Everyone knows a place where they’re really not supposed to go. Where they’d feel awkward, anxious, out of place — or even mortified to show their face without an invitation. Or perhaps ever.
A few of you may have made it backstage to meet a famous person. Wow, you think. I don’t belong. But I’m here, just the same! It feels like grace.
Last week, I stood in line for two hours, waiting to enter the Temple Mount. I have never seen a line there that long. Not even close! Fortunately, I was surrounded by a group from Great Britain, whose members were more than happy to chat.
One older lady had last year’s royal wedding on her mind. Had I seen it? she wanted to know. I had. Her cousin, she confided, works at the Westminster Abbey — and she had received a piece of the royal wedding cake, which was only given to wedding guests and Abbey staff. My new friend inherited the tin the cake came in.
She wasn’t qualified to get it, but she did.
Remember the Holy of Holies? Only one human went there, once a year, with fear and trembling. That was the inner sanctum of God Himself. Just outside the door, was a table that always held the Presence-bread. In Hebrew, it’s “the bread of the face.” Bread that had been in the presence of the highest royalty.
Remember the story of David and the bread he shouldn’t have eaten? On the run from Saul, he stopped for help, and all his friend had to offer was the Presence-bread. It was forbidden to everyone but the priests, so when a priest gave it to David, it was sheer grace.
Jesus wholeheartedly affirmed that grace. But there’s more.
The other day, as I was eating the Lord’s Supper, I realized. Hey! I’m eating the Presence-bread.
Can you believe it?
I hardly can.
Jesus, the Bread of Life, welcomes me to come and eat, internalize His life, stand face-to-face with God — and live.
Elisabeth Adams 