A Meal with Jesus by Tim Chester
Jessalyn Hutto
In his book A Meal with Jesus, Tim Chester takes us on a journey back in time–to a very important time–when our Savior walked the earth and sat down to enjoy food and fellowship with his creation. We are reminded that food was not simply created for fuel, but rather as an expression of the goodness of God. “Every time we eat, we celebrate again our dependence on God and his faithfulness to his creation. Every time.” (pg.70) Not only does food direct us to the sustainer of life, but food itself is a good gift meant to be celebrated in a way that leads us back to the good God who lavishes it upon his creation: “The point is that food isn’t just fuel. It’s not just a mechanism for sustaining us for ministry. It’s gift, generosity, grace. Jesus gave thanks and broke bread. In so doing, he affirms that food is to be received as a gift from God. Food matters as matter. It’s physical substance, and part of God’s good world. We’re to embrace the world as it is–not merely as a picture of some other spiritual world.” (pg. 67) By taking a close look at the way Jesus himself enjoyed food and took advantage of the meals he was a part of for ministry, we see that this naturaland good activity of eating and extending hospitality is an important part of our lives, not to be separated from other “more spiritual” activities...
Read More