What is The Lord's Table?

Reflection on John 6 and The Lord's Table: Sunday August 27, 2024

35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Today's lectionary Gospel reading is from the Bread of Life Chapter in John 6.  Vs. 66 says "As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him."

What was this seminal teaching that led some of Jesus' closest followers to reject him, in spite of having witnessed His miracles? It was Jesus' teaching in Jn. 6. Vs. 48 "I AM the Bread of Life" and Vs. 56 "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him."

The Gospel of John was the last Gospel to be written by the last living Apostle: John the Beloved. By this time, the New Testament/apostolic pattern of worship, “Word and Table”, had been established in all the Churches by the Apostles and their successors- the bishops/overseers. Thus, the readers of this Gospel would have completely understood Jesus' "Bread of Life" teaching expressed in their worship service by proclaiming Christ in Word/Scripture, and climatically followed by celebration of Communion (Eucharist) at the Lord's Table/Altar. (please read 1 Co. 10:21 and Malachi 1:12 for “Lord’s Table”. You will see The Lord’s Table is synonymous with The Altar. In fact, the earliest archaeology of house churches and earliest pictures of worship in house churches include pastors celebrating communion at the Lord's Table in the position of orans (hands lifted with palm facing upward. 

The Lord’s Table: In Malachi 1, the prophet is discussing impure sacrifices at the Lord's Table (The Altar). In Malachi 1:11 there is a future prophecy about worship at the “Lord's Table"-Altar “My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty."  In explaining Christian worship to pagans, Justin Martyr (100-160) writes that The Church was fulfilling the prophecy of Malachi 1:11 in the established New Testament/apostolic practice of worship with Word & Table. 

We do not receive these as common bread and common drink. Rather, Jesus Christ our Savior, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation. So, likewise, we have been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh.  Justin Martyr (c. 160, E), 1.185.

This prophecy refers to the bread which our Christ gave us to eat, in remembrance of His being made flesh for the sake of His believers, for whom also He suffered. And it refers to the cup which He gave us to drink, in remembrance of His own blood, with giving of thanks.  Justin Martyr (c. 160, E), 1.234.

In concluding… for this Sunday, let’s not concern ourselves about reformational-theological arguments of the exact nature of Christ’s presence in communion (Symbolic Presence, Spiritual Presence, Real Presence). All biblically orthodox theologians acknowledge that Christ is, in some sacred way, present in the bread & wine (or New Wine).  Let’s take some time today, and contemplate these two things: 1. The prophetic importance of consistently celebrating communion in our worship of The Lord. 2. The mystery of receiving Christ’s presence and grace in the celebration of communion.

Blessed Sunday to you all.

Bp. Jon Aamodt