For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ,
you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself.
But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way.
(1 Corinthians 11:29,31)

Read: Exodus 12:1-17, I Corinthians 11:17-34
Pilgrim’s Progress Stage 3 Part 11

Relate: In season five of The Chosen, there are two different depictions of a Jewish Passover practise called Dayenu. The first instance is when the Apostles gather together with Christ and perform this practise the way it is traditionally meant to be done. One of the Apostles would recount one of the miracles God did for the Israelites using the formula “If He had only a but had not b…” Then the group would say together דַּיֵּנוּ (dayenu). This comes from the root words dai – enough and nu – for us. The Chosen has them saying together, “It would have been enough.” The second example of this ceremony is when Jesus’ female followers get together and use this ceremony to recount what Jesus personally has done in their lives. Although I am not as big of a fan of seasons 4 and 5, this moment was for me one of the most gripping scenes of the entire show to date. (As I am writing this, season 6 is still a few months away.)

Discretion spoke with Christian and let him through the door. Piety now speaks with him and invites him to the table. Palace Beautiful represents, for John Bunyan, the Church, and this interview represents a very important process any believer must go through before being allowed Communion in the non-conformist churches at that time. The church “fenced the table,” meaning they did not just allow anybody to partake of communion. They needed to first have an interview with the elders, then they would deliver a “relation” of what God has done in their lives. We today would call this their testimony, but not just of how they were saved, but also of how God is still working in them. The church would vote to approve admitting them to the table, and then the applicant would sign a covenant, becoming a full communicant member. Church fellowship and the eucharist were a very serious thing, and this is reflected in the conversations with Discretion and Piety here.

React: What is your testimony? How has God saved you, but also how is God saving you day by day? Christian doesn’t just talk about his experience at the Gate and at the cross, but also his encounters with others like Formalist and Hypocrisy as well as all he learned at the House of the Interpreter. Although I am not a fan of a “fenced table,” I do believe we need to do a better job of incorporating “testimony time” into the life of the church. God is working in us, and our fellowship and communion with others can only grow if we are open enough to share how.

Respond:

Dear God,
I am so thankful for the way You have worked in my life. I am thankful for the many ways You continue working both in me and through me. Help me to be more open about both Your successes and my struggles with those around me. Help me also to listen with an encouraging and discerning ear so that others may be more willing to share what You are doing in them as well. Help is to truly have fellowship at the table that brings honor and glory to You.
Amen