By the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

Through these words believers are invited to a holy closeness to Jesus. “Come and dine” implies eating at the same table and eating the same food and sometimes means sitting by His side and resting our head on Him. It is being taken into the banquet hall where the banner of redeeming love hangs.

The invitation, “Come and dine,” also gives us a vision of oneness with Jesus because the only food we can feast upon when we dine with Jesus is the Lord Himself. And oh, what a union it is! It has amazing depth and is something reason cannot fathom — that we feed on Jesus! “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him” (John 6:56).

It is also an invitation to enjoy fellowship with other saints. Christians may differ on a variety of points, but we all have one spiritual appetite, and although we may not all feel alike, we can all feed alike on “the bread of life” that has “come down from heaven” (John 6:35, 38). At Jesus’ table of fellowship we are one bread and one cup with each other, and as the loving cup is passed, we are joined in spirit to one another. As you get closer to Jesus, you will find yourself linked more and more closely with others who are nourished by the same heavenly manna. Thus, as you move closer to Jesus, you move closer to others as well.

The words of this invitation are also a source of strength for every Christian. Looking to Christ brings life, but for the strength to serve Him we must “Come and dine.” We often labor with so much unnecessary weakness because we have neglected this invitation of the Master. This is one diet that does not need to be low in calories. On the contrary, we should fatten ourselves on “the richest . . . foods” (Ps. 63:5) of the gospel so we may gain strength from it and then fully employ that strength in the Master’s service.

In summary, if you desire closeness to Jesus, oneness with Him, love for His people, and strength from Him — then “Come and dine” with Jesus by faith.

By the pen of Jim Reimann:

Jesus invitation to “Come and dine” is a beautiful fulfillment of the following prophetic invitation given through Isaiah to the saved of the Lord:

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.

Isaiah 55:1 – 3

Later John the apostle was shown another fulfillment of the prophecy:

He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.”

Revelation 21:6 – 7

Lord, how blessed we are to be invited to dine with You! May we look forward with great expectation to “the wedding supper of the Lamb” (Rev. 19:9)!