In the gospels, eating with Jesus was surprisingly simple, and a great challenge to church planters today.
Surely Jesus believed that prostitutes were sinners, yet he welcomed them to his table. He ate and drank with them.
Surely Jesus understood that tax collectors, betrayed their countrymen by helping the brutal Roman occupiers in his homeland, yet you could find him eating with sinners like tax collectors; he welcomed them to his table as well.
Surely Jesus knew that religious hypocrites misrepresented Yahweh’s heart toward his people and laid heavy burdens on God’s people, yet he dined with them (this, too, was eating with sinners) and invited them to participate in his Father’s kingdom.
Surely Jesus saw first-hand Peter’s temper, James and John’s foolish nationalism, even Judas’ tortured and divided motivations, yet he broke bread with each one of them, sharing his very blood and body.
Jesus welcomed everyone to his table. He welcomed the clueless and the cruel. He engaged the outcast and the insider. He shared his life with his enemies because he came to turn enemies into family. His method was startling: he ate and drank with them. Wherever Jesus ate, it was his table. He turned water into wine and transformed ritual into everlasting love.
He turned no one away from his table.
He gave no one a pass on his or her rebellion or self-destructive ways. The sinless perfect representative of God’s heart never lowered his standards or winked at injustice. Still, around his table everyone was welcome. He was no lightweight: if a moment called for brutal honestly, he fulfilled that need as well. He did not negotiate, he fellowshipped.
He set an example for us to follow. On his way to the cross he stopped to eat and drink each day, and each day he welcomed his enemies to his table. At the cross, he did what only he could do. At the table, he demonstrated what we can do.
He refused to let disagreement separate him from others. Jesus possessed the proper opinions, the right positions, and perfect perspective, but never–not once–did he use his correct standing as a reason to alienate other people.
Who is welcome at your table?
This article originally appeared here, and is used by permission.
