There is nothing like sharing a meal with lots of friends or family. Big meals are shared on holidays and special occasions like birthdays and graduations or showers. People gather to share a meal after funerals or to celebrate the life of a loved one. Sometimes large groups will get together to share a meal just for fun. No matter when groups of people get together and eat it is always a special time. It is the sharing of the meal that adds a new dimension to the process of eating.
The chef pours a little bit of him or herself into the planning and preparation of that meal. That "little bit" is called love. The hope is that those that eat the meal will be satisfied - both physically and emotionally. And when the chef sees folks coming back for seconds or thirds of the meal and asking for leftovers, or hears those magic words, 'Thank you', that is the chefs ultimate reward.
During a shared meal, you find a chance to build relationships, learn more about each other, or have a 'hard' conversation. There is laughter and sometimes tears. These kinds of things just naturally happen when you are sharing a meal and the added bonus --you will be making memories.
One of the last things Jesus did with all His friends before He was arrested and died on the cross, was share a meal. I find this interesting and enlightening.
It was a holiday - the first day of the Festival of Unleavened bread. The disciples ask Jesus where He wants them to prepare the Passover meal. Jesus told them where to go, who to speak to and what to say. And the disciples did as Jesus told them to do and prepared the meal in that house. When evening came and it was time for the meal, Jesus 12 friends gathered with him to enjoy the Passover meal. There was conversation I am sure - maybe about the weather, maybe about politics and then Jesus tells them, "...one of you will betray me." (Matthew 26:21) I bet you could have heard a pin drop. After the shock of what He said sinks in, each one in turn asks "Am I the one, Lord?" Without saying a name, Jesus identifies His betrayer. Then, "Judas, the one who would betray Him, also asked, "Rabbi, am I the one?" "And Jesus told him, "You have said it." (Matthew 26: 23 - 25)
Talk about a hard conversation. Talk about learning more about each other. Talk about being called out on something.
In this case, the time spent sharing a meal was immediately following all the time Jesus spent preparing His friends for His death. I do not claim to know everything about Jesus, but what I do know is that He loved His friends and I think this last shared meal was as much for Jesus and for prophecy to be fulfilled as it was for the disciples. It was important that Jesus spend this last amount of time with them. He loved them and He wanted them to remember.
Now, perhaps the disciples were in denial or perhaps they did not fully understand it all, the Bible is not clear as to whether the rest even heard the conversation between Judas and Jesus, so maybe they were just glad to know they weren't the betrayer, but either way, they walked away from that meal satisfied physically and emotionally because when the meal was over "they sang a hymn and then went out to the Mount of Olives." (Matthew 26: 30)
What we can learn from the last shared meal of Jesus is that it happened, it was important, it was satisfying and it was filled with love. Following in Jesus footsteps means that we need to make sharing a meal happen, whether with family or friends or both. It is as important to the partakers as it is to the chef. And adding that extra ingredient of love will make the memories created all the more sweet and satisfying.
Bon appétit!!
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