Sharing in the feast of the kingdom of God is marked by celebration and great rejoicing. It is similar to other feasts arranged at important occasions, such as weddings, where people who know and love the hosts have an opportunity to share and express joy and delight.
Rejoicing is an important part of our walk with God. Paul encouraged the Philippian followers of Christ to “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). While certain events unfolding around the world may not be worth celebrating, God is. Our worship of God is also a cause of celebration because as we worship Him, He makes His presence known.
When we participate in the Lord’s supper, the bread and wine reminds us of our human need, and spiritual hunger and thirst. The Lord’s supper is also directed toward the Christian hope. The image of feasting finds its fulfillment in the vision of “the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Rev. 19:9). The Lord’s supper is seen as a foretaste of this heavenly banquet; a pledge of heaven. The celebration of the Lord’s Supper in the present then reminds of what happened in the past, the death and resurrection of Jesus. Additionally, it is also an assurance of what will happen in the future, when we are welcomed and received into the presence of the living God.
In the Bible we read that the disciples rejoiced in the midst of discrimination and suffering. For the first three centuries, Christian faith was considered illegal by the Roman authorities and marked by periods of persecution. Yet the disciples were able to rejoice because their everlasting hope stemmed from the resurrection of Jesus Christ, assuring their own resurrection from the dead. Does our lifestyle reflect rejoicing and celebration as we participate in the kingdom feast of God?