Come to the Table

Luke 22:1-53

As Jesus gathers with his disciples for the last time he must have been filled with mixed emotions. He knew the time had come to go to to cross, he knew God's plan was about to be fulfilled, but he also knew this was the last time he would have with the disciples. As they gathered together Jesus offered last minute words of wisdom and instruction (see John 13-17 for the extended version). He specifically tells the disciples to remember him by celebrating what we today call holy communion.

Then he took a loaf of 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.”²⁰And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. Luke 22:19-20

Jesus knew how difficult the life of faith would be.  For the disciples this would mean hardship, persecution,and martyrdom.  Jesus commands them and us to remember him by coming to the table. We come to the table to remember all the Jesus has done for us, we come to be fed with the bread of life, we come to be filled with the presence of Christ.  We come to the table as individuals but we leave united as God's people.  Through Christ we receive our salvation and it is at the table the we receive a tangible sign of God's amazing love and grace. 

Jesus knew we would need to come to the table. Jesus also knew that not everyone at the table was faithful, that his betrayer was also seated among the faithful.

"But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table.²²  For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!”²³Then they began to ask one another, which one of them it could be who would do this. Luke 22:21-23

Judas is at the table.  Jesus knows he has already betrayed him but he does not exclude him from the last supper.  This is important for us to understand. We are not required to be perfect to come to the table. We are not required to even be faithful.  Jesus allows Judas to come and receive.  This is good news for us.  We are called to the table regardless of who we are or what we have done. We are called to the table to receive God's grace and forgiveness. For the Judas in each of us, this is good news.