COME TO THE TABLE - PART V - JESUS WILL DINE WITH YOU

Just as an earthly groom does things to show his love for his bride, Christ has also laid forth signs before his death, during his death, and after his resurrection to show forth his love for his bride.    

JOHN 14:3 

And if I go and prepare a place for you, 

I will come again, and receive you unto myself; 

that where I am, there ye may be also.

And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Thomas saith unto him, Lord, 

we know not whither thou goest; 

and how can we know the way?

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, 

the truth, and the life: 

no man cometh unto the Father, 

but by me.

If ye had known me, 

ye should have known my Father also: 

and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Not only has Jesus Christ set forth the table for you to come and dine with him, he also is standing at your hearts door asking if you will allow him to come into your life and allow him to dine with you.  

REVELATION 3:22

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: 

if any man hear my voice, and open the door, 

I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

The last Jewish tradition I would like to leave with you is that of the cup being filled at a meal.  When a cup is filled to the top when eating a meal together the guest knew that they were being invited to stay longer in the home they were visiting.  When the cup was filled half full the guest knew it was time to leave.  In light of this tradition read the verse below and see what is being said. 

PSALM 23:3 

Thou preparest a table before me 

in the presence of mine enemies: 

thou anointest my head with oil; 

my cup runneth over.

Not only is he filling our cup but it says my cup runneth over.  Christ is not only saying stay awhile and dine with me but he is saying I love you and I don't want you to leave.  Stay here with me and dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE THE LORD HAS PAINTED FOR HIS BRIDE. 

COME TO THE TABLE - PART IV - THE VEIL

THE VEIL 

When Jesus Christ died, the veil of the temple was torn from the top to the bottom.  This veil was about four inches thick.  Our father was telling us two things here.  We can boldly come into the Holy of Holies freely now.  Prior to that time only the priest could enter into the Holy of Holies but now we are allowed to come boldly before the throne of God.  

When looking at the veil in the Jewish ceremonies, we see that Jacob was deceived by the veil and that instead of getting married to Rachael, he ended up getting married to Leah and having to work seven more years in order to have Rachael for his wife.  As the veil in the temple was torn from the top to the bottom, we see that we not only can come boldly to the throne of God but there is no deception that will take place as we enter into this covenant.  We are able to fully see the groom and see his love for us and experience it fully in a pure holy way with no deception of what we are getting into. 

MATTHEW 28:51 

And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain 

from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, 

and the rocks rent:  And the graves were opened; 

and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

And came out of the graves after his resurrection, 

and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

COME TO THE TABLE - PART III - THE BREAD

THE BREAD

The bread used in their ceremonies had to be kosher, just as the wine.  Unleavened bread had to be prepared in a specific manner.  It had to be free of any yeast.  Not only did the bread have to be free of the yeast but their homes also had to be swept and totally clean of any yeast.  The bread also had to be pierced.  The perfect picture of Jesus Christ being the spotless lamb having his body pieced and the blood and water flowing from his side.    

MATTHEW 26:26

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, 

and blessed it, and brake it, 

and gave it to the disciples, and said, 

Take, eat; this is my body.

COME TO THE TABLE - PART II - THE WINE

WINE

Wine used in the Jewish ceremonial occasions represented sanctification, The word sanctification means set apart.  We see in this picture that Jesus Christ was set apart from all others to die for our sins.  As the Lord was eating with his disciples and they were drinking the wine together it represented that we as believers in Jesus Christ are set aside for his glory.

MATTHEW 26:27 

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, 

and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

For this is my blood of the new testament, 

which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth 

of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I 

drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.

Jesus said in the passage above that the drink represented his blood that would be shed for the remission of our sins.  They didn't use fermented wine but kosher wine.  Wine that had been carefully prepared and not mixed or touched by certain items that might contaminate it. 

When the blood flowed from his body it was a picture of love and compassion for our sins.  There is no other way to pay for the wrong things we have done and as he hung on the cross, even when he was silent, his blood spoke volumes.  The pure Holy Lamb of God was giving his life so that we might live.   

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.

TWENTY-ONE SEEDS

Poem written in memory of the twenty-one Christian men who died at the hands of ISIS!

Twenty one seeds stood on the sea shore.

Twenty one seeds fell to their knees.

Twenty one seeds lifted eyes toward the heavens.

And they prayed a prayer for you and me.

Twenty one seeds died for our freedom.

Twenty one seeds stood for what’s right.

Twenty one seeds were planted on the sea shore.

For all nations to see God’s light.

Some became angry, others filled with frustration and fear.

But we are called to water the seeds with the falling of our tears.

Those truly were not heads that fell as the enemy drew their swords. 

They were seeds blowing in the wind proclaiming God’s Redeeming Word. 

So if we're called to die for Christ, may we die on fertile soil, 

So the news will spread to every nation, to every boy and girl.

We'll pray the seeds will bring forth fruit with God’s almighty hand.

And all the nations of the world see a harvest of seeds from the sand.    

PERSPECTIVE! LOOKING PAST THE STORM

Photo provide by Kathy Mitchell

Each Saturday morning my grandchildren and I usually snuggle 

up and spend a few minutes looking at video's and photo's that 

people post on Facebook.  I began this ritual with my own children 

when they were young and we lived twelve hours from my family.  

Although we didn't have Facebook, we tried to keep plenty of photos 

in books that we viewed every week and discussed.

I have found there are always great animal videos posted on 

friends pages that my grand children love to watch, and I don't 

have to worry about scanning through and accidentally 

pulling up bad video's trying to locate a good one.  

This gives us some great time to talk about my sisters, 

brothers, cousins, etc... that live far away.  

This is a time my grandchildren can see things my family 

is doing and see what everyone looks like. This helps bridge 

the gap of family time lost for when they see them face to face.

Shown above is one of the photo's my sister posted during the week.  

As we scrolled through all the photo's of the winter ice storm 

that hit West Texas, Noah and Emma would give me their 

perspective on the event.  There were a few that we would say, 
"burr, that really looks cold."   One photo Noah seen was a tree
covered with ice and drooping down. He started laughing 
and said, "It looks like an elephant."  I had to agree, 
it did sorta look like a giant elephant.

This one particular photo shown above caused Noah 

immediate excitement.  His eyes enlarged and with enthusiasm 

in his voice he looked at us and said, "Who can push me?" 

As Emma and myself perceived a wagon standing still in the winter 

coldness with ice hanging all over it making us think, "burr."

Noah perceived an item of extreme excitement.  He looked beyond 

the ice that was hanging down on the sides, 

the snow that was cradled on the top, and the freezing 

temperature outside.  His perspective captured 

one single thing, "an exciting set of wheels 

that could provide a fun ride".

What is the perspective of the items or people around 

you who seem to be distant, cold or useless?  We must 

remember that our own perspective is not always what 

that item or person is, "It is only our perspective".  

Maybe this is why the Lord said we must become as 

little children to inherit the kingdom of God.  

Verily I say unto you, 
except ye be converted, 
and become as little children,
ye shall not enter into the
kingdom of heaven
Matthew 18:3

May we learn to look through the eyes of the Lord, 
the eyes of hope, faith, and joy instead of our own worldly,

cast down, forsaken set of eyes.  These eyes of ours 
that cast a shadow of winter coldness over our hearts 
and keep us from moving forward and enjoying 
life to the extreme can rob us of true joy.