Feasting on the Richest of Fare

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:54 NIV)

In the Easter season, the world is presented with the memory of Christ. One way in which the Lord has asked us to remember Him and commemorate what He has done, is through “The Lord’s Supper”. The Lord has called us to His table of bread and wine, but what He truly desires of us is an often, regular, and meaningful fellowship, or “communion” with Him. What He asks for is obedience to His call to open the door and invite Him in. And so He says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me” (Rev 3:20 NIV).

But the food, the bread and the wine, is no ordinary food. Jesus invites us to feast on His very body, and to drink His very blood. This may seem to be an odd thing, for many of His disciples turned and walked away after He suggested the idea, determining that what He was saying was a hard teaching indeed. But Jesus claimed to be the true bread that has come down from heaven and He also promised eternal life to those who would feast on Him. As we know, the bread represents His body that has been broken for us. He has given His life upon the cross, suffering the punishment of death so that we are spared that death. The wine represents His very life, an innocent life whose shed blood provides forgiveness of our sins and the guarantee of eternal life through the promise of the new covenant.   By comparing His body and blood to food, He is able to teach a powerful lesson on the vitality that is offered through relationship with Him.

What the Lord is showing us is that a rich life in God is available to us. A true, abundant life is offered by the Creator of the universe, the very Author of life itself. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! Don’t settle for a mediocre Christian experience. Jesus asks to meet and dine with us! He knows that He is the true source of Life. He is the very fuel of our beings, the energy of life. Just like eating food, we can truly take the life of God into us, to strengthen us, encourage us, heal us, and sustain us! We must nurture a desperate hunger for the living God, an insatiable desire that seeks God in faith. A hunger that believes will only be satisfied by the “richest of fare.” Come to Him and devour His Word, the Bread of Life. Seek to know Him intimately every moment of every day. In all you do, be mindful of Him. Take time to quiet your soul before Him, to praise Him, thank Him, ask of Him, and even listen for His voice. Take Him into your being, take Him into your life. Feast upon Him so that you may have His body and blood, His very life in you!

I have sat at many tables, even tables with significant and important people. I have also been subject to invitations to feast at “tables” of a different sort; such tables as pride, lust, bitterness, despair, and selfishness.  There is no table like the Lord’s Table. Though we are surrounded by opportunities to feast on temporal and vain things, He says “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare” (Isa 55:2 NIV). One thing I know, I have eaten of the Bread of Life and I have drunk of the Fountain of Living Water, and nothing else can satisfy me! Open the door and dine with Him.

Delight your soul in the richest of fare.