Have you ever been invited over to dinner to get to know someone new, and felt somewhat intimidated? Maybe their house is spotless and you know yours is far from it, or you’re simply not sure what to bring up in conversation? I think that’s how I would feel sitting down for a meal face to face with The Lord Jesus. I’d want to be dressed to the nines, making sure I was using proper dining etiquette, and asking all the right questions. After all, Jesus was and is perfect.
You may think this is a hypothetical situation, or may not happen until we get to heaven. However, Jesus has invited us to sup with Him daily. We may not be seated across the table to see Him in the flesh, but our goal should be the same as sharing a meal with someone; to get to know their heart. This invitation to “sup” with The Lord Jesus never expires, and we’re never late to the table. Jesus is always ready and waiting on us to respond.
I’d like you to imagine the scene of The Last Supper. Jesus, sitting down breaking bread and drinking wine with his closest followers, his disciples. I tend to picture Leonardo da Vinci’s mural, but let’s take a look at how the scripture portrays it.
“When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table. Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come. He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.”
Luke 22:14-20 NLT
Jesus makes the remark that He’s eager to eat this meal with His disciples. In the same way, Jesus is eager for us to spend time in His presence, getting to know Him. During The Last Supper, Jesus is pouring his heart out to His disciples, explaining that He’s getting ready to pour his blood and break his body for mankind. Although this moment in history is known as The Last Supper, it was in essence the first communion. Jesus gave instructions to his disciples to “do this is remembrance of me,” which we do when we partake of communion.
My encouragement for you is to take some time this week to prepare your heart for communion with The Lord Jesus this Easter. Sup with Him, and get to know Him by reading His Word and praying. He’s not waiting for your house to be spotless for you to invite Him over, nor does he expect you to have all the right words to say. His invitation is open, and He’s eager to sup with you.
Prayer: “Lord Jesus, I desire to sup with you in a greater way than I have before. I am responding to your invitation, and open up my heart to you. Thank you for your body which was bruised and broken for me, and your blood that was poured out as the ultimate sacrifice. I am eager to get to know you more.”
Written by Reanna Hopkins