BROADCASTS.com

When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. \xa0And he said to them, \u201cI have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.\u201d After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, \u201cTake this and divide it among you. \xa0For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.\u201d And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, \u201cThis is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.\u201d\xa0 \xa0In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, \u201cThis cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!\u201d They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this. (Luke 22:14-23)

\xa0

This text is at the heart of our Christian practice.\xa0 It is Jesus\u2019 gift of a ritual act to remind his church of what he was about to accomplish in his death and resurrection.\xa0 Of course, it was not a new act, but a reinterpretation of a much older ritual act: the Passover.\xa0

In that sense, it\u2019s interesting to note that the Passover lamb was not an atoning sacrifice for sin.\xa0 It was a sign of faithfulness to the covenant promises that God had made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.\xa0 It was also a sign of God\u2019s saving action on behalf of his people, saving them from the destroyer (death) and freeing them from their slavery in Egypt.\xa0

We have come to understand Jesus\u2019 work on the cross as setting us free from sin and death too: but again, it is more than that.\xa0 Jesus calls it a new covenant made in his blood: a new relationship established on the firm and unshakable work of Jesus that yes, saves us from our bondage to sin, but that also gives us hope and a future in restored relationship with God and the promise of life with him in his Kingdom.\xa0 Our celebration of the Lord\u2019s Supper should never say less than that we are forgiven our sin, but it should also always say more!\xa0

I\u2019m reminded of Romans when I hear these words again, that \u201cwhile we were still sinners, Christ died for us\u201d (Romans 5:8b).\xa0 The first work that Jesus does is establish a relationship with his disciples: then he saves them.\xa0 The best example of this is Judas sitting at the table with Jesus.\xa0

Jesus knows that Judas is about to betray him and that the devil is already at work within him.\xa0 No matter: Judas is seated at the meal.\xa0 Jesus invites him to the table of fellowship and relationship just as much as the others.\xa0 Jesus does not bar Judas from the table because his conduct is unworthy, sinful, un-understanding, or un-discerning.\xa0 Jesus invites.\xa0 Jesus gives.\xa0 Judas has every opportunity to accept the invitation freely given him.\xa0

I think this fact is one of the best reasons never to refrain from partaking in the Lord\u2019s Supper, contrary to popular belief among many of us.\xa0 Even if you\u2019ve sinned and your life is an unreconciled mess, even if you\u2019ve screwed up, or aren\u2019t in the right head space or heart space\u2014even if you are Judas himself!\u2014even still, Jesus invites you to eat at his table.\xa0 His grace comes first.\xa0 Always.\xa0

While we are still sinners\u2014repentant or unrepentant\u2014Jesus comes to us and seeks to establish his covenant of grace with us: inviting us to repent, respond, and believe again no matter where we\u2019re at or what we\u2019ve done.\xa0 So: do this, in remembrance of him.\xa0 And let his gift of grace awaken, enliven, and even nourish and enable your response of grateful thanks.

\xa0