The Lord's Supper

"Do this ..."

In preaching to myself, perhaps it serves to think about those first participants. What were they doing, and why?

It cannot be that any of them had 'earned' a right to be at that Table. What had been their discussion? Who was greatest among them. Did they understand, even vaguely, what the Lord meant, even only a few hours before his cross by "this is my body; this is my blood"? Evidently they did not. So what do we see? Do they say, "Unless I understand, I will not eat" or "until I know I am deserving, I will not drink"? Of course not. They eat, they drink because what was given came from the Master's hand. They do so because he instructs. Is their communion with each other dependent upon their perfect agreement with each other? No, it is in spite of it. For disagreements and separations fall away here. Let each hand pass the bread, the cup to his brother, who is next to him. All that is required is ... that that is his neighbour, whatever he has been to him before, or will be after. For this is the Lord's table, and it has the Lord's purpose:

To remember -  his death for us

"Do this - in remembrance of me"

Here, at this table, we both claim and proclaim it. What? 'The Lord's death'. Oh, but were there not much more noble things to recall? 

What about his amazing compassion, that reached his hand out to the leper? That called children to flock around him, waiting for his blessing? That moved his resolute heart to anger at calloused indifference to suffering in favour of legal 'correctness?

What of his stunning authority that drove demons out and silenced his worst opponents with truths that struck like lightning bolts? That stirred the hearts of his listeners to renewed vision and hope?

What about the power that stilled storms, gave sight to the blind and brought dead men back to life?

Ah, but all of these were

To remind - his love for us

To renew - our anticipation of his return