The Supper: New Creation Hospitality and Hope in Christ

The Lords Supper (or Eucharist) has often been a subject of intense debate in the church. What is often lost in this debate is the significance of the relationship of the Eucharist to Jesus Last Supper with his disciples which was a Passover--or Passover-like--meal. Moreover the Last Supper connects back to various meals in Jesus earthly ministry. And it looks forward to the great messianic banquet as fulfillment of Jewish expectations.In exploring these connections this book focuses on the three motifs of new creation hospitality and hope in Christ. Most significantly when we break the bread and drink the wine (or juice) together we are asserting the reality of the new creation in Christ affirming Gods grace forgiveness and cruciform love which is to be embodied in the Christian community and anticipating the day when Gods present and ongoing work of restoration justice and reconciliation will ultimately prevail. The Supper then is basically a condensed summary of the story of Gods plan of redemption.Hesselgrave brings together biblical theological ethical and social insights in a way that deepens our understanding of the meaning and practical significance of biblical texts related to this central ordinance of the church.