There might seem to be a bit of an incongruity between the assertion of God’s overwhelming generosity towards us, and the simplicity of this covenant meal. The sceptic might scoff, “Really? Homemade sourdough bread, and a small thimble of inexpensive wine? That’s how you represent God’s generosity?”
But the simplicity of this meal isn’t at all at odds with the incredible lavishness of the Father. Simple tokens often hold deeper significance. A lover gives his beloved some small trinket to remember him by during his deployment. Think of some insignificant personal item recovered from a tragic accident, and how the surviving family would treasure even that little token of their lost loved one. We count trifles as treasures if they’re connected with some historical event: a rare coin from a bygone culture, a musket ball from an important battlefield, a shoelace from a Super Bowl champion’s cleat.
In other words, it isn’t the sign itself that is great with glory, but rather what it calls to mind. Bread is as hum-drum as it gets. But this is bread which which summons to mind the incarnate Son of God who joined His divine nature to human flesh in order that that flesh might be torn to bits by a Roman lash and nailed to a Roman cross. Yes, this is everyday wine, but it memorializes the God who bled to rescue mankind from the ancient dragon.
The simplicity adds, not detracts, from the glory of what it points to. Here again is a proof of God’s generosity. He didn’t establish an ornate and complicated ceremony to be the means of renewing His covenant with His people. Rather, simply bread and wine that’s blessed, broken, and passed to God’s people is all that He commanded. Of course this all should be done with a simple faith in our Almighty God.
So come in faith and welcome to Jesus Christ…
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