COME TO THE TABLE - PART 1

There are many ways the Lord shows us that he has invited us to come to the table, to feast with him, to be his bride.   Here is just one example the Lord gave us to show he was preparing the way for us. 

GUEST CHAMBER

As Jesus was preparing the way for his death, he sent his disciples to go find a guest chamber for the meal they were about to partake.  Why could they not do as before and eat on the seashore, the hillside, inside the boat or one of the thousand other places they had eaten before?  The guest chamber was a major part of a wedding ceremony among the Jewish people.  Jesus was beginning to show his disciples, in word and in his actions, that he was the bride groom.

 Mark 14:13-17 

And he sendeth forth two of his disciples,
and saith unto them, Go ye into the city,
and there shall meet you a man 

bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.

And wheresoever he shall go in,
say ye to the goodman of the house, 

The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, 

where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

And he will shew you a large upper room 

furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.

And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, 

and found as he had said unto them: 

and they made ready the passover.

And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.

In the Jewish ceremony, the groom prepares a bridal chamber for his bride.  He works on this chamber until he pleases the father of the bride.  The actions taken in the guest chamber was ceremonial for the day the Lord will come for his bride. Jesus not only is saying, "come to the table and eat with me."  He is saying, "I love you and I am preparing the way for the day that I return for you and take you to live with me forever."  What a beautiful picture.