Hidden In Unconditional Acceptance
Sermon
The Christ Who Is Hidden
Sermons For The Lord's Supper
Several years ago a friend of mine went into a restaurant in Texas. As he looked over the menu, he noticed that the waiter and the cashier were talking to each other, and the waiter was pointing in his direction. It seemed like forever before the waiter finally came, stood by his table, and rudely told my friend that 'his kind' would not be served. The waiter finished by telling him that he would have to leave. My friend is Mexican-American.
Something of the same mood comes over most of us when we approach the Lord's table. As we kneel at the altar, we wonder whether we are doing the right thing by coming to the table of the Lord. We worry about whether we are worthy to receive the supper of the Lord, and whether we are welcome at the table.
As we kneel at the altar, if we are honest, out of the corner of our eye we look to see if anyone is staring at us. Taking the bread and the cup in our hands, we can think of a dozen reasons why we are unworthy to receive these gifts of God. There is a sense of uneasiness and guilt as we kneel at the altar. One by one we remember the promises we made to God and have broken. We are not sure if we are welcome at this table that belongs to the Lord.
Somewhere in our childhood these words from Paul were spoken by a preacher as a warning. Writing to Corinth, Paul says, 'For he who eats and drinks brings judgment on himself if he does not discern the body (vs. 29).' These words still do not bring us much comfort when we hear them. And we wonder… 'Am I welcome at this table?'
To fully understand these words of Paul, we must look closer at the situation he is concerned about in the church at Corinth. We know that in the early church the believers gathered each evening to remember what Jesus did on the cross for their sins. The gathering began with what is called an 'agape meal.' More or less, it was a kind of potluck supper. It was not exactly like a potluck supper. In a potluck supper, everyone puts the food together, and everyone eats from all the food. But here each person was eating what he or she brought. At the close of the meal, the Lord's supper was reenacted. In fact, part of the bread and wine brought for the ‘‘agape meal'' was set aside at the beginning of the gathering, to be used in the celebration of the Lord's supper.
It was during the 'agape meal' that these Christians were having problems. Those who came early were eating and drinking everything up. When the late-comers -- usually the slaves and the poor, who had nothing to bring -- arrived, they found nothing to eat or drink. 'When you meet together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal, and one is hungry and another is drunk,' says Paul (vss. 20-21).
Paul is pointing out that they were contradicting themselves, i.e., making liars out of themselves with their actions. They were gathered in Christ's name, but were not acting very Christlike. Around the table of the Lord, we are all brothers and sisters. Consideration and concern should describe the way we relate to each other. They had eaten and drunk up everything, not caring whether the late-comers -- their brothers and sisters, too -- had anything to eat or drink. Therefore, when they ate and drank the Lord's supper, they were doing so in an unworthy manner because of their inconsiderate actions during the 'agape meal.'
'For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself,' says the Bible (vs. 29). The emphasis of this verse is the word 'body.' The body being emphasized is the 'Body of Christ' -- the church, the gathering of brothers and sisters who believe in Christ. The Lord's supper pictures for us that Christ died for all of us. The rich and poor alike are loved by Jesus the Christ. As we kneel around his table, we know his salvation to be for all persons, regardless of position in life. Every person -- in spite of position -- is important to the Christ; thus, as Christians, we are called to show each other the same consideration we would give to the Christ.
According to Matthew, when Jesus sat with the 12 in the upper room at the table, he warned, 'One of you will betray me (26:21).' Of course, he was speaking of Judas Iscariot. But his words caused the disciples to feel both shame and fear. One after the other, each disciple questioned, 'Can you mean me, Lord?' Each disciple felt that Jesus was speaking to and about him.
We, too, feel uneasy with these words, because we know they were meant not just for Judas, but for each of us. We all know how we have betrayed him, particularly in our relationships with others. We all have sold him out in one way or the other. We have not been the best representatives of Christ.
Let's think about this for a moment. Let's think about some ways we are inconsiderate of the needs of others in the church. We could remember how we related to John and Mary. Mary grew up in our church. At college, she met and later married John. To their marriage has been born two beautiful girls. But we have it from a reliable source that they're not together anymore. They are getting divorced, says our source. Of course, we have felt it our duty to share such information with our closest friends in strict confidence only because we are concerned Christians. John and Mary are members of our Sunday school class, yet we have made no attempt to reach out to either of them in the spirit of Christ with love, understanding, or acceptance. And we question, 'Can you mean me, Lord?'
