Pulpit or Table? A Meditation on the Emmaus Road

I recently read through Luke 24 in my personal devotions, and had what I believe is a typical, kind of schizophrenic, experience for a theology wonk pastor/preacher.

 

First, there is the thrill of the event itself: He is not here!  He is risen, just as He said!

The running to tell the news, to and from the tomb, the wondering.

Then He appears, and they can’t believe it “for joy.”

 

Second, there is a preaching/liturgical dispute I’ve registered over the years, largely in the Reformed world, both sides of which appeal to different parts of the Emmaus Road event.  On one side are those that emphasize the primary role of preaching, and the necessity of preaching Christ from every text.  Their watch-verse is 27: “And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”  Another camp emphasizes the important (primary?) role of Communion in worship, pointing to the very next event in verse 30-31: “Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him…”

 

I’m not sure this needs to be an either/or, binary choice, choose-your-side kind of thing.  It is true that we will see Christ on every page of Scripture.  His own explaining the Scriptures Christo-centrically to the disciples on the first Lord’s Day, Resurrection Day, is a model for every preacher today.  AND God has given other means of grace.  By God’s providence, often people do not see (aren’t changed by) the Lord, in preaching but they are in the breaking of bread, in the sacrament of Communion, or in the fellowship of the church.  Preaching is not to be the sole activity of the church’s (or pastor’s) work, because of this.  But neither should we say Communion is primary over preaching because of this event, as if the Lord’s Table is somehow generally more effective than the pulpit.

 

Instead, let us cherish ALL the means of grace God has given us to receive and revel in our Lord Jesus.