LUNCH WITH FRIENDS

Every so often we get together with our out-of-town friends.  We eat lunch and then find a corner where we can chat away.   The guys talking about – guy stuff.  The gals talking about grandchildren, new recipes, travel, church, the weather and husbands.   Good food, good friends, good conversation.  It doesn’t get much better than that.

Have you ever noticed how often Jesus eats?  He went to at least one wedding.  He had dinner at Levi’s house.  He picked heads of grain to eat, as he went through the grain fields  -  on the Sabbath no less.  He talked with Mary while Martha finished the meal prep. Jesus had a way with fish and loaves.  Jesus invited himself to Matthew’s home.  Oh my!  He ate at the home of a tax collector.  Apparently Jesus failed to abide by the local social standings in his choice of companions.  He had a final meal with those he had chosen.  Jesus even ate fish with his disciples after he died.

We spend time with our friends because, even after all these years, there are new things to learn about each other.  We recall old memories.  We make new memories.  We trust them with our worries and they know we are there for them.  We find new things to laugh about.  We spend time with our friends because we love them! 

I have a feeling these are the exact reasons Jesus ate at so many homes.  On the hillsides with thousands.  In a quiet, upstairs room, with his beloved disciples.

NEW THINGS TO LEARN:  I picture Jesus, making eye contact, listening to every word Levi said.  What story would Levi tell on himself? 

MEMORIES OLD AND NEW:  Can you hear the disciples share stories about walking through fields when they were young?  Can you picture Mary listening as Jesus quietly spoke?  Can you imagine a hillside full of people telling others about the fish and loaves and then asking, “Were you there?”

NEW THINGS TO LAUGH ABOUT:  Do you suppose Jesus chuckled when he thought about the “high and mighty” watching him enter the home of a tax collector?  Chuckle?  I bet before he went to sleep that night, he told God, “Did you see the look on their faces?”  I bet God replied, “Told you it would cause a stir and, my goodness, they knew about it on the other side of town before you got all the way in the door.  Now rest.”

BECAUSE HE LOVED THEM:  Plain and simple:  Jesus loved them!!

OR MAYBE – JUST MAYBE

Maybe my premise is all wrong.  Maybe, just maybe, Jesus ate with all these people – the disciples, women, children, men, sinners – so they could know HIM.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. 

We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son,

who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

Maybe, just maybe, Jesus ate with all these people so they could learn about HIM.