A Theology of Food Part 3

Food plays a major role in Jesus’ life and ministry.

In the wilderness, Jesus is tempted by Satan to turn stones into bread. Jesus refuses and quotes Deuteronomy 8:3. For his first miracle, Jesus turns water into wine. He won’t turn stones into bread, but he will turn water into wine. I like that.

During a conversation with a woman at a well, he offers her living water that will quench her thirst once and for all. Later, when his disciples try to get him to eat some food, he tells them that his food is to do the will of God. (John 4:1-34)

How did Jesus communicate acceptance of sinners and outcasts?

He ate with them.

In Acts, how did God communicate to Peter that the good news about Jesus was for all people and not just Israel?

With a vision about food.

God reverses what is taught in Leviticus and declares all food clean. Peter realizes this is God’s way of saying that all people can be included at the table of Jesus.

In his teachings and parables, Jesus describes the Kingdom of God as a feast or banquet.

Matthew 8:11 (NIV)
11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

He builds this image on Isaiah 25:6.
6 On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine- the best of meats and the finest of wines.

This feast shows up again in Revelation.

Revelation 19:9 (NIV)
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.”

Before he died what did Jesus gives his disciples to help them celebrate and remember who he was and what he was about to do for them?

He taps into the festive tradition of Israel and gives them a meal.

For 2000 years, Jesus disciples have been remembering him with food.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (NIV)
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

In Luke 24, the resurrected Jesus is recognized by two disciples when he takes bread and breaks it.

Then there’s John 6. After feeding a crowd of over 5000 people, Jesus gives this teaching to a crowd of people still hungry for food.

“I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

“I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.”

Taken literally, this is an offensive teaching. When read as invitation to feast on the teachings of Jesus so as to be filled with his life-giving Spirit, it becomes the key to survival.

Let’s take one more bite in part 4.