GodReflection: Six Jesus Markers To Be More Like Him.
All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer (Acts 2:42).
The family table is a rich and blessed gift missed by countless millions across our world. In contrast I was given the unmerited gift to be raised by godly parents. One result of that gift is that I have warm memories of mealtimes around our family table.
To get our attention as we settled into our place, dad would break in with the words “let’s pray”. We knew to bow our heads as he began with his familiar mealtime prayer, “Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for this food and all other blessings. In Jesus name, Amen”.
We would then fill our plates with food previously prepared by mom in the kitchen. It was not a gourmet meal, but we never left the family table hungry.
With our family of six, plus whoever might drop by, or came home with us from Sunday church, conversation buzzed across and around the table. News and stories of the day filled our minds as mom’s food filled our stomachs.
Over the years both Scripture and history have drawn me to believe that the family table is not too far from the picture of what we have come to call the Lord’s Supper.
We might note that Luke in his Acts 2:42 history cited above makes no distinction between the ‘Lord’s Supper’ and the ‘sharing of meals’. Both were done around the table. Both were meals where food was shared.
Certainly, the Christians of Luke’s day would be surprised—should they even make the connection—from the pinch of cracker and tiny sip of grape juice, many of us use to celebrate the Lord’s last meal prior to his crucifixion. Listen to Paul’s description of the supper.
For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it.
Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.”
For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
The supper to Jesus was a meal. When he sent his disciples to locate the upper room and prepare the Passover Meal Jesus was not in need of a place where they could have a sip of grape juice and a pinch of cracker.
Most likely the Last Super meal included lamb, eggs, soup, perhaps brisket, dried fruit, fish, beets, carrots, wine, and unleavened bread. Other foods were known to be used by Jewish Galileans in the first century.
However, the possible variety of table food for the meal is not what makes His Supper—A Marker of Community and Fellowship.
That fellowship and community is the outgrowth of people who meet Jesus. In utter amazement of his willingness to die, to save the likes of each of us gathered around the table, what better way to share our gratitude than gather to share His Supper As A Marker of Community and Fellowship.
Anytime first century Christians meet at the table community and fellowship is present. Most likely, during the 1st century, supper was the main meal of the day. May we as his 21st century disciples never forget that when we are at the table it is a time to give high value to His Supper—A Marker of Community and Fellowship.
Stay tuned.
Gary J. Sorrells
A GodReflection on His Supper—A Marker Of Community And Fellowship.
God Reflection 