Dining with Jesus
“...’Zacchaeus!’ Jesus said. Quick, come down! For I must be a guest in your home today.’ And he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully….Jesus responded, ‘Salvation has come to this home today…’” (Luke 19:1-10)
“Practice hospitality cheerfully…” (1 Peter 4:9)
We are in the third month already! I welcome you into March! I trust that you are intentionally walking in love with one another just as Christ commands and expects of us. My prayer is that our love for one another will not grow cold amidst the challenges of these times in Jesus name. Congratulations also on the completion of the national 50-day fast; the wind of God blows in your favor and accelerates your progress in Jesus name.
Our theme for March is ‘Dining with Jesus” So, what is the Holy Spirit saying to us this month? Building upon the foundation of love, the Holy Spirit is urging us towards intentional hospitality. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, He was frequently hosted in the homes of various individuals. Beyond mere eating and drinking, Jesus utilized these opportunities to teach, heal, save, restore, and communicate love. The Gospel according to Luke contains the most accounts of Jesus' dining events, and we will explore some lessons from them, as well as instances mentioned in the book of John.
In Luke 5:27-32, particularly verse 30, we observe Jesus dining with socially marginalized individuals—those whom the “righteous” of His time deemed unworthy of such honor and attention. It is noteworthy how Jesus responded to the Pharisees in verses 31-32. Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus emphasized that He came not to condemn the world, but to save it. By socially associating with these sinners, Jesus communicated His love and acceptance of them. He did not approve of their sins or the “sickness”, but as the Great Physician, He was calling them to repentance and eternal wholeness (vs 32). A similar event occurred in Luke 7:36-50, where Jesus was invited by a Pharisee to his home. In this particular instance, a notorious sinner woman entered the gathering and offered a unique form of worship. Once again, Jesus reiterated His mission to save the hurting and lost, forgiving the woman's sins and setting her free.
In Luke 9:12-17, a story repeated in John 6:5-13, we encounter the miracle of feeding the 5000. This miracle, following a long teaching session, demonstrated Jesus’ sensitivity to the physical needs of the multitude. Their minds and spirits had been fed with the word of God, but they were physically hungry. Jesus, being sensitive to the state of being of the congregation, knew it was not right to just send them away as Philip suggested (Luke 9:12). Instead, we see Him address this need before sending them off. One major lesson from this story is that nothing is too small to be shared. Or rather, rephrasing it, you do not need to have plenty before you share as illustrated by the boy who willingly offered his lunch. When Andrew came to inform Jesus about the availability of the boy’s lunch, we see him ask a logical yet doubt-filled question many of us ask, “what good is this little among so many people?” (John 6:9). Yet through the power of thanksgiving, Jesus transformed the very little into more than enough (vs 11-13). As a result of this multitude feeding
When, like the widow of Zarephath, we share our little, we see God turn our little to abundant (1 Kings 17:8-16).
In another scenario, the miracle of turning water to wine happened because Jesus was invited to the wedding at Cana (John 2:1-10). So dining with Jesus even at social events should not be overlooked.
In Luke 14:1-24, we witness Jesus dining once again in the house of one of the chief Pharisees. On this occasion, he healed a man suffering from dropsy (now understood as edema, a heart/liver problem). This serves as a great reminder to us: our dining experiences can serve as an extension of God's healing power as long as we have Jesus at the table. During this dinner, Jesus also taught on the importance of humility, doing good to those who cannot repay us, and ensuring that everyone feels welcome at the table. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 highlights Moses' admonition to the children of Israel to seize every opportunity to teach their children, including during meal times, which provide a great opportunity for communion, fellowship, teaching, and learning. Similar dining-teaching moments are also recorded in Luke 10:38-42 and 11:37-53. In Luke 19:5-10, we witness Jesus inviting Himself to Zaccheaus’ house, resulting in a transformative moment in Zaccheaus' life, with Jesus declaring that salvation had come to his house. This underscores the effectiveness of using dining experiences to communicate the gospel to our friends.
Second only to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:9) which has yet to occur is the Last Supper, the most significant dining experience recorded in the time of Jesus here on earth. As Easter approaches this month, it is crucial to grasp the importance of this particular meal. In Luke 22:14-38 and John 13, Jesus introduces this covenant meal, a prophetic ordinance signifying His impending death. Specifically, in Luke 22:19 (also in 1 Corinthians 11:24-25), He taught that each time we partake in the communion (another name for the Last Supper), we are proclaiming His death, remembering Him, His sacrifice, and the profound significance it holds for us as Christians. This meal serves as a reminder of the victory we have in Christ, His body broken for us, and His blood the sign of the new covenant into which we have been redeemed. Also during the Last Supper, Jesus delivers teachings about the Holy Spirit, the importance of serving (or having the heart of a servant even as a leader), and other final instructions before His crucifixion, as outlined in John 13-17. (The next time that Holy Communion is scheduled, be sure to partake in it).
Finally, in Luke 24:28-43 and John 21:1-15, we witness instances of the risen Christ revealing Himself to His disciples through shared meals. In fact, they initially mistook Him for a ghost, and He had to eat physical food to dispel their doubts. Ultimately, dining together fosters fellowship, and where there is fellowship, Christ can be revealed.
There are so many lessons to learn from Jesus' dining experiences during His time on earth; we are encouraged to study the gospels to see how Jesus used this platform to reach out to and connect with people. While some people may not outrightly accept our invitations to church, few will refuse an invitation to a good meal. And it does not need to be anything extravagant; it could be a picnic, a potluck, brunch, anything really. Why? Because food and dining have a remarkable ability to break down barriers and foster openness among individuals, facilitating conversations and connections. The very act of hosting people itself conveys a message of acceptance and warmth to your guests. For those who already belong to the body of believers, such dining gatherings serve as opportunities for grace, mission, consistent communion, community and fostering unity as seen in the early church (Acts 2:46). As hosts, we also stand to benefit from practicing hospitality; Hebrews 13:2 reminds us that some have unknowingly entertained angels, as seen in the example of Abraham in Genesis 18.
I am challenging you this month, and for the rest of this year to do what Jesus did: intentionally invite people over to your table. Share meals and share life. This will be a great thing to practice as God divinely accelerates us this year. Foster grace, be a vessel and channel of blessing to others.
In the series, we shall examine Children, have ye any meat? Jehovah Jireh!, Share meals, share Jesus. #ShareMealShareJesus!