In 1993 my wife and I began to serve a Church in southern NH. There were very few
people there and the only ones that seemed qualified to function as deacons were men
that had previously retired from the position. I think John was about 84 at the time, but I
asked him if he’d consider coming out of retirement and serve as one of the deacons, at
least until the church grew and others could take the position. John was a very special
person. He was personable, well liked, well versed in the scriptures and willing to serve.
If you got to know him at all and did a little investigating you’d find a fascinating life and
some pretty surprising accomplishments. He came from Sweden, but made a major
breakthrough for the United States military in WWII, and after the war founded and
developed a well known baby furniture company. I think it was 1998 when John turned
90. He was still driving around in His Mercedes, and still faithfully supporting the work of
the ministry at that small church. His daughter-in-law threw a birthday celebration to
mark the milestone and many friends and relatives were invited. As I looked around at
the very large gathering of guests at the party I observed three different classes of
guests. Some were there as acquaintances or friends of the family who knew who John
was but didn’t really know him personally. Their interaction with John was cordial and
courteous, but they came as a formality and didn’t stay long. Then there were many
who would consider John a friend and came to honor John, but I noticed that they spent
most of their time enjoying the food and interacting with one another. They stayed longer
than the acquaintances, but they too began to leave. Finally there was John’s family and
those who knew him well. They spent time talking with John, reminiscing about his life,
sharing special memories, and simply enjoying being there and spending the time with
him. They stayed late and some who had traveled distances shed a tear or too as they
departed.
We gather together today for a special occasion. It’s not a 90th birthday party, but it is
certainly in no way inferior to such an event. The event we commemorate this morning
has been observed far more than any other celebration on our calendar. In fact all over
this planet today there are groups of people who call themselves Christians who will
take a piece of bread and a cup of juice or wine and as they eat and drink they will
remember the Lord Jesus. That is what HE intended. Though the elements are
inextricably linked with His suffering and death, as He ate that last supper with His
disciples He was still very much alive, and His instruction was, “do this in remembrance
of ME”. Our gathering at the Lord’s Table is not just a ritual or formality, not just an
occasion for fellowship with other believers, nor is it an abbreviated good Friday service,
but rather it is intended to move us to focus our attention, to engage our senses, and to
remember the Lord Jesus. It is about Him.
It is the custom in this church fellowship to celebrate the Lords Table on the first
Sunday of each month. How do you view this practice? Way down deep in the most
private thoughts that you think, how do you honestly feel about this monthly sacrament?
I suspect that there may well be three classes of people at this celebration, three
classes very much like those at Johns birthday party.
1. First I suspect that may be some who see the Lord’s Table as little more than a
formality. You may know some stories about Jesus, you believe He was a good person,
you believe in God, you embrace some of the ideologies of Christianity, and you go
through the motions of eating the bread and drinking the cup, but you see it as just a
religious ritual, and you wish it didn’t take quite so long. You’re like the acquaintance at
John’s party. You’ve never really developed a relationship with the Lord Jesus. I think
it’s possible that someone can grow up in a Christian home, learn how Christians talk
and act and think, go to church, sing the songs and go through all the motions, and yet
never really possess a relationship with Christ.
Jesus predicted as much. IN Matthew 13:24-30...
Think about Judas. He was considered by everyone to be one of Jesus disciples. He
even seems to be included in those who had evangelistic successes, but all the while he
was treasurer for Jesus and the disciples, he was embezzeling. It is questionable that
he was even at the last supper, and we know the end of his story. He might have looked
like a Christian for a while, but he never really had a relationship with Jesus.
Then there is Saul before he met the Lord on the road to Damascus. We’re told that
he was zealous for God, but when the Lord spoke to him he said, who are you Lord?
In Matt.7 Jesus said, Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into
the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many
will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy
name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will
I profess unto them, I never knew you...
The Lord’s table is intended for those who know the Lord, those who have a
relationship with Him. It is with the elements in hand that we are to remember Him, to
reflect on Him, to celebrate Him. Paul warns, Let a man first examine himself and then
eat the bread and drink the cup. Later Paul writes, “Examine yourselves as to whether
you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you... know... that Jesus Christ is in you?”
Friend, do you really know the Lord Jesus? or are you like the acquaintances at
Johns Party who were cordial and courteous but because you don’t really have a
relationship you’d prefer to leave early.
II> The second group at Johns party were those who would consider John a friend and
came to honor his day, but they spent most of their time enjoying the food and
interacting with one another.
It’s a great thing to gather here and interact with one another, to share a coffee
together, and to catch up on the events of the week. We enjoy a special kinship
because of the Lord Jesus. He has made us blood relatives. We are those who can say
with the Apostle John, “And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us
an understanding, that we may know Him who is true...” But let me ask you a question.
On these Sundays when we gather around the Lord’s Table do you take the opportunity
to shut everything and everyone out for a few minutes to interact with the Lord Jesus, or
do you take the elements with little thought, anticipating lunch with friends or planning
your week, or determining to take a tape of the sermon to a shut in.
