Father's Table

“Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honour. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.”

(John 12: 1&2 - NIV)

“When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table.”

 (Luke 22:14 - NIV)

It appears that Jesus was more than comfortable sitting round the table. There is something special about the table. It is a place of privilege, of unity, of communion, of fellowship, of togetherness, of freedom, of honesty and of revelation. And, there are no pretensions at fathers table! It is a place where a fathers (and mothers) heart feels a sense of completeness.

When a place at the table is empty there is, at least initially, a sense of sadness, lack and incompleteness. Yet, very often, it is something we get used to and then think nothing about.

The table has a special place in Father’s Heart. It is the longing of His Heart for all his children to sit in unity and peace at His Table. Indeed I believe that this is His ultimate aim and passionate purpose for all of history will culminate in this great goal (See Revelation 19:7).

It was at a table that Jesus spent has last few hours with his disciples before his death and it was at a table that he met them again following his resurrection.

Father longs to see His children sitting at His Table – in unity, communion, fellowship, honesty, freedom, and with no pretensions. The true unity at Father’s Table is not the false unity we sometimes see today. It is a unity based on relationship. It is not based on denomination or tag, rank or title, simply on relationship, nothing else – nothing more.

Not only is the Father longing for His children to gather at His table – but the millions of people lost to the Father also wait to see this expression of unity and purpose. And when it sees The Table, its Host and children - it will be drawn as never before. If the queen of Sheba was overwhelmed by the food on Solomon’s table (I Kings 10:5) what will a world that is hungry for love and truth be when it sees a true expression of Fathers Table?