Jesus liked to eat. He said so Himself: “The Son of Man has come eating and drinking” (Lk. 7:34). Much of Luke’s gospel happened at the table. Levi, the tax collector-turned-disciple, “made Him a great feast in his house” (Lk. 5:29). Martha eagerly “welcomed him into her house” along with her sister (cf. Lk. 10:38-42). The tax collector Zacchaeus was all joy when Jesus said, “I must stay at your house today” (cf. Lk. 19:5-6). In every case, His presence at the table brought salvation to that house (Lk. 19:9). And no house? No problem! After a day of preaching and healing in a desolate place, Jesus kept breaking five bread loaves and two fish until a crowd 5,000 strong “all ate and were satisfied” with plenty left over (cf. Lk. 9:10-17).
Yet, not everyone saw all of this as a blessing. “Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!” some said (Lk. 7:34). Though oddly enough, that didn’t keep them from inviting Him to dinner, too. Simon “asked Him to eat with him” as did another unnamed Pharisee – though they may have regretted it after the stirs He caused (cf. Lk. 7:36-50, 11:37-54). Then there was the Sabbath dinner “at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees” (Lk. 14:1). Knowing they were “watching Him carefully”, Jesus’ opening act was healing a man – knowing the box-checking Pharisees would be offended by such “work” on the day of rest – followed by statements and stories directly confronting some of the deepest issues of their hearts (cf. Lk. 14:1-24). Maybe it’s a coincidence, but Luke didn’t record any more dinner invitations from the Pharisees after that one.
Jesus certainly didn’t give up on the table, though. Some of His most famous teachings came in response to the Pharisees and scribes grumbling about Him eating with sinners (cf. Lk. 15:1-32). Through the father’s voice in the climatic parable of the prodigal, Jesus showed God’s heart: “Let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found” (Lk. 15:23-24). Jesus did exactly that. Hours before His crucifixion, Jesus eagerly reclined at table with His apostles, offering them the bread as His body and the cup as His blood as celebratory signs of covenant and kingdom (cf. Lk. 22:14-30). And after the crucifixion, “He was at table” on Resurrection Sunday when the eyes of two disciples were opened “in the breaking of the bread” to the startling truth, “The Lord has risen indeed!” (Lk. 24:28-35).
Because whenever you dine with Jesus, it is always more than a meal. Lessons are taught. Hearts are changed. Examples are given that bring us life as we follow them. As citizens of Christ’s kingdom here, this is the opportunity for us every time we come to the table.
More than a ritual, the Lord’s Supper is an opportunity to be transformed by the presence of Jesus Christ Himself. Join us as we learn how to truly come to the table at https://www.georgetownchurchofchrist.com/come-to-the-table.