When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this. (Luke 22:14-23) This text is at the heart of our Christian practice. It is Jesus’ gift of a ritual act to remind his church of what he was about to accomplish in his death and resurrection. Of course, it was not a new act, but a reinterpretation of a much older ritual act: the Passover.

In that sense, it’s interesting to note that the Passover lamb was not an atoning sacrifice for sin. It was a sign of faithfulness to the covenant promises that God had made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was also a sign of God’s saving action on behalf of his people, saving them from the destroyer (death) and freeing them from their slavery in Egypt.

We have come to understand Jesus’ work on the cross as setting us free from sin and death too: but again, it is more than that. Jesus calls it a new covenant made in his blood: a new relationship established on the firm and unshakable work of Jesus that yes, saves us from our bondage to sin, but that also gives us hope and a future in restored relationship with God and the promise of life with him in his Kingdom. Our celebration of the Lord’s Supper should never say less than that we are forgiven our sin, but it should also always say more!

I’m reminded of Romans when I hear these words again, that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8b). The first work that Jesus does is establish a relationship with his disciples: then he saves them. The best example of this is Judas sitting at the table with Jesus.

Jesus knows that Judas is about to betray him and that the devil is already at work within him. No matter: Judas is seated at the meal. Jesus invites him to the table of fellowship and relationship just as much as the others. Jesus does not bar Judas from the table because his conduct is unworthy, sinful, un-understanding, or un-discerning. Jesus invites. Jesus gives. Judas has every opportunity to accept the invitation freely given him.

I think this fact is one of the best reasons never to refrain from partaking in the Lord’s Supper, contrary to popular belief among many of us. Even if you’ve sinned and your life is an unreconciled mess, even if you’ve screwed up, or aren’t in the right head space or heart space—even if you are Judas himself!—even still, Jesus invites you to eat at his table. His grace comes first. Always.

While we are still sinners—repentant or unrepentant—Jesus comes to us and seeks to establish his covenant of grace with us: inviting us to repent, respond, and believe again no matter where we’re at or what we’ve done. So: do this, in remembrance of him. And let his gift of grace awaken, enliven, and even nourish and enable your response of grateful thanks.