My coworker favored a particular restaurant near where she grew up in Argentina. On the menu was written, “Expect to wait at least 45 minutes for your food to arrive.”
The chef didn’t dice a single onion or pre-mix anything until he received an order. He made every dish from scratch. “I know it sounds silly,” my coworker recalled, “but when I ate his food, I felt happy.”
I prepared to enjoy many special dinners over the years, choosing pants with an elasticated waistband, eating lightly throughout the day to stay hungry: Even though I wasn’t cooking, I got ready. Now imagine getting ready to approach the Lord’s Table.
Getting Ready for Supper
Luke 22:7-38 describes what happened at the Last Supper — who was there, what they said, and did. We don’t know exactly what Jesus ate, and there are plenty of academic arguments over the sort of Passover meal he might have consumed.
But there was a dinner, and it’s one which Christians remember when they take part in Communion.
The disciples had been getting ready for this dinner for three years without knowing it, even though their hearts were still troubled, and their minds confused. They didn’t realize what was going to happen next.
We as Christians are also preparing every day for the banquet described in Revelation: “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9).
Like the disciples, we don’t know what circumstances will arise tomorrow: Sickness or success; grief or laughter.
We prepare for anything that might happen by walking in God’s statutes (Leviticus 18:4), studying, praying, and submitting to his will for our lives with joy and thanksgiving.
We have been taught to regularly examine our hearts, our sins. Do we love the Lord? If so, how do we show it, and in what ways are we rebelling against him even now?
This is all part of living out our faith, getting ready to meet him with an account of what we did with the gifts he gave us, and this preparation helps us to experience peace when life isn’t peaceful.
A Fresh Approach
There is an ongoing, wide-lens kind of preparation and a more specific type. When it comes to communion, we prepare in a very specific way. Pulling out a memorized verse, set aside for just such an occasion, isn’t good enough.
Ritualized, thoughtless prayer can lead us into the temptation to view grace cheaply. Although the Lord’s Prayer has the potential to lead us into deep and meaningful communion with God, it’s also possible to say it without thinking or feeling anything at all.
Careless prayers lose their flavor. “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:27).
If I was visiting my mother, I would take great care over my appearance and select something to bring her which suited her tastes and preferences: Her favorite chocolates or a potted plant. As her daughter, I know what she likes and doesn’t like so this is an opportunity to make a thoughtful offering.
My challenge, personally, is to get ready to approach my Father in a thought-filled manner bearing the gift of repentance. It’s easy to revert to religious observance, which puts Communion on par with changing my socks.
But to come before the Lord in a manner worthy of my Savior, I have to look at my heart, straighten out my attitude, and let him do a work in my life. That might sound like a terrible present to bring your Father, but it’s exactly what he wants — true repentance.
Paul said, “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup” (1 Corinthians 11:28). He wants authentic worship, deep, deep love, and honest repentance of sin.
What Is Communion?
This brings us to the “why” of communion. Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). Also, communion is communal, something we take part in with others. Communion is an offering and a gift of remembrance, of repentance, and of rest.
Remembering: Christ willingly gave us his all, his shed blood.
Repentance: The least I can do in honor of this fact is to offer him my best; my real heart, ready for refinement.
Rest: Once I do this, I can rest in the knowledge that although he knows I’m a sinner, Jesus welcomes my repentance, and he can change my heart.
Implied in the act of communion is this longing to be changed. Communion is a meaningless, ritualized act when we aren’t interested in real heart transformation or personal devotion to our living God.
Relative to that homemade dinner created from scratch, this slack kind of worship is no worship at all — just a can of condensed soup. We need to put our hearts into it and approach the throne of grace with fear, trembling, anticipation, and joy.
But starting with remembrance inspires hard hearts to soften towards repentance. As for rest, the Holy Spirit will bring rest if we allow God to restore peace with his forgiveness. In fact, this is essential. We must accept that gift.
How would the chef at my friend’s restaurant in Argentina feel if we did not accept his best effort? What if guests said, “Don’t work so hard; save time, cut corners. We’d be fine if you used canned goods once in a while.” That would be a slap in the face. His cooking is an act of love.
Jesus’ shed blood for our sakes is payment for the forgiveness we need so that we can have a relationship with God again; a payment already made in full. It’s no good saying “that’s too much” and asking him to take it back in exchange for something less expensive.
A Bittersweet Flavor
The hard part about repentance is admitting we have sinned. We invite God, like the Psalmist, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!” (Psalm 139:23). What will he reveal? How will our hearts be convicted? Who, being totally honest, loves to have their sins pointed out to them?
If we aren’t willing to face our sin, however, we cannot repent. If we are unable to repent, we miss out on the opportunity to commune with the Lord and abide in him. To rest. That barrier between us and God becomes unrest in our hearts. There’s no peace, we’re unsettled.
At first, as we turn it over in our mouths, the flavor of acknowledged sin is bitter. But as we prepare our hearts to take part in the elements, we realize that this is what Christ died for and which, by his resurrection power, we are released from.
And that’s sweet, sweet news. Of course, the ingredients taste weird, even horrible, when taken in isolation. Together, however, they provide us with the most satisfying sustenance possible.
Preparing the Table: A Prayer
“The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16). God, we want to always remember your gracious gift and to take part in the relationship you have offered us.
Our honest offering of repentance seems so paltry a return for your grace, and yet you repay our poverty with forgiveness and fullness of life in your Son.
Help us to treasure these gifts and to keep coming to your table with an honest desire to change our hearts. We are grateful for the chance to experience your grace and mercy anew without shame.
We wish to prepare our offering so that it reflects our love genuinely, thoughtfully. In your Son’s name, Amen.
For further reading:
What Is the Marriage Supper of the Lamb?
Growing Your Appetite for the Lord’s Supper
What Ordinances Should the Church Keep?
What Is Manna and its Significance in Scripture?
Why Is Jesus Called the ‘Bread of Life’?
Is There a Prayer for Repentance?
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