Come to the Table: Revisioning the Lord's Supper

Top Highlights

“The table is the living presence of Christ. It is a moment when God’s presence in Jesus is experienced and made known. At the table we recognize the victory of the resurrection as we eat and drink in hope. At the table we leave all our ‘Fridays’ behind us and celebrate the victory of Christ on Sunday. The table transforms ‘Friday’ into ‘Sunday.’ Unfortunately, the church still generally practices the supper as if it were still Friday rather than Sunday. But through the supper we celebrate Sunday and God’s victory over Friday. Sunday reinterprets and renews our Fridays. The church should no longer eat on Sunday as if it were Friday.” (source)

“This language, in connection with the Passover context, establishes the covenantal character of this meal.” (source)

“The table must embody the gospel. The table must reflect gospel values and testify to them. In this sense the table proclaims the ‘Lord’s death.’ It proclaims the good news of gospel values. It proclaims how the Lord’s death has broken down all social, racial, and gender barriers. It proclaims the unity of the body of Christ at the table of the Lord that was accomplished by the cross of Jesus. Proclaiming the death of Christ is the good news that the gospel redeems all fallen structures, but when the table reintroduces those fallen structures it denies the gospel.” (source)

“To restore the table is not about restoring a mandated form according to some blueprint. To restore the table is to restore the divine intent and function of the Lord’s supper. Since form shapes function, in order to restore the function of the supper the contemporary church should return to its original form as table. The church must find the meaning of the supper at Jesus’ table. The Lord’s supper must become a real table fellowship if it is to recover its original function.” (source)