The Lord’s Table
The Holy Spirit shows us in Scripture how Jesus got hungry, thirsty, tired, angry, grieved and joyful. In Luke 22 we read that Jesus “earnestly desired” to eat the Passover meal with His disciples. He longed for it, He looked forward to it with strong emotions. He invited them to the most meaningful meal of their lives, one they would never forget. The meal didn’t fully make sense to them until after His death and resurrection, but then it became so central to their lives that we are still celebrating it as a Church almost two thousand years later.
We are invited to His table, to Jesus’ last supper with the same joy with which Jesus invited His first disciples. He calls us to come and remember Him in the same way as His disciples have done for thousands of years. The simple meal is one way in which we declare what we believe by what we do. In sharing this meal we tell the world that we are not ashamed of Jesus and what He’s done for us. We praise God through the sharing of the bread and grape juice and reflect on what they represent. We look forward to sharing this meal with Him in His Kingdom, knowing that the one who gave His body and blood for us, will raise our body from the grave, just as He’s promised.
Scripture Reading
Luke 22:13-20 ESV And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. 14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, and 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 in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
Bible Study Questions
What do Jesus’ words in Luke 22:14 tell us about Him, about His invitation to the disciples to share the Passover with them, and therefore His love and invitation to us?
How does Jesus connect the Passover and the Old Covenant with the Lord’s Table? (Luke 22:20)
Do you believe that God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. That we all like sheep have gone astray and that God has laid on Jesus Christ the iniquities of us all, and that we therefore, having been justified by faith in His blood, shall be saved by Him from the wrath of God. (Romans 5:8-9, Isaiah 53:5-6)
Do you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that He died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas (Peter) and then to the twelve. (Romans 10:9, 1 Corinthians 15:3-6)
Do you believe that the Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, and that He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you? (Romans 8:11)
Do you believe that it is by grace you have been saved through faith. And that this is not your own doing; but is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
What does God promise to those who are in the New Covenant by faith in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 8:10-12)
Prayer
Dear Father God Almighty, Thank You for loving us by giving us Your Only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not die, but have eternal life. Thank You for taking our sin and shame, and putting and end to it by the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank You for raising Him from the dead to show the world that Your word is true and Your promises are sure. Thank You that we will eat and drink with You, in the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ Your Son. Please forgive our sins Father, and wash away our shame, raise us to love and obey You and share Your love with all of creation. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Worship
Man of sorrows, Lamb of God
By His own betrayed
The sin of man and wrath of God
Has been on Jesus laid
Silent as He stood accused
Beaten, mocked, and scorned
Bowing to the Father's will
He took a crown of thorns
Oh, that rugged cross, my salvation
Where Your love poured out over me
Now my soul cries out, "Hallelujah"
"Praise and honour unto Thee"
Sent of heaven God's own Son
To purchase and redeem
And reconcile the very ones
Who nailed Him to that tree
Now my debt is paid
It is paid in full
By the precious blood
That my Jesus spilled
Now the curse of sin
Has no hold on me
Whom the Son sets free
Oh, is free indeed
See the stone is rolled away
Behold the empty tomb
Hallelujah, God be praised
He's risen from the grave
Oh, that rugged cross my salvation
Where Your love poured out over me
Now my soul cries out, "Hallelujah"
"Praise and honour unto Thee"
Service
The Lord Jesus commands us to break bread and drink grape juice “as often as you do, in remembrance of me”. Next time you invite Christian friends for a meal, think and pray about taking time to read Scripture and pray with them, and even to break bread with them in your home. We are called to do this in remembrance of Him - with Holy reverence, praising Him for what He’s done for us.