Almost ever major event or celebration is occasioned by a big meal. This isn’t just true of our culture. People have been feasting for generations all over the world. A shared meal has great power to bind people together in shared memory and celebration.
“Few acts are more expressive of companionship than the shared meal... Someone with whom we share food is likely to be our friend, or well on the way to becoming one. ”
Luke is the only Gospel writer who mentions that “the Son of Man came eating and drinking" (Luke 7:34). In fact, most of the major events in his Gospel surround a meal. Robert Karris writes, “In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus is either going to a meal, at a meal, or coming from a meal.”
This fall, we are going to look at some of the most important meals recorded for us in the Gospels:
Sunday, September 10 – The Feast at Levi's (Luke 5:27-32) – You can download the podcast here: "The Feast at Levi'"
Sunday, September 17 – The Wedding at Cana (John 2:1-12) – You can download the podcast here: "The Wedding at Cana"
Sunday, September 24 – Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42)
Sunday, October 1 – A Dinner with Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10)
Sunday, October 8 – The Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:12-35)
In light of our sermon series, here is what we are reading...
Tim Chester: A Meal with Jesus: Discovering Grace, Community, & Mission Around the Table
TED TALK: Carolyn Steel: How Food Shapes Our Cities - VIDEO - A look at the importance of food in the modern world and in the ancient world, including the world of the Gospels.
Robert Karris: Eating Your Way Through Luke's Gospel