Then there is Jane, one of our teenagers, who suddenly got married. She is only in the eleventh grade, so we watch and count the months… on our fingers, of course. As we come to this altar, we recall when we saw her in the grocery store last week. We can hear the words we said again in our heart. 'Jane, it looks like you've put on a little weight. Married life must be agreeing with you,' we said. When we turned to leave her, we gave that little smile that says, 'You're not fooling me. I know!' 'Can you mean me, Lord?' we wonder.
Emil Brunner, the theologian, tells about a dream he had. It was shortly after World War II when he had the dream. Times were really bad in Germany. Many had no food, clothing, or shelter. Brunner dreamed that he died and went to heaven. Standing before the judgment seat, waiting for his reward, Brunner was thinking about what God might ask him. Would God ask him about the books he had written? Would God ask him about the fine sermons he had preached? Brunner's thinking was interrupted when God spoke to him. 'How many pairs of shoes do you have?' inquired God. Being a preacher, he had two pairs of shoes, one for everyday, and another for Sunday. Brunner answered, 'Two.' God declared judgment, 'Condemned! Depart from me, I never knew you!'
Brunner adds that the judgment was correct because he had two pairs of shoes when many of his brothers and sisters had no shoes. When we fail to be concerned or considerate of our brother's or sister's needs, whatever they may be, we are not living out the meaning of the Lord's supper.
Who then, is welcome at the table of the Lord? Most of us, because of the way we have treated our brothers and sisters, know ourselves as being unworthy to come. Each of us, in our own way, has betrayed Jesus. A friend of mine, Tony, is from Alabama. He is a chaplain in the Army. Tony tells about his father, who is an electrical contractor. His father made a bid on a job which was very low. He would have to make no mistakes on the insulation. His profit margin was small. Everyday after school Tony helped on the job. One afternoon he wired an expensive electrical box. When electricity was turned on, the box exploded because it was wired incorrectly.
Tony knew well his father's financial situation. He knew that when his father came to the job later that day, he was in for it. Tony's father came and was informed about the accident with the box. When Tony's father found him, he did something Tony had not expected. He had expected the worst and had braced himself for it. His father said to him, 'Tony, come and let me show you how to wire the box properly.'
In like manner, this is what God is saying to us as we come to the Lord's supper. Even though we are unworthy because of our sins, Jesus invites us. It is because we are unworthy that we are the ones invited to his table. When Jesus offers the cup of forgiveness, he says, 'Drink of it, all of you (Matthew 26:27).' The offer is to everyone at the table -- including Judas. No one is refused. All will be accepted, loved, and forgiven at this table. Jesus welcomes all of us at his table. Thanks be to Jesus!
Something of the same mood comes over most of us when we approach the Lord's table. As we kneel at the altar, we wonder whether we are doing the right thing by coming to the table of the Lord. We worry about whether we are worthy to receive the supper of the Lord, and whether we are welcome at the table.
As we kneel at the altar, if we are honest, out of the corner of our eye we look to see if anyone is staring at us. Taking the bread and the cup in our hands, we can think of a dozen reasons why we are unworthy to receive these gifts of God. There is a sense of uneasiness and guilt as we kneel at the altar. One by one we remember the promises we made to God and have broken. We are not sure if we are welcome at this table that belongs to the Lord.
Somewhere in our childhood these words from Paul were spoken by a preacher as a warning. Writing to Corinth, Paul says, 'For he who eats and drinks brings judgment on himself if he does not discern the body (vs. 29).' These words still do not bring us much comfort when we hear them. And we wonder… 'Am I welcome at this table?'
To fully understand these words of Paul, we must look closer at the situation he is concerned about in the church at Corinth. We know that in the early church the believers gathered each evening to remember what Jesus did on the cross for their sins. The gathering began with what is called an 'agape meal.' More or less, it was a kind of potluck supper. It was not exactly like a potluck supper. In a potluck supper, everyone puts the food together, and everyone eats from all the food. But here each person was eating what he or she brought. At the close of the meal, the Lord's supper was reenacted. In fact, part of the bread and wine brought for the ‘‘agape meal'' was set aside at the beginning of the gathering, to be used in the celebration of the Lord's supper.
It was during the 'agape meal' that these Christians were having problems. Those who came early were eating and drinking everything up. When the late-comers -- usually the slaves and the poor, who had nothing to bring -- arrived, they found nothing to eat or drink. 'When you meet together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal, and one is hungry and another is drunk,' says Paul (vss. 20-21).
