Participation at the Lord’s Table is not independent or theoretical; we’re playing with live bread, so to speak (Jesus did say, “I am the living bread” John 6:51). Our communion is a privilege, it is something to anticipate, it is something to celebrate.
We welcome eight new souls to share the supper today. They were baptized last Sunday evening. As they have confessed with their mouths that Jesus is Lord and believed in their hearts that God raised Him from the dead, so they share communion with the saints, eating Christ’s body and drinking Christ’s blood by faith (John 6:47, 54). The water has marked their identity, now the table fellowship feeds their identity as those who have eternal life and will be raised on the last day.
“The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.” (1 Corinthians 10:16b-17) “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16a)
Paul reminded the Corinthians of the truth and focus of their faith. We look to Christ. This table reminds us not to depend on idols of any kind, including the idol of our ignorance or the idol of our own self-righteousness. We provoke the Lord to jealousy by going to other tables, feeding on other food. We give Him glory by receiving His strength, resting on His Son as our Stone, abiding in Him for our lives.