Finding My Place at the Table

Today we are moving ever closer to the Cross as we come together to remember Jesus’ final night with His disciples.  It has come to be known as Maundy Thursday.  “Maundy” comes from the Latin word mandare, which means “to command” or “to mandate” and refers to the Gospel of John 13:34-35 where the events in the Upper Room focused on the washing of the disciples’ feet. 

“A new command I give you;  love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Last Sunday night, I watched The Passion of the Christ DVD again.  While it is a “tough” movie to watch, I have found that this movie helps me to draw even closer to the Cross and to Jesus.  Because the movie doesn’t “sanitize” the suffering of Jesus and it shows the real horror of crucifixion, I find myself confronted with the reality of the immense love Jesus had for all of us.   

In The Passion, there is a wonderful scene where Jesus is in the Upper Room with the disciples.  How I long to have been at that table with Jesus and the disciples as they enjoyed one last meal together. 

I like to think that I would never betray Jesus like Judas.  Oh, and I would certainly never deny Jesus like Peter did.  And, I know I would load up on enough Obsidian dark roast coffee from Caribou (my favorite) so I would never fall asleep like the disciples did when they went with Jesus to the Garden of Gethsemane.  Yet, if I’m being honest with myself, I too would have been just like those disciples long ago.  In fact, if we are truly honest with ourselves, we are all deniers and betrayers of Christ to varying degrees.  We are all sinners unable to help ourselves. 

Yet, despite everything we have done in our lives, Jesus still invites ALL of us to His table each week.  The Lord’s Table is long and wide.  There is room for ALL who wish to receive forgiveness and the real presence of Jesus found in the bread and wine. 

On this Maundy Thursday, we come to the table as broken, hurting sinners, just like the disciples 2,000 years ago.  And the promise that Jesus made that night to them is just as true for us today, Jesus has a place for me at His Table and He’s got a place for you as well.  The question is:  Are you going to say “yes” to the invitation?

Here’s a song by Hillsong called “At the Cross” that reminds us of the amazing love Jesus has for you and for me.    

Pax,

Pastor Carol