A Place at the Table
Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15; John 6:24-35
Leonardo DaVinci was commissioned to paint “The Last Supper” in 1495 by his patron, the Duke of Milan[1]. DaVinci worked on it for over three years. The Prior, a person in charge at the monastery in Milan, was an impatient man. He grew weary of how long it was taking DaVinci to complete the work. (Scaffolding, paints, plasters, tools, brushes all left out in the way for years.) He complained to DaVinci about the delay. Leonardo explained that he was using the faces of people in the town as inspiration; and he was trying to find the perfect villain’s face to use for the face of Judas. But if he couldn’t find who he had in mind, and if the Prior continued to complain, he would just use his face as the model.[2]
I’ve seen a lot of DaVinci’s Last Supper in my newsfeed over the past week. Some folks were incensed by a segment of the Olympic Opening Ceremonies that they felt was an improper impersonation of the Lord’s Supper. And I wonder what Jesus would have said about that? Well, I don’t mean to stir the pot… And many explanations have been given about the glitzy and gaudy scene depicted in the opening ceremonies; that it was NOT an interpretation of DaVinci’s Last Supper, but of a banquet to the Greek god, Dionysus. I also think it important to distinguish between the meal that Jesus shared with his disciples before he was handed over and DaVinci’s depiction of that event nearly 1500 years later. It is an artistic expression. And what happened in Paris last week is another artist’s expression.
Perhaps the world’s preoccupation with the Last supper might help us have a fresh focus today. We all come to this Table equally in need of God’s mercy and grace. What we experience here through this simple meal is the extravagant grace of God lavished upon us as guests at this Table. We don’t have to be properly dressed, manicured, and coiffed. Nor do our hearts or minds need to be perfectly clean. That is different from contrite, repentant. The Psalmist wrote:
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. Psalm 51:17
As we experience the Lord’s Supper Table today, might our execution of the sacrament offend some? Perhaps. This table is open to all. Those from different denominational backgrounds. Those in different places of their spiritual journey. Those still discovering who they are as a child of God. But what better place to discover your beloved-ness than at the Table where Jesus is Host, where Jesus’ love is what’s being served. My hope and prayer is that we will approach the Gospel just as we will the table a little later -- with our hearts laid bare, hungry and thirsty for God to fill us.
Continuing this week in John 6, we see the crowds have followed Jesus to the other side of the lake and want to know, How did you get here?? The original language would make you wonder: Do they mean, How did you get here to this side of the lake (because we know you did not get on the boat with your disciples)? or How did you get here…to this moment in time, to earth, to this planet? Jesus’ way of moving through the world is so other-worldly, so unlike anyone they have ever seen or known.
Jesus supposes that they are following him because he cured their hunger like no other leader ever has. But he chastises them to look for food that lasts, food that endures eternally, not just food that fills the belly.
They ask, “What SIGN will you do? What miracle can we see and believe what you are saying about yourself, that you are sent from God? Will you perform some wonder for us like what God did for our ancestors? They ate manna in the wilderness, bread from heaven!”
Jesus challenges them to imagine that there is something even greater than a sign. It has already been given to them… It is life-giving bread, real bread. To which they respond, “O Lord, give us this bread now and forever!”
Their plea echoes the woman at the well, who asked Jesus to please give her this “living water” that he offered her.
Our human hunger and thirst nags at us all the time, doesn’t it? Even those of us who have plenty wonder, even worry about our next meal… We have a kitchen towel with a sentiment we often say printed on it, “Let’s have lunch and talk about what’s for dinner!”
Jesus wants to set his followers free from their appetites, their worries about having enough, free from the concern that what preoccupies us today is all there is. The hustle, the anxious thoughts, mouths that need feeding, hurts that need healing, thirst that needs tending… These will not go away. But… this is not all there is. There is communion with God, feasting on the Bread of Life – each week right here – a sabbath hour if not day. Sanctuary with beloved community. A place where you are known, your loved ones cherished, your children valued, your personhood held, honored. I know that some of you are tired from the day to day demands of life. Let me invite you to close your eyes for just a moment.
Imagine, the resurrected Jesus, the Christ, looking into your eyes, cupping your face in his hands and saying this to you:
“I am the bread of life. Come to me and you will never go hungry. Believe in me and you will never be thirsty.”
Could you see his face? Feel his touch? Could you hear his voice? Jesus, the embodiment of God’s love, is the gift, like manna, that we survive on. Everybody gets enough. All we need to get us through whatever we are going through, is actually Jesus. It is his love, so freely given, so scandalously generous that sustains us. [3]
That scene of the Last Supper is as iconic as Jesus’ first night in a stable. You probably have varieties of Nativity sets at your house. The hubbub over the Last Supper this week reminded me of a children’s Christmas pageant that we were part of one year. At the end, when babydoll Jesus was resting in his 8-year-old mother Mary’s arms, one by one the rest of the children walked to the front of the sanctuary to stand all around the little holy family. Children were invited to dress in costume. You might think angels, shepherds and wisemen… and there were some of those. But also gathered around the manger that night were Batman and Wonder woman, power rangers, Disney princesses, black cats and dinosaurs. They wore their favorite costumes to the Nativity play, which could have offended some. I mean those characters aren’t written in Luke 2, are they? The children reminded all the adults present that night that Jesus came for all people and that everyone who wanted to gather around the baby Jesus belonged.
At the end of Jesus life and ministry, nothing could be more true about this Table. As it is written, Jesus’ love has been poured out for many so their sins may be forgiven.[4]
The Lord’s supper is our sign, that all we need is actually Jesus, the bread of life. Come, there is a place at this table just for you.
Benediction
Filled to the brim with the goodness of God;
the nourishment of Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life,
and the power of the Holy Spirit,
May we take our place at Christ’s Table
and make longer tables for all God’s children.
[1] https://www.milan-museum.com/leonardo-last-supper-cenacolo.php
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Supper_(Leonardo)
[3] Garnaas-Holmes, Steve Preaching Thoughts https://unfoldinglight.net/2009/12/01/ot-18-pe-10/
[4] Matthew 26:28 based on