Today we are wrapping up the More Than A Routine series – a series on the habits of Jesus. Now when you think about the habits and practices of Jesus, you think about spiritual things. You think about the practices of prayer, Scripture reading, service, silence, and solitude – which are all things we have covered in this series. But I think today’s practice will surprise many of you. Today, we are going to talk about Jesus' practice of eating and drinking.

Now some of you might say, 'Of course he ate and drank, he was fully human.' But Jesus didn’t simply eat because he needed the sustenance. He ate and drank with a greater purpose.

Before we get into that, it’s important to note that eating and drinking is found throughout the Scriptures. But again, when it is mentioned it carries a greater significance than simply this thing that humans do in order to survive. Just think about the opening chapters of the Bible – in Genesis – Adam and Eve’s disobedience is connected to something they ate. And when the Bible speaks of the end times, of that day when we will be reunited with Jesus, that moment is depicted as a great banquet – this occasion of great feasting.

Not only is eating and drinking found throughout the Scriptures, it is a central theme in the life and ministry of Jesus. In the Gospel of Luke alone, we see countless stories of Jesus eating with people:

● In Luke 5 Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners at the home of Levi.

● In Luke 7 Jesus is anointed at the home of Simon the Pharisee during a meal.

● In Luke 9 Jesus feeds the five thousand.

● In Luke 10 Jesus eats in the home of Martha and Mary.

● In Luke 11 Jesus condemns the Pharisees and teachers of the law at a meal.

● In Luke 14 Jesus is at a meal when he urges people to invite the poor to their meals rather than their friends.

● In Luke 19 Jesus invites himself to dinner with Zacchaeus.

● In Luke 22 we have the account of the Last Supper.

● In Luke 24 the risen Christ has a meal with the two disciples in Emmaus, and then later eats fish with the disciples in Jerusalem.

That’s ten meals in the Gospel of Luke – that’s practically one for every two and a half chapters. This is why theologian Robert Karris comments: "In Luke's Gospel Jesus is either going to a meal, at a meal, or coming from a meal."

And he was criticized for it. Jesus had the reputation of constantly eating and drinking. They knew he wasn’t fasting or requiring his disciples to fast. The Pharisees said to him “…John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking…” (Luke 5:33). Besides Jesus’ 40 day fast in the wilderness after his baptism, there’s not another mention of him fasting.

So because of that, Jesus gained the reputation of being “…a glutton and a drunkard” (Luke 7:34). To be a glutton means that you are eating in excess. To be a drunkard means… Well, we all know what that means. It’s to drink in excess. Think about it. Jesus ate and drank enough that some people thought that he crossed the line – that it was too much. But they misjudged his practice and freedom as excess.

But we can take it and learn from it. When we respect someone and want to learn from them, we should ask or watch what they do repeatedly. If someone does something only once, we can ignore it – that’s not a habit. If they do it occasionally, we should consider it. But if they do it a lot, we should pay attention and also put it into practice because that is what is bearing fruit in their lives. So that’s what I want us to lean into. What can we learn from Jesus in regards to eating and drinking and apply to our lives?

For starters, 1) Jesus rarely ever ate alone. Jesus didn’t simply eat and drink; he shared meals with others. But this is unlike what we are seeing and experiencing today. While a shared meal at the family table was the nightly norm for most American families back in the 60s and 70s, that has been in a steep decline ever since. Robert Putnam, the Harvard political scientist, wrote in his book Bowling Alone that "there has been a 33% decline in families eating together. And half of the families that still eat together do so around the TV. There has also been a 45% decline in entertaining friends." (paraphrase) Now, do you know when Robert Putnam published Bowling Alone? In the year 2000. Do you think the situation has gotten better or worse?

By the way, did you guys know that I’m a bowler?

I didn’t grow up going to church. On Sunday mornings we grew up going to the bowling alley. We were in leagues. We were there from noon to 6pm. And I still take my boys during the summer. But the reason Putnam called his book Bowling Alone is because while bowling is now more popular than ever – at least it was in 2000 – people are doing it more alone; there are fewer leagues. (We should start a church league. John and I might be the only ones in it.)

Now this issue of eating alone I believe is exacerbated in San Francisco. San Francisco has the highest number of single residents in the country – estimated to be at 40%. The reality is that about half of you probably have more days in the week where you eat alone, than where you eat at least one meal with another human. (I have to give the caveat of another human because some of you would count your dog.)

Now, I just gave you a bunch of depressing stats. But why is a meal with others important? Because that is where life is shared. That’s where bonds are formed. Tell me a meaningful relationship that you can have without ever sharing a meal. And having meaningful relationships is a major source of our happiness and fulfillment.

Many of you have heard of the Harvard Longitudinal Study that found that what leads to health and happiness is not money or achievement; but it’s good relationships. But how many of you are making time for those relationships? You’ll hear me say something like this more than once today: While relationships are not all about sharing meals together; you can’t have a deep relationship without the practice of sharing meals together.

