When I think of Jesus, I most often picture major central events which have shaped theology–such as the temptation in the desert, his transfiguration on the mountain, his betrayal by Judas, his death on the cross and the empty tomb–which is essential to understanding who he is and why we need him. But I think it’s easy to lose sight of the reality that Jesus lived in the mundane much of his life. It is clear from scripture that Jesus spent much of his life in community and it seems much of that time was centered around meals.
We observe that he went to parties, planned big picnics, invited himself over for dinner, and hung out with rebels. There is no mention of him owning a home (after his baptism) and he often lodged with friends and strangers, sharing meals and sharing community. Meals signify more than simply nourishment and Chester’s book describes very succinctly how grace, community, hope, mission, salvation, and promise are encompassed in the meals Jesus attends.
I’m afraid our culture is sadly losing this great grace of sharing meals together in community–Chester notes a 33% decrease in families eating together over the last 3 decades. We are a people obsessed with convenience, trapped in a selfish “have it your way” mindset that prioritizes quantity over quality, taste over nourishment, and comfort over outreach. We are obsessed with reality TV kitchen shows, yet aren’t particularly interested in cooking; we brag about the amount of junk food we’re capable of ingesting, then spend thousands of hours & dollars trying to make up for it. Did you know that “American Christians spend more dieting than on world missions (p.11)?” It is so easy to abuse the time and food God has graciously blessed us with and I felt convicted as I read with difficulty remembering the last time I had my neighbors over for dinner. While Jesus often ate with his friends and family, he always made it a point to go out of his way to eat & spend time with with those less fortunate, the social outcasts, the poor & broken in spirit.
Your challenge, should you choose to accept it: try to share one meal this week in a way that would honor Jesus–maybe do a homemade special dinner with the family centering the conversation on all God has done for you; maybe inviting friends or neighbors over for a cookout; maybe taking a timid co-worker out for lunch. You pick!
Leave a comment below about how you’d like to be more intentional about sharing a meal with Jesus to enter a giveaway (great idea I got from an awesome Christian gal I met at The Gospel Coalition Conference last summer) for a FREE COPY of “A Meal with Jesus” on behalf of Crossway Publishing!
Beth, I’ve always loved that part where Jesus invites himself over for dinner! His relationship with people over meals is a recurring theme in his ministry, friendships, reaching out to people.
Tim
P.S. Followed you over from domestickingdom, and glad I did!
Thanks Tim! I’m glad you did-Gloria did an interview at The Gospel Coalition 2012 which was foundational in helping me to decide to start a blog–checking out yours as well
I love this post. I was actually thinking about something similar lately. I was reading some of Jesus’ encounters in the temple in John 7 and thought, “Jesus is such a cool person!” I started praying that Jesus would show me more of himself, more if his personality. Beyond what is written in the Bible, I want to know what it would have been like to sit down with him (at a meal) and chat.
We are having friends over for dinner tonight and I am going to try to talk about the things Jesus would want to talk about over dinner. Thanks, Beth, for the encouragement!
That’s awesome Meg! I think about that too–Jesus was so popular with people, God-fearing & not. While he was greatly respected & revered by many, you also get this feel that people actually LIKED being around him. I always think I bet he joked a lot. Just based on some of the stories I read in the bible, I think he has an awesome sense of humor!
Hope dinner with friends goes well–way to be intentional in a way that honor Jesus
My goal is to have a block party with my neighbors and invite friends from church. I was praying one day in Dec. and felt really convicted that I was not boldly loving neighbors. That I am simply selfish. I repented and contacted my roommates. Our plan is to give our neighbors a small gift once a month from Jan.-March. In April we are going to have a small block party and invite all of our neighbors. I live in a college town so free food should be bring em! Well we are going to invite friends from church and our hope is by the end of the semester we have stronger relationships and have most if not all of our neighbors checking out Jesus at our church. There is lots of prayer and putting ourselves aside (good stuff) but we are going to do it. Because we want to love boldly like Jesus did and we truly want to have community with others. I am EXCITED!!!!
That’s amazing Millie! Sounds like a lot of fun & well strategized–I love your plan & so grateful for your commitment to Jesus & willingness to be obedient to him!