Justice, Resurrection, and the Eucharist

We have considered the themes of justice and the resurrection this morning. One of the meanings of this table is peace. The peace offering in the Old Testament always included a meal in the presence of God. This table is that peace offering all grown up. Here we celebrate in the presence of God what Adam lost many centuries ago. This means that this meal is the celebration and proof of the justice of God. You are the justified ones who are covered in the blood of Christ; you are “right” in God’s eyes and therefore you are welcome to fellowship with him in his presence. Here at this table we celebrate something which God has promised to fill the whole world with. And you are called to believe this. How can God make peace in your family? How can God heal the hurt, the bitterness, the sickness? Ultimately we know that we’re still going to die. But God has called us here to this table to celebrate the restoration of all things now, to celebrate peace and justice now, and to celebrate the resurrection now. This is the Lord’s Day, the day of resurrection. We celebrate resurrection life here and now because we believe that God will fill this world with this life. Therefore as you eat this meal, you are not only affirming that this is true, but you are also pledging yourself to live like you believe this with every ounce of strength in your body. Eating here means that you will live out there with the full expectation that Greenville will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Eating here means that you will live out there expecting your neighbors to trust in Jesus and serve him. Eating here means that you fully expect miracles to happen. We serve the God who raises the dead who has made all things new. So come, eat, drink, rejoice, and believe.