Table of Freedom

Table of Freedom
Words of Faith 3-22-24
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2024
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Mark 14

[17] When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. [18] While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me ‑‑one who is eating with me."
[19] They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, "Surely not I?"
[20] "It is one of the Twelve," he replied, "one who dips bread into the bowl with me. [21] The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."

The Passover Seder was a meal of remembrance. It was a way of recalling and passing forward the remembrance of what God had done as He brought the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt. The story of God's deliverance under Moses was recalled with lamb, salt water, bitter herbs, matzah, and sweet jam. The Passover meal was always eaten in a reclining position because this was a sign of freedom. This was significant because slaves did not eat reclining; they ate standing. To eat in a reclining position was a celebration of freedom from slavery.
Dipping into bowls was a common way of eating in Israel, and it is still today. Bowls were especially used at Passover as part of the ritual. Hospitality and the sharing of table fellowship was viewed as an intimate bond among trusted friends (Psalm 41:9, John 13:18). That someone "dipping in the bowl" with a person would betray that person would have horrified ancient readers. It was a betrayal of the table.
As Jesus celebrated the most central remembrance of the mighty hand of God in freeing His people from slavery, there was still one among them who was a slave to sin, a slave to self, a slave to ambition, and a slave to the Enemy. But Judas's betrayal was not the only way to betray this table.
Jesus invites us to a table of freedom where we are to recline. "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me (Rev. 3:20)." It is not a table at which we stand. It is a table where we recline for He has done all the work. This is the meaning of grace. Many people come to the table at the invitation of the Lord but continue to struggle to attain good works that attempt to justify themselves before God. This, too, is a betrayal of the table. To recline is to rest in His grace.
Question of the day: Are you reclining at the table of the Lord? Or standing? Slaves stand. Slaves continue to work. Slaves continue to justify themselves. Slaves do not relax in the presence of the table host. And such slaves sometimes betray. Jesus invites us to recline, no longer as slaves, no longer in bondage. No longer attempting, to no avail, to justify ourselves.
Lord, it is hard for me to rest in Your grace, but I know that this is the only way. I rest in the finished work of Your sacrifice. I receive Your grace and cast my weight wholly upon You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2024 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.