Joyful And Rich Gospel Supper Of Redemption For Everyone

Today's Theme: Gospel and Priestly People On The March Pause For Rich Supper

As we have established in Meditations 1-3 (using Hebrews 12,24 and 1Peter 1,2 and other scriptures), the sprinkled blood of Jesus now comes down from heaven, by our blessing (1Corinthians 10,16) and through our present Spiritual sacrifice (1Peter 2,5), in the form of the Holy Ghost.

This same Holy Ghost is the very grace of God (who is Spirit) which will come down by our faith and his promise (John 6,50-53). This grace will consecrate the bread and wine and make them Jesus' risen body and risen or Spiritual "blood."

The prophet Isaiah in Chapters 52 and 53 prophesies that this blood of Jesus goes beyond the physical sprinkled blood of the Passover Lamb in Egypt. This prior blood freed one nation (Exodus 12,7ff), but now his better Spiritual blood frees all nations and peoples (Isaiah 52,15), out of worldliness, out of Babylon.

This is the new gospel that goes beyond Israel's quick feet escape of old (have a tortilla and run, Exodus 12,11), but a majestic, universal, gospel-priestly march (fulfilling Exodus 19,6) led by the risen Christ back, all as one, to Zion (Isaiah 52,7-15).

Ballpark Scriptures:

Revelation 16,4-21: All creation shall be judged by its response to the physical blood of Christ  (cf. John 6,53: "unless you eat...).

Focus Scriptures:

Isaiah 52,7-15: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that sayeth unto Zion [all who live by faith], Thy God reigneth.

Isaiah 52,10: The Lord hath laid bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. v.11: Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence [Babylon], touch no unclean thing; go ye out from the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord [ you priestly people] v.12 For ye shall not go out in haste [like in Egypt, before you were personally redeemed], nor go by flight: for the Lord will go before you and the God of Israel will be your rearward.

v.13 Behold, my servant [Jesus] shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted [lifted up by us!] and extolled, and be very high. v.14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any other man, and his form more than the sons of men:

v15 So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

Isaiah 53,1: Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

Isaiah 53,12: Therefore I will divide him [Jesus] a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he has poured out his soul unto death.

Psalms 19,4: Their sound has gone out through all the earth. And their utterances to the end of the world.

Romans 10,15: And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET THAT PREACH THE GOSPEL OF PEACE, AND BRING GLAD TIDINGS OF GOOD THINGS!

John 6,50: This is the bread that comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die.

John 6,53: "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you."

Synthesis: Do You Want the Gospel Spoils of Joy and Strength From the Table?

We faithers are on a victorious and dignified gospel march of faith, led by our Lord and high priest and redeemer, the risen Jesus. He always goes before and is at our rearward too (Isaiah 52,12).

He is even now still sprinkling all nations and peoples with his Spiritual blood (Isaiah 52,15), and so the parade-march of the redeemed grows on its pilgrimage to Mount Zion.

This march also grows because we faithful add our gospel voices, our redeemed tongues, to His, and proclaim the wonders of His mercy to all humankind (1Peter2,9).

Israel was commanded to always celebrate its Passover-redemption out of Egyptian slavery, and their passover freedom-breaking of bread is part of their spoil as a people and nation.

Likewise for us non-Jews who follow Jesus. He is our Spiritual Passover and this table is part of his dividing the spoil of his freedom and provision.

And so dear brothers and sisters, we can by faith, be so bold to speak of this supper as one of the spoils of Calvary.

There are many spoils of Calvary-  victory over sin and death, baptism in the Holy Ghost, gifts of the Holy Ghost, the capability of being taught by God, victory in spiritual warfare, the ability to understand Spiritual matters, and the faith courage to spread the gospel.

And here on the Lord's table, a victory table, comes the most concrete spoil of Calvary- real Spiritual communion with Jesus,  real food and real drink (John 6,55), food and drink come down from heaven.

Real Food And Drink More Than Symbols

I've never hungered and thirsted for a symbol. I've never eaten a symbol or drank a symbol.

I've never had my soul burst with revelation by just remembering the brutal cold economy of Calvary.

Symbols are not spoils and God's rich provision.

But I have had my soul burst with the light and truth of the gospel, and love for my merciful Jesus, our savior, savoring his food and drink, one of the fruits, that is Spiritual spoils, of Calvary.

With this rich savor, I have looked with new compassion at his people gathered around this table, gathered as one, and each one of us in need.

I have seen him in the breaking of the bread and the taking of the cup, taking in faith my inherited portion of Zion so to speak, and taking the one cup that leads us all home.

Take Away: Is Once a Year Enough?

The Aaronic priests as part of their initiation were sprinkled with blood and anointed with oil (as was the altar), and this began seven days of consecration, purification and strengthening (Leviticus 8,30ff).

So likewise we who come to the table of the Lord are sprinkled by consuming Jesus' Spiritual body and blood.

We faithing followers of Jesus are all a royal priesthood (1Peter2,9).

Would it not be better if we spent more time in around this gospel table, our moveable table and Temple, where his presence is so great and his revelation so rich?

Isn't it time to revive the supper so as to persevere and abide in Him?

Prayer

Lord Jesus may we come to see the Lord's Supper as our new faith feast, a feast guaranteed by your word, a spoil of Calvary sprinkled down from heaven, supper for the strong in faith.

That we would know you more fully at the table, and know the needs of your one body, and take what we hear and see here, with the rest of your gospel, to the ends of the earth, as our gospel march continues to Zion.

In Jesus NAME, Amen

for video of this supper: http://vimeo.com/63572579