Something to be Thankful For

It is referred to as "The Last Supper". Countless authors have written about it. Innumerable preachers have preached messages regarding it. And for centuries artists have attempted to capture images of it. But for my "Thanksgiving" thoughts, I would like to look at what I will refer to as "The First Supper". The event that I am referring to does not actually have a name at all and I am not suggesting that it should be given this title. I have just chosen to call it this for my own reference.

The "supper" that I speak of is recorded for us by three of the Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark and Luke. Each gives a very similar description of the event with little variation of the details. The following are their separate accounts as found in scripture.

Matthew 9:9-13 And as Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man, called Matthew, sitting in the tax office; and He said to him, "Follow Me!" And he rose, and followed Him. And it happened that as He was reclining at the table in the house, behold many tax-gatherers and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, "Why is your Teacher eating with the tax-gatherers and sinners?" But when He heard this, He said, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick."But go and learn what this means: 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Mark 2:14-17 And as He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax office, and He said to him, "Follow Me!" And he rose and followed Him. And it came about that He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax-gatherers and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him. And when the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax-gatherers, they began saying to His disciples, "Why is He eating and drinking with tax-gatherers and sinners?" And hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Luke 5:27-32 And after that He went out, and noticed a tax-gatherer named Levi, sitting in the tax office, and He said to him, "Follow Me." And he left everything behind, and rose and began to follow Him. And Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house; and there was a great crowd of tax-gatherers and other people who were reclining at the table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with the tax-gatherers and sinners?" And Jesus answered and said to them, "It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."

It is evident that this occurs following the calling of Matthew to be one of the twelve. The incarnate Son of God had spoken two very powerful words to Matthew when He said to him, "Follow Me". There is no doubt in my mind that these were the words of the Sovereign One. This "tax-gatherer", who had been sitting in the tax office, then "rose and followed Him". I don't suppose that Matthew could have refused any more than the sun and moon could have resisted their creation and placement in the heavens. I will not deny it, I am one of those who believe in, trust in, and find great comfort in His sovereignty over all His creation.

At some point they precede to Matthew's house for what Luke calls a "big reception" for Jesus. We are not really given a description of Matthew's house but we can make at least one assumption about it. It appears to have been a large house as the Gospel accounts speak of "many" or "a great crowd of' tax-gatherers and sinners who were in the house and "reclining at the table" with Jesus and His disciples.

We see in the text that the Pharisees and their scribes became witnesses to this "reception" and in their grumbling, they asked His disciples a question. Matthew records the question in this way, "Why is your Teacher eating with the tax-gatherers and sinners?" Mark's gospel reads, "Why is He eating and drinking with tax-gatherers and sinners?" And in Luke's gospel we read, "Why do you eat and drink with the taxgatherers
and sinners?" At first one might criticize them for asking the question. But perhaps we should be thankful that they did. In fact, I am very glad that they asked this question.

If you have read this scripture before, perhaps you have already noticed this. Although the disciples are the recipients of the Pharisee's question, neither of them appears to have given a response. I have a couple of thoughts about this. First of all, I would suggest that none of the disciples would have known how to rightly answer the question. Perhaps they even looked at one another in anticipation of one of them responding to the question for the others. We really don't know. But then Jesus spoke. Jesus provided the answer.

As we should be, I am sure that each of the disciples was thankful that Jesus responded to the question Himself. After all, it was His conduct that was really being questioned. In the thirty-three years that He walked on this earth, Jesus never shied away from giving a truthful answer. I so much appreciate the picture that we see here. The disciples are questioned and Jesus intercedes. Praise the Lord! He is our intercessor and advocate!

And don't you love His answer? Should we not be forever thankful for the answer that He gave? Jesus said, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick." And He continued, "I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners." He did not deny or try to make excuses for it. He reclined at this table in Matthew's house, in the midst of tax-gatherers and sinners because of their need of Him. Those who surrounded Him at this ordinary table were representatives of you and I. We all share in the same sickness which is nothing less than sin itself. No, their was no one at the table who fully understood who He was, and what He had came to do. But He was the Physician they all needed. And we need Him too.

The "table" is not limited to the one that sat in Matthew's house so many years ago. If Jesus were walking on earth today, I have no doubt that the Holy and sinless One would recline at your table or mine and eat with the sinners gathered around it. He would do so, not to condone the sin in our lives, but for the same reason that He reclined at the table with tax-gatherers and sinners. Sin has brought a sickness to each of us that only this Physician can heal.

As you gather around your table this Thanksgiving, together with family and friends, remember to give Him thanks for His willingness to eat with tax-gatherers and sinners! If you sense that you are not well; if the sickness and burden of sin is upon you; come to His table and dine with the One who is able to make you well. And give Him thanks everyday! God bless.

Short Thoughts for Today

Today's short thoughts come from Hebrews 9:13-14. Here the author writes, "For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

The writer continues to contrast the differences between that which occurred in the earthy sanctuary and that which occurred in the heavenly one. Remember, the gifts and sacrifices offered in the earthly sanctuary could not make the worshiper perfect in conscience. They related "only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation." As seen in today's passage, they were for a cleansing of the flesh, an outer or surface cleansing if you will. And although they were a shadow of what would come to pass in Christ one day, they lacked the power to address the root problem, defilement from sin.

So the question posed in today's passage is "if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer" could sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ cleanse one's conscience, whereby instilling in the one cleansed, the ability to serve the living God? The implied answer can only be, infinitely more! The one could not make the worshiper perfect in conscience while the blood of Christ cleanses one's conscience from dead works and empowers them to serve the living God!

Short Thoughts for Today

Today's short thoughts will be based on the passage of scripture found in Hebrews 9:11-12. Here the author writes, "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption."

In the first ten verses of the chapter we read of the "earthy tabernacle" and now we read of the "more perfect" one.  What a difference is found in the two! Into the "earthly tabernacle" the high priest would enter once a year and he would do so year after year. The gifts and sacrifices that he offered were not able to "make the worshiper perfect in conscience." There was no power in the blood of goats and calves; it only looked forward to the blood of the Lamb."

But Christ entered to minister in "the more perfect tabernacle", one that is "not of this creation". He entered this tabernacle through His own blood once and because of His efficacy, redemption is secure for eternity. As the great hymn proclaims, "There is power, power, wonder working power; In the blood of the Lamb. There is power, power, wonder working power In the precious blood of the lamb."  

Short Thoughts for Today

Today's short thoughts come from Hebrews 9: 1-10. Because of its length I will not include it with this post but I will encourage you to read it. The Hebrew author is inspired to take the first ten verses of the chapter to describe various aspects of the "earthly sanctuary". He speaks of "regulations of divine worship" and notes specific truths which are pertinent in revealing the better priesthood of Jesus. As he provides details concerning the "earthly tabernacle", he points out the presence of an inner and outer tabernacle. More specifically, he speaks of the inner or secondary tabernacle where only the high priest could enter, and that, only once each year. He indicates that these regulations of divine worship governing the earthly sanctuary had signified that the way into the holy place had not yet been revealed.

But again, the writer is clearly being inspired to teach and proclaim the more excellent priesthood of Christ. The way into the holy place has now been disclosed and it is found only in Jesus. He is "the way" and He is "the door". Gifts and sacrifices offered in the earthly sanctuary could not "make the worshiper perfect in conscience". In Christ, each "worshiper" is now "perfect in conscience", forgiven of all their sins. The One who bore our sins on Calvary has clothed us in His own righteousness. No longer is the "holy place" an earthly sanctuary and no longer is it exclusive for one man to enter just once a year. All who are in Christ may "draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need". Praise God! Praise our more excellent High Priest!