Paul is pointing out that they were contradicting themselves, i.e., making liars out of themselves with their actions. They were gathered in Christ's name, but were not acting very Christlike. Around the table of the Lord, we are all brothers and sisters. Consideration and concern should describe the way we relate to each other. They had eaten and drunk up everything, not caring whether the late-comers -- their brothers and sisters, too -- had anything to eat or drink. Therefore, when they ate and drank the Lord's supper, they were doing so in an unworthy manner because of their inconsiderate actions during the 'agape meal.'
'For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself,' says the Bible (vs. 29). The emphasis of this verse is the word 'body.' The body being emphasized is the 'Body of Christ' -- the church, the gathering of brothers and sisters who believe in Christ. The Lord's supper pictures for us that Christ died for all of us. The rich and poor alike are loved by Jesus the Christ. As we kneel around his table, we know his salvation to be for all persons, regardless of position in life. Every person -- in spite of position -- is important to the Christ; thus, as Christians, we are called to show each other the same consideration we would give to the Christ.
According to Matthew, when Jesus sat with the 12 in the upper room at the table, he warned, 'One of you will betray me (26:21).' Of course, he was speaking of Judas Iscariot. But his words caused the disciples to feel both shame and fear. One after the other, each disciple questioned, 'Can you mean me, Lord?' Each disciple felt that Jesus was speaking to and about him.
We, too, feel uneasy with these words, because we know they were meant not just for Judas, but for each of us. We all know how we have betrayed him, particularly in our relationships with others. We all have sold him out in one way or the other. We have not been the best representatives of Christ.
Let's think about this for a moment. Let's think about some ways we are inconsiderate of the needs of others in the church. We could remember how we related to John and Mary. Mary grew up in our church. At college, she met and later married John. To their marriage has been born two beautiful girls. But we have it from a reliable source that they're not together anymore. They are getting divorced, says our source. Of course, we have felt it our duty to share such information with our closest friends in strict confidence only because we are concerned Christians. John and Mary are members of our Sunday school class, yet we have made no attempt to reach out to either of them in the spirit of Christ with love, understanding, or acceptance. And we question, 'Can you mean me, Lord?'
Then there is Jane, one of our teenagers, who suddenly got married. She is only in the eleventh grade, so we watch and count the months… on our fingers, of course. As we come to this altar, we recall when we saw her in the grocery store last week. We can hear the words we said again in our heart. 'Jane, it looks like you've put on a little weight. Married life must be agreeing with you,' we said. When we turned to leave her, we gave that little smile that says, 'You're not fooling me. I know!' 'Can you mean me, Lord?' we wonder.
Emil Brunner, the theologian, tells about a dream he had. It was shortly after World War II when he had the dream. Times were really bad in Germany. Many had no food, clothing, or shelter. Brunner dreamed that he died and went to heaven. Standing before the judgment seat, waiting for his reward, Brunner was thinking about what God might ask him. Would God ask him about the books he had written? Would God ask him about the fine sermons he had preached? Brunner's thinking was interrupted when God spoke to him. 'How many pairs of shoes do you have?' inquired God. Being a preacher, he had two pairs of shoes, one for everyday, and another for Sunday. Brunner answered, 'Two.' God declared judgment, 'Condemned! Depart from me, I never knew you!'
Brunner adds that the judgment was correct because he had two pairs of shoes when many of his brothers and sisters had no shoes. When we fail to be concerned or considerate of our brother's or sister's needs, whatever they may be, we are not living out the meaning of the Lord's supper.
Who then, is welcome at the table of the Lord? Most of us, because of the way we have treated our brothers and sisters, know ourselves as being unworthy to come. Each of us, in our own way, has betrayed Jesus. A friend of mine, Tony, is from Alabama. He is a chaplain in the Army. Tony tells about his father, who is an electrical contractor. His father made a bid on a job which was very low. He would have to make no mistakes on the insulation. His profit margin was small. Everyday after school Tony helped on the job. One afternoon he wired an expensive electrical box. When electricity was turned on, the box exploded because it was wired incorrectly.
Tony knew well his father's financial situation. He knew that when his father came to the job later that day, he was in for it. Tony's father came and was informed about the accident with the box. When Tony's father found him, he did something Tony had not expected. He had expected the worst and had braced himself for it. His father said to him, 'Tony, come and let me show you how to wire the box properly.'
In like manner, this is what God is saying to us as we come to the Lord's supper. Even though we are unworthy because of our sins, Jesus invites us. It is because we are unworthy that we are the ones invited to his table. When Jesus offers the cup of forgiveness, he says, 'Drink of it, all of you (Matthew 26:27).' The offer is to everyone at the table -- including Judas. No one is refused. All will be accepted, loved, and forgiven at this table. Jesus welcomes all of us at his table. Thanks be to Jesus!
