THE TABLE OF THE LORD -- Tomorrow:
"Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils" -- 1 Corinthians 10:21
The most clear teaching on this matter relates to baptism, which is closely related to the table of the Lord. Of that ordinance the Spirit said, "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
" (Rom 6:17). Here baptism is perceived as a container. The visible act of baptism parallels the saving aspect of the ordinance--the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. In particular, the resurrection of Christ is what empowers baptism--the thing contained gives validity to the container. As it is written, "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us . . . by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
" (1 Pet 3:21). The ACT of baptism, therefore, conforms to the truth.
At the table of the Lord, bread and the fruit of the vine are present. The bread is "unleavened," depicting the absence of spiritual corruption. "Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" (1 Cor 5:8). We remember the Lord's "body," completely clear of personal involvement in sin (2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 2:22; 1 John 3:5).
That "bread" also portrays what was required to make Jesus accessible to us -- what was necessary to take away our sins. As it is written, "Bread corn is bruised," or "crushed" (Isa 28:28). Our Lord endured the stroke of God because of our sins. He was "crushed" by God in order our sins to be removed. This also made Him accessible to us. As it is written, "He was bruised for our iniquities" (Isa 53:5).
The "fruit of the vine" (Matt 28:29) also conforms to reality. A winepress was required to bring the juice from the grape. There the juice was crushed from the fruit in a violent manner. Isaiah spoke of the coming salvation in remarkably precise language. "I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come" (Isa 63:3,4). Ultimately, the "day of vengeance" was the day Jesus "was made sin for us," and "was made a curse for us" (2 Cor 5:21; Gal 3:13). When Christ's life was crushed from Him by a Divine stroke, God was thereby enabled to pour it into us! Thus, again, the form matches the substance.
Those who insist that fermented wine is the only appropriate substance for the cup, overlook the truth just stated. The point is not the liquid itself, but how it was obtained. Violence and cursing had to be experienced by Jesus before peace could be given to us. Just as grapes have to be trodden in order that their juice be released, so Jesus had to endure the judgment of God before grace could be freely given to us!
The Word of God does not bind the type of bread and the substance in the cup upon us in terms of law. But those familiar with the "manner of the kingdom" will seek to have the form agree with the substance as much as possible. Otherwise, there is little, if any, value to form.
This does not mean those without access to unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine cannot participate in this ordinance. It does mean that such a circumstance is unusual, and should be so viewed. There is limited, if any, value to a form if it does not connote the substance typified by it.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I seek deliverance from every type of empty and meaningless form.