Now let me give you a practice that you can apply to your life starting today. It will be easier for some than it is for others. Aim to have at least one meal a day with another person. Now for families this is much easier to do. Dinner is the obvious choice. But don’t eat in front of the TV. Do it in the round, with no tech present, and linger while hearing each other's stories from the day. Another thing that Putnam mentions is that in the U.S. the average meal has been cut to twenty minutes. We eat fast. I remember visiting Spain, walking by a family eating lunch, and three hours later when walking by again that family was still there. I hated it for the restaurant owner but I loved it for the family.

For my singles, what would it look like for you to be more strategic with your lunch and dinner times? I’m not going to sugarcoat this… you might deal with some rejection as you seek to live this out. But let me tell you, in the long run it will be worth it.

So point one: Jesus rarely ate alone. So we should seek to follow his pattern – at least once a day. Now secondly, 2) Jesus saw the table – sharing a meal – as an opportunity for ministry and mission; not just as another opportunity to eat and drink. Let me show this to you in this way.

There are three times in the Gospels that Jesus uses the phrase The Son of Man in reference to himself. The phrase comes from Daniel 7 and refers to one who comes before God to receive authority over the nations. Don’t miss this. He comes to receive authority over all people. Now look at the three times Jesus uses the phrase:

● Mark 10:45 - For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

● Luke 19:10 - For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

● Luke 7:34 - The Son of Man came eating and drinking…

The first two explain his purpose. Jesus came to seek and save the lost (to bring salvation), and he came to sacrifice and serve others. That’s his purpose. He uses his authority to serve and to save. Now the last reference explains his method. He came to serve and save, all the while eating and drinking with others (through fellowship). Jesus consistently chose the table as the place where the kingdom of God would break in — not the temple steps, not the lecture hall, but at a table having a meal with real people.

Look at the full line of the Son of Man statement: The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by all her children.” (Luke 7:34-35) Jesus’ practice of eating and drinking was connected to his grace and friendship with tax collectors and sinners. His excess of food and drink wasn’t for the sake of the food and drink; it was an outreach to the people in front of him. Jesus constantly ate with people that others didn’t dare to eat with. Grace, community, and mission all came together at the table for Jesus.

Like Jesus, we should also see the table as an opportunity for ministry and mission. I remember hearing about a pastor who challenged his church to invite someone to a meal in their home before they invited them to church. What if we were to do the same? Wouldn’t that make evangelism easier?

Church, evangelism and discipleship happens around meals. At least it did for a large part for Jesus. Now let’s be clear, discipleship is not only about meals; but it’s not possible without them. This is why as part of our Community Groups structure we want every group to meet around the table at least once a month. The goal is to share a meal, share stories, and pray. Tell me that life change is not possible in that setting.

And when you have people over for a meal, it doesn’t have to be elaborate. Don’t put up the barrier that your place is too small, or that it’s not nice enough. As it says in Proverbs, Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred. (Proverbs 15:17) When he mentions a fattened calf, do you know what he’s describing there? Filet mignon. You don’t need all that. Now, whatever you put before someone to eat needs to be edible; and we should strive for excellence. But when inviting people over it doesn’t have to be fancy. Just make sure love is present. That’s what Jesus did. He was present with those in front of him and he saw them and served them. See your table as the place where mission and ministry happen.

Now, let’s transition from “here’s what Jesus did” to “here’s what Jesus is still doing, with you, right now.” Here’s my third and final point: 3) Jesus is still setting a table and inviting you and me to eat with him. In Revelation 3:20 Jesus says, Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. (Revelation 3:20) That is a promise to each of us. Jesus will not force his way into our lives. But he’s wondering if we will invite him into our hearts and share a meal with him – which is representative of sharing our lives with him.

Our life with him here is a meal; and when we will be with him again – in heaven – that is depicted as a meal too. In Luke 14 Jesus tells a parable of a great banquet. He is referring to that great reunion that will take place when we pass from this life to the next. The key theme of the parable is that all are invited – but it’s up to you and I whether we come and stay. In the parable a man throws a banquet and invites the “poor, crippled, blind and lame” after the invited guests decline. A big part of the gospel is that we are the poor, lame, and blind. As long as we think otherwise we will never see our need for Jesus.

So today, before we start setting the table in order to share a meal with others, let’s first come to the table of Jesus. We are going to do that through the practice of communion. Jesus gave us this sacrament to do on a regular basis so that we would always remember that Jesus eagerly desires to eat with each of us – to be in relationship with us. Look at what took place during that first communion moment with Jesus and his disciples.

14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” 17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. (Luke 22:14-20)

Just as Jesus did with the bread and the fish when he fed the five thousand – he took it, gave thanks for it, broke it, and gave it – he does the same here with the bread. One commentator writes that Luke is making the connection that Jesus is the Messiah who provides for God’s people and hosts God’s great banquet. He provides for us in the here and now, and for all eternity.

We are invited to the table – and as a result we should invite others to the table. But for now, let us take communion together as a picture of God’s great invitation to us, and our desire to sit and eat with Jesus.