You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:5-6
Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) Then the angel said to me, “Write: `Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” Revelation 19:6-9
We are in our 2nd week of Advent. As we learned last Sunday, Advent is a time of waiting and preparation. What are we waiting for?
- The arrival of Jesus, the true light of the world!
Each year, Advent involves consideration of a Past, Present, and Future arrival of Jesus.
- We remember his first arrival 2,000 years ago, as a human baby
- We wait for his coming NOW, today, in a new and fresh way, into our broken world.
- Finally, we look forward to his 2nd coming, a future arrival of the King!
So Advent is a time of hopeful and expectant WAITING. But we don’t JUST wait…. This is also a time of preparation. We are preparing for his arrival. But, how do we do that?
Our theme for this year is “Prepare Him Room”
Last week, we talked about preparing room by “clearing things out…making space”
That may involve getting rid of unnecessary items, or quitting bad habits that waste time and distract us. It may mean sweeping out the dirt, or in spiritual terms – returning to God’s Word and prayer, confessing our sins, etc. In short, making space and time for God.
This week we are challenged to prepare room for Jesus by using an image of “setting the table.” What does this mean?
Consider the following examples:
The Grandmother’s Table
A grandmother always set the table hours before the family arrived for holiday meals. The house could still be messy—presents unwrapped, dishes in the sink—but the table was always ready. She said, “The table reminds me who I’m expecting. If the table is set, my heart is set.” One year a winter storm threatened to cancel the gathering. But she still put out the good plates and the candles. When asked why—knowing the family might not even make it—she smiled and said, “Setting the table is an act of faith. It means I’m expecting someone I love.” That evening the storm cleared, and the family arrived to a glowing table of welcome. Advent invites us to “set the table” for Jesus—not when everything is perfect, not when the house of our life is spotless, but as an act of faith, expectation, and love.
The Restaurant Before Opening
Before a restaurant opens each day, there is a quiet ritual called “front-of-house prep.” Servers wipe tables, fold napkins, polish glasses, light candles, and place every chair with intention. The chef prepares ingredients long before anyone orders a meal. They prepare the space before the guests arrive. The careful setting of the table is a sign that hospitality is coming, that someone valued is expected. Advent calls us into that same rhythm. We prepare the “front-of-house” of our soul. We arrange our priorities. We soften our hearts. We intentionally make room because the Guest we’re expecting is the King.
In our scripture texts for today, we read about two different tables that have been prepared for us.
The Psalmist sings of the table prepared for us by God. “You prepare a table before me, in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life…and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Then in Revelation John describes a final feast – a final table around which we will all gather. This too has been prepared for us. “9 Then the angel said to me, “Write: `Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
In the gospels, there are many stories of Jesus, sitting around a table, sometimes with Pharisees, sometimes with tax collectors. And of course, on the night before he was crucified, Jesus himself prepared a table for his 12 disciples. A special Passover feast.
We set the table for Jesus, because he first set the table for us.
And then there’s the verse we shared last week: Rev. 3:20 “Behold I stand at the door and knock…..if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them, and they with me.”
Yes, we’re waiting for Jesus to arrive. And we’re waiting to share this wonderful meal together. And if that’s true, we want to set the table, make preparations.
How will you set the table for Jesus this Advent season? What table-setting step is God inviting you to take this week?
If “clearing out space” was a quick, big motion – “setting the table” may involve some smaller, more precise, yet important steps. Here are a few possibilities:
- Reordering our priorities
- A conversation of forgiveness
- A quiet space for prayer
- A return to Scripture
- A restored relationship
- A simple act of kindness or hospitality
All of these may be ways in which we prepare the table for our welcoming of Jesus. Can you think of others?
(the above is a summary of the message shared during our worship on December 7, 2025.)
Japanese Congregational Church 