By Scott Franks
When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I 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.”
After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:14-19).
Jesus commanded us to share Communion, and to think back to his sacrifice for us, as often as we gather. But he also said this meal should prompt us to look forward with eagerness. Jesus was looking forward to fulfillment in the coming kingdom, and he often talked about a future feast. Consider what he said in these two Gospel passages:
“And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Luke 22:29-30).
“I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 8:11).
The Bible’s final book gives us a glimpse of Heaven, where we see a table and a banquet: “Then the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’” (Revelation 19:9).
What does that promise about Heaven? Well, a feast assures us we will be fed, that we will never go hungry, never go without. It also promises togetherness and reunions.
In many homes, the dinner table is the heart of the home; it is where people draw together. Heaven’s table will reunite us as well. Everything that separates us from others right now—distance, busyness, language, pride, death—those are gone at God’s table. We will finally toast a complete victory over sin and death and everything that separates us from God and each other.
So, this Communion is a rehearsal for a meal that will finally become real and perfect in Heaven. Imagine how wonderful that will be.
Scott Franks preaches for the Edgemere Church of Christ (Edgemere.org) in Wichita Falls, Texas. He also contributes weekly devotionals to the 728B site on Facebook.
Author: Christian Standard
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