“and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” Colossians 1:20 NASB
In the late 70’s I learned a beautiful song with a haunting melody that painted a picture of the bountiful love and forgiveness God offers us through the gift of His Son. Jesus’s sacrifice made it possible for our sins to be forgiven, and for us to have unlimited access to the table of the Lord, the presence of God, the bounty of heaven. I learned this song on my guitar and played it for many a communion service, many a prayer group:
“O, welcome all ye noble saints of old, as now before your very eyes unfold,
The wonders all so long ago foretold: God and man at table are sat down. God and man at table are sat down.”
What a picture of fellowship, to be seated at table with God! The One who created the heavens and the earth, who spread out the starry host now spreads out a table of fellowship before us.
The image causes me such gratitude and humility and tears, that the Word who was the creative force behind all things that were made, became flesh…and dwelt among us. He took no thought for His own reputation and became one of us. He did not consider it beneath Him to become like us. He gladly put on an earthly, fleshly garment…and came and sat at our table with us.
Through Jesus, we were reconciled to God.
Jesus became the Bread of our Supper, the Bread broken so that we could be made whole. His blood became the cup of wine spilt for the forgiveness of sins of the entire world. NOT just a chosen few, but once, for all. On that cross, the Word cried out to His Abba Father: IT. IS. FINISHED!
In this season of Nativity, in this Christmastide of 2020 so many of us are still separated from our loved ones. A forced quiet and slowing of our days. A lessening of our earthly conversations. Perhaps we can, in this quiet, remember the Word who became flesh. He dwelt among us. He still does! Perhaps we can set an extra place at the table, and remember what price was paid that we might have the honor, the blessing, of sitting at a table of fellowship, with God. Reconciled.
God and man at table are sat down. God and man at table are sat down.
~ Debbie Ecker
