The King’s Table

The King’s Table: From Passover to the New Covenant

Primary Text: Luke 22:14–20 (NKJV) Supporting Texts: 2 Samuel 9; Exodus 12; Jeremiah 31:31–34; Hebrews 8–10; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26

Opening Prayer

Father,

As we come into Your presence today, we thank You for Your grace that invites us near.

Prepare our hearts now as we open Your Word. Help us to see Christ clearly—the Lamb who was given for us and the One who has made a place for us at Your table.

Remove distractions, soften our hearts, and give us ears to hear what You would say.

Draw us closer to You, Lord, and deepen our understanding of Your truth.

We ask this in Jesus’ name,

Amen.

INTRODUCTION — The King’s Table

Before we come to this table… I want to take you to another table.

A king’s table.

In 2 Samuel 9, King David asks a surprising question:

“Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (v.1)

Saul was David’s enemy. Saul tried to kill David. And in that culture, when a new king took the throne, the former king’s family was usually eliminated.

But David is not acting in revenge… He is acting in covenant love.

Jonathan had made a covenant with David. And now David is determined to show kindness for Jonathan’s sake.

And they find a man.

His name is Mephibosheth.

The Condition of Mephibosheth

Crippled in both feet

Living in Lo Debar — a place of nothingness

Forgotten… broken… hiding

And when the king calls for him, he is afraid.

Because he assumes judgment is coming.

The Grace of the King

But instead of judgment, David says:

“Do not fear.” (v.7)

And then grace speaks:

“I will show you kindness…”

“I will restore what was lost…”

“You shall eat at my table continually.”

Not occasionally… Not as a visitor… But as one who belongs.

The Response of Mephibosheth

“What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?” (v.8)

He knows:

He deserves nothing. He brings nothing. He earns nothing.

And yet… he is seated.

Not because of who he is— But because of a covenant made with another.

The Picture

“So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem… and ate continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in both his feet.” (v.13)

His condition didn’t change… But his position did.

At the king’s table, his brokenness was covered.

TRANSITION — From David’s Table to Christ’s Table

Church, that is not just history…

That is theology.

Because that is us.

Crippled by sin. Far from God. Unable to come on our own. Expecting judgment.

But the King has called for us.

Not because of our merit… But because of a covenant.

Not one we made— But one established through Jesus Christ.

And now… we are invited to the King’s Table.

Transition to Main Points

On this Palm Sunday…

As Jesus rides toward the cross…

He prepares a table.

And at that table…

He transforms everything.

Luke 22:14–20 NKJV

14 When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. 15 Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

I. THE TABLE ROOTED IN REDEMPTION (PASSOVER)

To understand this table… you must go back to another one.

The Passover.

Exodus 12

Israel is in bondage. Judgment is coming.

But God provides a substitute.

A spotless lamb

Slain at twilight

Blood applied to the doorposts

Exodus 12:13 NKJV

13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

Connection to the King’s Table

In Egypt, salvation came through a lamb.

At David’s table, grace came through a covenant.

At Christ’s table…

both meet.

God’s Lamb is provided and grace came through the new covenant in the Blood of the Lamb.

TRANSITION

Every Passover meal depended on a lamb.

Before the family ever sat down to eat… a lamb had to be chosen, sacrificed, and its blood applied.

Because without the lamb…

there is no covering, no protection, no deliverance.

And year after year, as Israel gathered to remember what God had done in Egypt, they ate that meal knowing something:

This had to be repeated.

Another lamb… Another sacrifice… Another reminder that sin had not yet been fully dealt with.

And whether they said it out loud or not, the same question echoed through every generation:

“Where is the lamb—the one that will finally take away sin once and for all?”

That question had been building since Abraham and Isaac, when Isaac asked:

“Where is the lamb?”

And Abraham answered:

“God will provide for Himself the lamb.”

II. THE TABLE REDEFINED BY CHRIST

“This is My body… given for you… This cup is the new covenant in My blood…”

Jesus takes the familiar…

and fills it with eternal meaning.

A. The Bread — His Body

No longer just provision…

Now it declares:

“I will be broken for you.”

Just like Mephibosheth could not fix himself…

We could not save ourselves.

So Christ gives Himself.

