As we conclude our celebration of the Lord’s Supper each week, we hear the words of St Paul to the Corinthians – “for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you do proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Cor. 11:26). 

This morning I want us to meditate on Paul’s last three words here – until He comes. With this orienting statement, the Apostle Paul is teaching that this sacrament is not simply about looking back at our Lord’s death. Rather, in more ways than one, this is an eschatological meal.

As we partake, we are proclaiming Christ’s sacrificial death, and the church is to do so looking forward to that final Day, when He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 

Fundamental to the historic Christian faith, from the beginning, has been this longing for Christ’s return and the hope of the future resurrection of the dead. Imitating the Apostle Paul, our great desire in this life ought to be to know Christ crucified – to participate in His death – in order that we too may participate in His glorious resurrection. 

And so this Table is a sign to all of Christ’s victory over death until He returns. 

He died for our sin and then on the third day was raised. He is the first fruits of the resurrection, the pledge of the greater harvest to come, when all those who partake of His flesh and blood will be raised up unto eternal life and be seated with Him at an even greater feast.

And so as you eat this bread and drink this wine, may you say in your hearts, “Come, Lord Jesus.”  And as surely as He comes to you now by His Spirit, know that He will come again on that great Day. 

So come, and welcome, to Jesus Christ.