blessing. Such bread and such a cup are the constituents of the Lord’s supper, which is a table, a feast, set up by Him so that we may remember Him by enjoying Him as such a feast. Thus we testify of His rich and marvelous salvation to the entire universe and display His redeeming and life-imparting death ( 1 Cor. 11:26 ).
The Conclusion of the New Testament:
The Church, the Kingdom,
and the New Jerusalem
Message 205 Section 2 (LSM)
In verse one, the table is glorious. The table is glorious for two reasons: firstly, there is a Man, our Host, presiding; this Man was beat, tortured and died; this Man rose and was glorified; this Man ascended and was crowned with glory; this Man will return in glory; this Man of glory, hosting the table, presiding over the table, makes it glorious! Secondly, there is a house, a home. The house is the church of glory, unto Him be glory in the church, the house of the living God. There is also a home, a place of rest for the presiding Man of glory. This home for the glorious Man is individually in the believer's heart, and this home for the glorious Man is the dwelling place, the corporate gathering of His people. What a glorious table that we can partake of!
We sang this song maybe a hundred times at our church’s Lord’s Table meeting over the years. It is still enjoyable to sing and still brings me to a fresh touch with Him. The things in this hymn have been taught to me from my youth.
Why do we celebrate the Lord with the Lord’s table? (The bread and wine). What do you think?
We must be clear this meeting is not a ritual. It does not make us a member of a “church”. It does not make us “special”. The purpose of this meeting is to focus us on Christ and to bring to mind the one true God we worship. Here we can really have a fresh touch with Christ.
1 Cor. 11:24, says “This do in remembrance of me”. This is the key to enjoying the Lord. Christ is our POC with God. The symbols at the Lord’s table all have very great significance, but they are overall intended to focus us on Christ, Specifically His death. The matter of remembrance is crucial. A table is a place to eat and drink. At the beginning of the table meeting (last supper), Christ said “take eat”. This seems emphasized. We must see the picture here. He is the bread of life that came down from heaven. Spiritually to eat is to take His words by faith into our spirit. By eating and drinking (spiritually) we enjoy Him and remember Him as our very life. So the table is to bring us back to enjoy Him. How soon we forget Him! The Table Meeting brings us to Christ as our center and enjoyment. It is truly a spiritual feast. It stirs our highest love and strengthens our faith. It raises Christ up by remembering His self-denying love for us. GOD DIED! That was the conclusion of His shortened suffering human life. His death is the single most important element in our Christian faith. We can live a Christian life because of our faith in Him. Gal 2:20, “… The life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself up (died! ) for me. If He did not die, we could not live. Simply put, if no death no life.
NOW WE NOT ONLY REMEMBER HIS DEATH, (1 Cor:26) WE DECLARE HIS DEATH UNTIL HE RETURNS!
HE AS A MAN IS COMING BACK SOON !!
THE LORD KNEW HE MUST DIE. IT WAS CRUCIAL FOR HIM TO DIE, NOT ONLY FOR OUR REDEMPTION BUT TO IMPART HIS LIFE INTO US. (Rom 5:9) Much more than having been justified by His blood, we are being saved from His wrath. Much more having been reconciled by the death of His son, we are being saved (continual salvation) by His life. If He did not die He could never have given us His resurrection life. Heb 2:9, prophesied in Psalms 8:12. He was made a little lower than the angels because of the suffering of death. Angels are eternal beings that don’t die. God‘s righteousness required blood which speaks of death. No amount of rhodium could pay the cost of our redemption. The cost can not be calculated. Heb 2:7, Psalms 8:5 As a result of His faithfulness The father crowned him with glory and honor. JESUS took the bitter cup for each one of us. Selah. So ultimately we glorify God.
So this meeting (celebration) should result in us giving Him GLORY and HONOR now. Psalms 8:5 David and sawGods blessing and honor on Him knew of this coming Christ He wondered what He saw in man that He would lay down His life for him. Phil. 2:10-11 and Rev 5:12-13 These verses speak to His excellency being recognized by all creation in the future when He returns, but here we give Him BLESSiNG and HONER and GLORY today! What a testimony to all men and principalities and powers!
The table meeting does not make an assembly a church. It should show that this assembly puts Christ first!
Also Reference hymn-Jesus the crucified far above all!
Praise You for encouraging me this morning to come give You praise and honor for being our Father, the Truine God!! For this delicious table to enjoy You with all the saints!