B. The Cup — His Blood

No longer just remembrance…

Now it declares covenant.

Not animal blood…

But the blood of the Son.

Illustration

At David’s table, Mephibosheth sat because of Jonathan.

At Christ’s table, we sit because of Jesus.

TRANSITION

This is not just a meal…

This is a covenant being declared.

Jeremiah 31:31 NKJV

31 “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant...

Hebrews 10:16 NKJV

16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,”

III. THE TABLE ESTABLISHED BY THE NEW COVENANT

Several important things to note here from Jere. 31.33-34

1. Internal Transformation

Jeremiah 31:33 NKJV

33 I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts;

2. Personal Relationship

Jeremiah 31:33 NKJV

33 I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

3. Full Forgiveness

Jeremiah 31:34 NKJV

34 ... For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

“Not with the blood of goats… but with His own blood…”

Connection to Mephibosheth

Mephibosheth received:

Restoration

A place

A relationship

But we receive more.

Not just a seat at a table…

But a new heart.

The King’s table is an invitation to come.

IV. THE TABLE AS THE KING’S INVITATION

This table is not just something we observe…

It is an invitation we receive.

A. An Invitation Grounded in Grace

Mephibosheth did not invite himself to the king’s table.

He was sought… He was brought… He was seated…

And the same is true for us.

We do not come to this table because we earned a place…

We come because the King has called us.

Jesus said in Luke 22:

“This is My body… given for you.”

That is not the language of demand…

That is the language of grace.

B. An Invitation for the Unworthy

Mephibosheth said:

“What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?”

That is the posture of anyone who understands grace.

This table is not for the perfect…

It is for the repentant.

Not for those who have it all together…

But for those who know they don’t.

C. An Invitation into Fellowship

At David’s table, Mephibosheth was no longer an outsider.

He belonged.

At this table…

We are not strangers.

We are family.

Saved by the same blood. Seated by the same grace.

D. An Invitation with a Future Promise

“For as often as you eat… you proclaim… till He comes.”

This table looks forward.

Mephibosheth ate continually at David’s table…

But one day that table ended.

This table points to one that never will.

The marriage supper of the Lamb.

Where we will not remember redemption…

We will celebrate it in fullness.

TRANSITION TO CONCLUSION

So when you come to this table today…

You are not just holding bread and a cup.

You are responding to the invitation of the King.

The King has sent for you.

Just like Mephibosheth…

You were not looking for Him— He came looking for you.

You could not come on your own— But grace has brought you near.

And now, before we come to the table…

We must ask the most important question:

How will you respond to the King’s invitation?

A Call to Examine

The Scripture tells us:

“Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat…”

This is not a moment to look around…

This is a moment to look within.

Is your faith in Jesus Christ alone?

Is there unconfessed sin in your life?

Is your heart aligned with Him?

A Call to Respond

There may be some here today…

And you realize—you’ve never truly come to Christ.

You’ve heard about Him…

But you’ve never trusted Him.

Today, the King is calling you.

Not to religion…

But to redemption.

Not to try harder…

But to trust fully in what Christ has already done.

There may be others…

You know the Lord…

But your heart has drifted.

Sin has crept in.

Distance has formed.

Today is the moment to return.

A Call to Come

In just a moment…

We’re going to sing.

And as we do…

This is your opportunity to respond to the King.

You can pray where you are…

You can come to this altar…

You can bow your head and confess…

But do not ignore His call.

Connecting to the Song

As we sing “What He’s Done”…

Let those words settle into your heart:

See on the hill of Calvary My Savior bled for me

That is why you have a place at the table.

Not because of what you’ve done…

But because of what He’s done.

Father,

We come before You humbled by Your grace.

Thank You Lord Jesus— for His body broken and His blood shed, that we might have a place at Your table.

Lord, search our hearts now.

Reveal any sin, any pride, any distance from You. Give us hearts that are quick to confess and ready to repent.

For those who do not yet know You, draw them to Yourself even now.

As we sing, fix our eyes on the cross.

Remind us that we come not because of what we’ve done, but because of what Christ has done.

Prepare our hearts, Lord, to come to Your table rightly, reverently, and with gratitude.

We ask this in Jesus’ name,

Amen.