One of the greatest things I’ve come to appreciate about Luke’s gospel account is his masterful use of storytelling to establish truths instead of blanket factual statements. Luke creates scenes that carry theological implications, and a major recurring scene is that around dining, or being seated at a table.

Luke powerfully employs the image of dining at a table as a metaphor for redeeming mankind and bringing us into communion with God once again.

Jesus calls Levi, a sinner, to repentance at a table at his house (5:27-32).

He forgives the sinful woman while at a Pharisee’s dining table (7:36-50).

He satisfies more than 5000 individuals with a miraculous meal (9:10-17).

He heals a man with dropsy while at a table banquet (14:1-24).

He is known as one who “receives sinners and eats with them” (15:2).

He redeems Zacchaeus, a sinner, at his house at the table (19:1-10).

This realization reaches its culmination at the last supper. Jesus reclines at the table in a furnished upper room, where they all should have partaken in passover together. Instead Jesus chooses to personally abstain from eating the passover meal (22:16) and introduces the bread as his broken body and the cup poured out as his spilled blood to signify that he would suffer for their gain. Jesus would bring redemption to those sitting at the table with him, but it wouldn’t come from their passover lamb, it would cost significantly more. Historically, Jesus’ disciples would have had their own cups to drink from, so Jesus’ passing of his cup would have made a profound impression: Doing so was a symbol of entering into a communion relationship with someone through good times and bad.

Luke portrays the table as a place where human need meets divine grace. It is where the presence of Jesus transforms the sad remembrance of things past into the glorious promise of things to come.

A Scholar named Eduard Schweizer reminds us:

In contrast to all other religious communities of their time, the early Christians had no temple, no statues, no priests, no special cult; the only thing visible was a table with a meal around which they came together every week. It was the continuation of the table fellowship of Jesus, and especially of that meal on the last evening together. It was a definitive gift from God and a central manifestation of the truth the church brought to the world.

Human beings are broken beings, but they no longer feel their brokenness when seated at the table with Jesus. Forgiveness, acceptance, and mercy for sinners is displayed across the fellowship table with Jesus. The table is where communion with God happens. At the table we remember what God has done at the Exodus, what He does for us now through the work of the cross, and what He will do for us at the marriage supper of the lamb as we have communion with him eternally after being raised with him.

This is one of many reasons why Paul had to correct the abuses of communion among the Corinthian church (1 Cor. 11:17-34). Meal gatherings were still suffering from theatrical showcases of wealth and social status. Superiority and class distinctions overshadowed the significance of how Christ actually destroyed those barriers by making everyone equal when they sat at his table: All people are now only defined as sinners saved by his sacrifice once they sit at his table.

The table has historically been a metaphor for intimacy and communion with others, and Jesus invites us to sit at his table. Reflect on these thoughts the next time you’re sitting at a table. Remember how beautiful God’s acceptance is because of the mercy He poured out so you could always have a seat at His table.