Experiencing The Fullness Of Our Union With Christ At The Lord’s Table -- By: C. J. Williams

Journal: Reformed Presbyterian Theological Journal
Volume: RPTJ 02:1 (Fall 2015)
Article: Experiencing The Fullness Of Our Union With Christ At The Lord’s Table
Author: C. J. Williams


Experiencing The Fullness Of Our Union
With Christ At The Lord’s Table

C. J. Williams

Professor of Old Testament Studies at Reformed
Presbyterian Theological Seminary

Although there are many doctrinal and historical controversies that swirl about the sacrament of the Lord’s Table, and which we might be expected to address when dealing with our experience of fullness of our union with Christ in the sacrament, I wish here to leave those topics to the systematic and historical theologians. Instead, let us turn to focus on a single, biblical theme that has its beginnings in the Old Testament, and comes to fruition in the Lord’s Table. That theme, highlighted in 2 Samuel 9, will indeed help us to experience the fullness of our union with Christ in the sacrament. It is the theme of being graciously invited to sit at a king’s table, under his mercy and protection.

There are three terms that the New Testament uses to describe the sacrament: Communion, the Lord’s Supper, and the Lord’s Table. These are not just mere synonyms; each term is well considered by the apostolic writers, and each term is meant to emphasize some aspect of the meaning of the sacrament. Today we will consider the sacrament as it is called the Lord’s Table.

This is a unique term because it does not focus on the elements of the sacrament, or even the fact that it is a meal. Instead, our attention is drawn to the table itself and the Lord’s ownership of the table. The focal point of the table is built upon longstanding imagery of what a table has always symbolized, in the Old Testament, and throughout history.

First and foremost, a table is a place where a family gathers, where the closeness and intimate fellowship of a family is realized and enjoyed. Psalm 128 paints this memorable picture for us. Describing the blessings of a covenant family, it says, “Your wife will be a fruitful vine in the heart of your house, your children like olive plants around your table.” If the table is a symbol of family, then the Lord’s Table is certainly a symbol of our adoption as sons and daughters of the Lord. It is not too much to say that, if the table is an integral part of the sacrament, one of the things that is signified and sealed by the sacrament is our adoption into the household of God.

A table is also a place where family structure is acknowledged. Specifically, every table has a “master” in biblical terms. In our terms we talk about the “head” of the table, who is the head of the home. The head of the house is always the head and owner of the table, specifically, and this headship is usually acknowledged in some way at the t...

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