The Miracle Table: REDISCOVERING THE POWER OF COMMUNION

by Andrew Murray

A couple of years ago I had the privilege of visiting the site of the Cane Ridge revival, held in Kentucky in 1801. It became the largest and most famous hub of revival that happened in the Second Great Awakening. What is interesting was that these revival services were focused on the act of Communion. The revival began during what was known as “communions,” a version of the Scottish reformed Holy Fairs. Lasting three to five days, the singing, preaching, and teaching would centre around the Lord’s Table, culminating in the act of Communion itself. Interestingly, the most popular texts for the preachers were not the gospel accounts of the crucifixion but the ancient writings of the Song of Songs. Coming to the Table was seen not just as an act of remembering a crucified Saviour, but an act of intimate communion with a loving Bridegroom. Some 20,000 people would gather at these revival services as the preacher would seek to woo the people to the Table, preaching on the “Ravishing Beauty and Glory of Christ,” and inviting them to “Sit under the Shadow of this blessed Apple Tree, and taste His pleasant fruits.” One of the pioneers of that revival, James McGready, would often exhort listeners to feast at Christ’s Table on the hidden manna and be refreshed with the new wine of Canaan. McGready would say the following: “The real Christian, the new born child of God, loves to see Jesus and behold His glory, and with joy, delight, and wonder to admire and adore His soul at...