A Meal Together

Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared to ask Him, "Who are you?" because they knew it was the Lord.

John 21:12 (NRSVUE)

Read the Gospels and multiple things will be clear to you. One such discovery is that Jesus loved people and He loved feeding people. There were the miraculous occasions, when He fed 5,000 and then 4,000 with just a few fish and loaves. There were the gentle, caring occasions such as in Luke 8:55 after He raised a girl to life. There was the mind-boggling, grace-filled, mysterious occasion of the last supper, when Jesus fed His disciples with the body and blood of the savior of the world. All throughout His ministry, Jesus made sure people were fed.

After Jesus was raised from the dead, once and for all defeating death and winning salvation for all in accordance with the scriptures (praise God!), He appeared to some of His disciples by the sea as we read at the end of the Gospel of John and invited them to eat some food. I just can’t help but smile at this every time I read it—the incarnate Son of God, the ancient, uncreated one seated at the right hand of the Father, always makes sure that our bellies are full.

The week that this devotion goes out is the week that people across the country will sit down for a Thanksgiving meal with one another. Jesus clearly knew the power of a good meal. Why is this important? Because Jesus invites us to follow Him, and to serve those around us in the same way.

Jesus didn’t ask who was in the crowd of 5,000 before blessing the food and feeding them, He simply had compassion for them as we read in Matthew 14:14. Jesus didn’t ask His disciples to perform some grandiose expression of recognition as He appeared to them once resurrected, He simply told them to come, sit down, and eat.

Jesus shows us that love doesn’t have to be complicated. It is in compassion, hospitality, and generosity that the savior’s example is made. I pray that you and those you love have a blessed time as you eat a meal together this week. Moreover, I pray that we are all able to emulate the love of Christ and follow the path He has laid out for us.

Thankfully, it can be as simple as breakfast. Come and have a seat.