Luke 10:38-42...
There is a time to be busy serving the Lord but there is also a time when we should
take the opportunity to do as Mary did, to sit at Jesus feet and listen to His Word, to
commune with Him
Sometimes it’s not busyness that keeps us from remember the Lord. It could be
complacency. Like the man who was asked what his wife’s favorite meal was and he
says t-bone steak. She corrects him and says fish. Why didn’t he know the right
answer? The reason may be learned from her answer. It used to be my favorite, but
since I got these dentures I can’t chew it any more. What happened? The couple had
been married for 40 years. When they were first married it was important to know each
others likes and dislikes for they wanted to please one another. But a complacency crept
into the relationship. They began to take each other for granted and in the process the
changes that years force on us went unnoticed. Now 40 yrs after the honeymoon, there
was a need to get to know each other all over again.
How long have you know God? Has your relationship with Him remained as it was
when you first met Him? Or has your relationship deepened and developed? Are His
expectations of you the same today as they were when you first met Him or have His
expectations changed for you? Do you know? Are there things that He overlooked early
in your relationship that He’s asked you to change? Have you changed them? Do you
still thank Him for your meals with the same words that you used a year ago, 5 years
ago, 10 yrs ago? Have you learned what things are important to Him? What he likes?
what He dislike? Do you know the things that touch His heart, or the things that grieve
His heart?
I believe that one of the reasons Jesus provided this time of remembrance was to
encourage us to keep our relationship with Him fresh. He says, “As often as you eat this
bread and drink this cup Remember Me”
There are probably many other reasons that we are tempted to hurry thoughtlessly
through the Lords table, but allow me to propose one more. You may profess to be a
Christian. You may be able to quote some verses of scripture. You may be able to give
anyone who asks some basics about what you believe. You may even help in some
facet of the churches ministry. But somewhere in the development of your relationship
with the Lord you drew a line that said you can have this much of me, but no more. I like
our relationship the way it is, I am not interested in knowing you any better. We are
friends-lets keep it there.
If I claimed to be your friend and said I’m not interested in knowing you any better
what would you think of our relationship? A friendship not growing is a friendship dying.
May I encourage you to deal with the issue that caused you to draw the line in your
relationship with Him? And before you take the elements of the Lords table today would
you follow the prescription of 1 Cor 11: “...let a man examine himself, and so let him eat
of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks... eats and drinks
judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
III> The third group of people at John party were those who knew John well. They spent
time talking with John, reminiscing about his life, sharing special memories, and simply
savoring the time they were able to spend with him. That’s a part of what should be
taking place at the Lord’s Table. Jesus said “As often as you eat this bread and drink
this cup Remember Me”
Do you remember when He first spoke to your heart? Do you remember the joy of a
new relationship with Him? Remember what He went through so you could have that
relationship with Him? Do you remember the time you broke His heart, but how He
didn’t turn His back on you...He remained faithful to you? Remember when you were
reading the Bible and all of a sudden you knew that He was speaking directly to you!
Remember how your heart leaped inside your chest as you sensed His presence? And,
oh yea, Remember that room in your heart that you didn’t want Him going into, and how
it began to smell real bad, and how He offered to clean it up if you’d just give Him the
keys to the room? He sure made a difference there didn’t he? Do you recall how
patient He was when you went for almost 6 months without ever calling him once, and
how readily the relationship was renewed when you said you were sorry? And that time
things were really tough and out of the blue you received that gift of money. That was
Him. A then there was the time that the Pastor asked you to do that really hard thing for
church ministry, and you were surprised to find out that you actually liked it...that was
because of the gift Jesus gave you. I think He really enjoyed seeing you open that gift
and begin to use it. Think about the joys of life as well as the tough times, and
remember how He’s always been there, how He has never left you or forsaken you.
Remember Me he says. As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup remember ME.
Now, to which group of people do you belong? In the deepest part of your heart, you
know which it is. If you have seen communion as a formality, a religious rite, let me
remind you that the Lord intended that it be a very personal, very intimate time of
fellowship with Him. If you do not know Him personally, it would be better for you to
refrain from taking the elements. However, the Lord Jesus would prefer that you know
Him personally. He would like to be your closest friend. He would like to forgive your sin
and give you a new nature on the inside. If you’ve been trusting your efforts to be a
good Christian you need to know that it is not enough. You need to trust the Lord Jesus.
Tell Him, even right now from your heart, I’ve been trying to be a Christian, but I really
don’t know you. Will you forgive me for trying to do things my way. Right now I put my
life in your hands. If you make that choice, then you should take these elements this
morning, and for the first time know the intimacy of a relationship with the Lord Jesus.
If you belong to the second group, I’d simply say to you what Jesus said to Martha.
You’ve been concerned about many things, but Mary has chosen what is better. Sit at
his feet. Listen to Him. Focus your attention on Him this morning and Remember Him.
And if you have been remembering Him as you celebrate the Lord’s Table, savor the
moments, reminisce, rejoice in the occasion.
