A Word about the Master of the Table

Today I want to share a word about the Master of the Table as I comment on verses from Luke 22. Let’s begin by reading Luke 22:7-13,

Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

One day a State Trooper was pulling off an expressway near Chicago. When he turned onto the street at the end of the ramp, he noticed someone at a chicken restaurant getting into his car.  The driver placed the bucket of chicken on roof of his car, got in and drove off with the bucket still on top of his car. 

The trooper decides to pull him over and perform a community service by giving the driver his chicken. So, he pulled him over, walked up to the car, took the bucket of chicken off the roof, and offered it to the driver. The driver looked at the trooper and says, "No thanks, I just bought some."

We all have our favorite meals, whether it might be Thanksgiving dinner, or a grilled steak, or even fried chicken.  As we continue to see Jesus as Master and Commander, today we will see a meal that Jesus anticipated greatly, a meal that showed that He was Master of the Table.

THE MASTER PREPARED THE TABLE:

From the beginning of His public ministry, Jesus was in control. He came to Earth on a mission to save sinful humanity and He did what He wanted to do and went where He wanted to go to fulfill that mission. Nothing He did was an accident. Everything was intentional, as was the way He prepared for this Passover meal.

Jesus prepared this table in a unique way! A the very least, this was at least a prophecy and a true one, but I believe this was really a miracle. He or the Spirit, had gone before and prepared the way. He did this to show the Disciples Hos true nature: He is God, and He is in control. In John 14, Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father,” and "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.” This was a work of Jesus that showed His Divinity! His use of a meal to make this point shows His mastery of everything!

Next, let’s read verses 14-18:

And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.  And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

THE MASTER ENJOYED THE TABLE:

From this passage we can see that Jesus enjoyed this Passover meal in at least three ways. First, He enjoyed the fellowship He found at this table. In Jewish culture, breaking bread was an act of intimate friends and sharing the Passover was an act of family. He loved these men, and they loved Him.

We also can see that He enjoyed the thought that His mission soon would be complete. Jesus wanted this fellowship to be extended to all people. He had come to seek and save that which was lost and He knew that He had to suffer and bleed and died for this to be realized.  He was glad that this was finally to come about and that His earthly mission would be completed.

Finally, He enjoyed the prospect of being at the table for eternity in Heaven with these men whom He loved. He knew that the Jewish authorities were going to kill this “man” if it was the last thing they did. While that would be painful, it would prepare a table in Heaven where, one day in the future, there will be a real party in heaven and Jesus will celebrate with Christians there. He is eagerly anticipating eating this meal His Disciple and also with us.  Will you be there?

Let’s continue by reading verses 17-23:

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!  And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.

THE MASTER EXPLAINED THE TABLE:

The Gospel has mystery, but it is not mysterious. From the beginning, God wanted Israel to understand truth. He would not want anyone to act merely from routine or as ritual without understanding what it means. In Psalm 47:7, God’s people are instructed to, “sing praises with understanding.” In 1 Corinthians 15:14, Paul said, 

What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.

Indeed, salvation comes from understanding our need of it, and also understanding how we can find it as Paul taught in Romans 10:14, 

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

Fortunately, it is not too hard to understand since we all come to Jesus like little children!

Again, Jesus showed His mastery in revealing the meaning of the table. The Passover did include traditional explanations, but Jesus was not going to be bound by mere traditions. He was going to use this meal for His own, sovereign, purposes. He revealed to us that:

• Jesus’ body was broken for our sin.
• Jesus’ blood was shed for our sin!
• Only His sacrifice is effective for saving us!

Finally, Let’s read verses 23-38:

And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing. And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;  That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.  And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.  And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.  Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.  For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.  And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

THE MASTER RULED THE TABLE:

No family is without problems, and such is the case here. Like in families, we can see rivalries and pecking orders present among the Disciples in verses 23 and 24. We can also see that some of the Disciples, like some children, thought that they were more mature than they actually were (see verses 31-34). In verses 35-38, we can see that, some of the Disciples were acting like children who don’t trust their parents.

Without a doubt, parents should be in charge at the family table:

• Inmates shouldn’t run asylums.
• Students shouldn’t run schools.
• Prisoners shouldn’t run prisons.
• Children shouldn’t run a family.

Is there any doubt who was in charge here? Jesus was, and He should have been. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is righteous, and holy, and powerful, and sovereign. And He remains so today.

CONCLUSION:

Whenever we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, or even just sit down for a meal with our family, we need to remember: 

• Jesus prepared this table for us!
• Jesus loves to fellowship with us!
• Jesus wants us to remember what He did for us!
• Jesus wants us to remember that He’s our King! 

Every blessing,

Dr. Otis Corbitt