The Last Supper April 9th
At the table you just are. You get to just be. It’s a place to receive. A space to make connection. And here tonight you and I bring nothing. We sit and join in. This table was prepared by someone else. Isn’t that why we love dinning out so much. No labor, no dishes just a meal and atmosphere. Psalm 23 says, “You prepare a table before me.” The disciples were told “go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” (Matthew 26:18) Don’t miss the connection there at your house. This year we will all be celebrating the next few holy days in our homes because of Covid 19. And yet it can serve to connect us to the meal Jesus and his disciples shared celebrating in a home.
It’s been prepared. And this fact is true today. Jesus offers a meal to satisfy. Jesus meets our need for real life. He is the meal. I am the bread of life. (John 6:35)
Never hunger again. Never thirst again. Here you are wanted at this table. Sit down eat and with me. There is enough for you here. I am a mom and I love sharing a meal I’ve prepared with my children. Much in the same way God is motivated out of love to bring you to this table. At this table you can rest and just be.
Social media, news reports, and the world’s way of thinking tells us we are not enough, don’t have enough. Jesus doesn’t feed the feelings of lack. Psalm 23 says, “The Lord is my Shepherd I lack nothing.”
Reject the lie, you aren’t enough. It can be hard to see. Just like the wear and tear on a work of art. Sin has diminished the image of God in us. And so we can doubt if we are worthy. Ephesians 2:1-10 is a power cleanse for our thought life tonight.
At our table we play games and eat meals, its a table of joy. Stay with me it will all connect in a minute. Have you ever played “NEVER HAVE I EVER”?
NEVER HAVE I EVER (YOU GUESS IF IT’S TRUE)
NEVER HAVE I EVER been electrocuted
NEVER HAVE I EVER broken a bone
NEVER HAVE I EVER tried to cut my own hair
NEVER HAVE I EVER played rugby
How did you do? Ok, all of them I have done but the rugby.
IF JESUS WAS PLAYING NEVER HAVE I EVER it would go like this
NEVER HAVE I EVER
followed the ways of this world
been dead in my own transgressions and sins
followed the ruler of the kingdom of the air
been disobedient
gratified the cravings of my flesh
followed its desires and thoughts
The hard truth to swallow is all these behaviors make us deserving of wrath. (read it for yourself in Ephesians 2) BUT because of God’s great love for US GOD who is rich in mercy MADE US ALIVE W/CHRIST EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD IN TRANSGRESSIONS!
SO it is by grace you have been saved.
And there is even more (just like the Muslim who fed me in Egypt, when I in my reservations took a small portion of camel) He served me more and said “you must have more you are skinny” God doesn’t just save you HE promotes you. HE offers you life and life more abundant. (John 10:10)
GOD not only made us alive HE HAS raised us up with Christ and seated us with HIM (GOD our Father) in heavenly realms with Christ Jesus to show in ages to come the incomparable riches of his grace expressed in his kindness TO US in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2)
This table is where GOD is forever kind to you.
KNOW THIS FOR IT IS BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH and this is NOT FROM YOURSELVES. IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD, NOT BY WORKS, SO THAT NO ONE CAN BOAST.
And if you sit at this table and have this meal. You will know your worth. You will see the art that you are. You will understand. WE are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.
When you and I rise from the table we do. But not for the same motives as the world. We do it for the pure exhilaration, you know how they say for the love, not for ratings, not for likes, not for self-worth, not for the paycheck, do it for your friend. Do if because there is no other way to live. Jesus said it to Peter after it was all said and done. IF YOU LOVE me feed my sheep. There is no other motivation. You bear his image, its who you are. You are alive and forever awake to your inherent worth. Know if this week has been hard for you, it was a hard week for Jesus, but it ends well. Love Charity
