Hospitality continued: Jesus

"There are many places in the gospels where Jesus is found eating and drinking with the wrong type of people. "

In John 2:1-11 we have the account of Jesus’ first miracle where he turns water into wine. This is Jesus demonstrating on earth what will be in heaven. The people were amazed that the best wine was given out at the end. This is a foretaste of the Isaiah prophecy.

Jesus gets in trouble with the religious leaders for doing acts of kindness on the Sabbath and for eating with the wrong type of people. Mark describes one such incident like this: ‘While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and “sinners”?’ (Mark 2:15–16).

The commentator Jeriamas helps us understand the indignation felt by the religious leaders to this seemingly innocuous kind act of eating with sinners. He says, ‘It is important to realize that in the east, even today, to invite a man to a meal was an honour. It was an offer of peace, trust, brotherhood and forgiveness. In short, sharing a table meant sharing life. Thus Jesus’ meals with the publican and sinners are an expression of his mission and message.’

There are many places in the gospels where Jesus is found eating and drinking with the wrong type of people. So much so that at one point they accused him being a glutton and a drunkard (Luke 7:34).

NT Wright writes, ‘In particular, he ate and drank with all sorts and conditions of people, sometimes in the atmosphere of celebration. He ate with sinners, and kept company with people normally on or beyond the borders of respectable.’

He also says, ‘Most writers now agree that eating with sinners was one off the most characteristic and striking marks of Jesus’ regular activity. Jesus was, as it were, celebrating the messianic banquet, and doing so with all the wrong people.’

He was an amazing and generous host at one time providing a picnic for 5,000 people. At other times we see him eating with his dear friends Mary and Martha and their brother Lazarus. His final meal with his twelve disciples as they celebrated the Passover was an amazing moment, full of intimacy and treachery.

With this in mind, to be a disciple of Jesus must be to follow his example of enjoying eating and drinking with all types of people, knowing that we are in some way bringing a touch of heaven to peoples lives on earth.

Hospitality continued: Jesus

In John 2:1-11 we have the account of Jesus’ first miracle where he turns water into wine. This is Jesus demonstrating on earth what will be in heaven. The people were amazed that the best wine was given out at the end. This is a foretaste of the Isaiah prophecy.