What is the Lord’s Table?

I’ve been sort of mulling over these few points recently and thought they would make a good follow-up to my last post. Really I had the fifth of these points in mind while I worked on that post. It really centered on expectation and how that ties Advent to the Lord’s table (or at least should!).

So what is the Lord’s table all about? Well there are really only a few key passages that come to mind for any sort of biblical understanding of the Lord’s table (which, in the Bible, is also called the Lord’s supper, although each term conveys its own slight nuance). On the one hand, there are the accounts recorded in the Gospels of the establishing of this meal (Matt. 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:19-20). On the other hand, there is Paul’s recounting and teaching on it in the Epistles (1 Cor. 10:16-17; 11:23-34).

These scant references (plus one other) really bring out six main points that make explaining what the Lord’s table is to someone very simple.

Six Aspects of the Lord’s Table

1) Celebration

This is the day that Jehovah has made; let us exult and rejoice in it. –Psa. 118:24

2) Recollection

And He took a loaf and gave thanks, and He broke it and gave it to them, saying, This is My body which is being given for you; do this in remembrance of Me. –Luke 22:19

3) Declaration

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you declare the Lord’s death until He comes. –1 Cor. 11:26

4) Participation

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the fellowship of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the fellowship of the body of Christ? –1 Cor. 10:16

5) Anticipation

But I say to you, I shall by no means drink of this product of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in the kingdom of My Father. –Matt. 26:29

6) Adoration

And after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. –Matt. 26:30