THE LORD’S TABLE—RELATIONSHIP

By Nigel Tomes

“Familiarity breeds contempt” says the old proverb. If we’re not vigilant this saying can apply to our observance of the Lord’s Table. It’s possible for long-standing Christians to find communion has become a routine, meaningless, ceremony. We may lose the freshness that should accompany our remembrance of Him. Perhaps a remedy can come from “placing ourselves in the disciples’ shoes (or sandals!)” Let’s try to envision what it meant to them when the Lord’s Table was first established during the “Last Supper” in the upper room in Jerusalem.

Jesus Departs from the Script

No doubt the 12 disciples were familiar with the Passover celebration. As devout Jews they would have observed the Passover year-by-year, from their youth. Luke tells us Jesus’ “parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.” (Luke 2:41) Probably the disciples also went regularly. They went again with Jesus on His final visit to Jerusalem at Passover. Now, at the “Last Supper,” Jesus led the disciples step-by-step through the Passover program (Luke 22:14-18). Yet suddenly, without warning, Jesus departed from the well-worn script. “He took the bread” (22:19), but instead of talking about the bread of their forefathers’ affliction in Egypt, Jesus said, “This is My body…given for you.” Then He took the cup (22:20), but rather than uttering a blessing, Jesus declared, “This cup…is the new covenant in my blood.” Jesus’ radical departure from the Passover script must have shocked the disciples. What was their impression? How did they understand Jesus’ declarations? What response did they feel Jesus was seeking?

Jewish Cup of Proposal—Marriage Covenant

Recently I found several articles relating Jesus’ reference to the “cup of the new covenant” to the Jewish practice of marriage proposal. Several authors talk about the “cup of proposal” when a young groom proposed marriage to his perspective bride. A link between marriage and Jesus’ “new covenant” is consistent with the Bible’s view of marriage as a covenant (Malachi 2:14). For example; Debi Thompson writes:

“In Old Testament times…it was the father’s duty to find a wife for his son. The groom and his father would visit the bride and her father to negotiate the bride price…The price was usually high. This whole time [of negotiation], the young woman said nothing. When the arrangement was agreed upon, the man’s father poured a cup of wine and gave it to his son. The young man would then offer the cup [to the young woman] and say, ‘This cup is the covenant in my blood, which I offer you.’ In other words, ‘I will give you my life. Will you marry me?’

The young woman had a choice. She could take the cup and return it to the father, meaning the answer was ‘no,’ or she could take the cup and drink from it. If she did the couple would be betrothed.

The words of the young man are familiar to us. At the Lord’s Last Supper, the disciples were celebrating the Passover just the way they had all their lives. As Jesus took the cup of wine, they expected Him to say the traditional blessing…But He added something very unexpected. ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is being poured out for you’ (Luke 22:20). What was He saying? In common language, ‘I love you…I’m offering you the cup.’…The groom was promising to give His life for them. In a sense, we’re betrothed to Christ, waiting for the wedding feast.” [Debi Thompson, “Here Comes the Bride…But, is she ready?” pp. 34-35.]

Jesus calls us into Relationship

Jesus’ words establishing the Lord’s Table (communion) might have sounded foreign to His disciples within the Passover program. But, perhaps they weren’t totally foreign. The disciples might have discerned echoes of the Jewish marriage proposal. Instead of the engagement ring we offer (or promise) our beloved when we propose marriage, ancient Jews offered the cup of proposal. Offering this cup of wine meant “I want a life-long relationship with you.” The girl’s taking and drinking the cup meant she was saying “yes.” Likewise, when we receive the cup at the Lord’s Table, we are saying “Yes” to the Lord, “Yes” to a relationship with Him. We’re telling the Lord, “Yes, I take Your sacrifice at the cross. I take Your blood for my forgiveness. I’m glad You have saved me and come into my life…Yes, Lord I take You!” In this way we’re renew our relationship with the Lord. Observing the Lord’s Table with this realization strengthens our relationship with Him.