The Great Banquet

THE GREAT BANQUET I’ve been to many banquets and many smorgasbords; The fare has been so sumptuous as there it all was stored. I’d try to take a sample of everything I liked; The salads were so tasty, the meat looked cooked just right. The thing I most regretted was when I took too much And I could not all finish the things that I had touched. And then there was the price tag--that bill I had to pay! Sometimes it was expensive and would keep me away. And at the fancy restaurants we’d always stand in line, And fussed about the others who seemed to take your time. But every time I’d go there and find my place in line And look down at the tables and all the food so fine, I think of a day coming when once again I’ll eat At a great marriage supper, there at my Saviour’s feet. I’ve often thought and wondered just what we’ll eat up there As we sit at that table upon the shore so fair. Will we get to taste the manna that Israel often ate? Will we have desserts and salads there served upon our plate? Will we eat lamb that roasted in fire cooked just right And served with herbs so bitter like that Passover night? And will we have that supper of unleavened bread and wine That we all take together to remind us of the time When just before His torture and sentence, Jesus said, “Take, eat, this is My body,” and then He broke the bread. And then He took the cup there, the grape juice pure and blue, And said, “This is the covenant of My blood shed for you.” I don’t know what we’ll eat there, I cannot speculate, But I know we’ll enjoy it, it all will be so great. And what is nice about it is that it all is free; I can have all I want there, all good it’s going to be. I know that He will serve it and as it passes by, I’ll see the nail-scarred hands then and remember why He died. Oh, yes, ‘twill be some banquet! I’m glad I’m going there; I’ve made my reservations, by faith I am prepared. You, too, can be a part of the banquet fine and fair, Just come unto the Saviour and say the sinner’s prayer: “God, please show me Your mercy, I humbly now repent, I trust the living Saviour who to this world was sent. And I accept forgiveness from all my sin and shame, Believing in Your offer of salvation through Your name.”