Communion: Eating with an invisible guest
Luke, one of Jesus’ biographers, tells us Jesus often ate.
In Luke 5 Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners at the home of Levi.
In Luke 7 Jesus is anointed at Simon the Pharisee’s home 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 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.”
Luke paints Jesus to look like Brad Pitt in Oceans 11. He is constantly eating. As Tim Chester points out Jesus was a “party animal.” He is accused of being “a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” (7:34 RSV).
Jesus eating goes beyond mere sustenance. Around tables Jesus transformed sinners into sons of Abraham (19:9 RSV). He taught and made disciples around the dinner table. The table in Luke’s gospel is one of Jesus’ favorite spots to make disciples. He eats, not just with people who were like him but with sinners, strangers and others.
Hospitality is not simply kindness to strangers. Jesus’ hospitality transforms the stranger into a guest. The guest into a friend. And a friend into family. This transformation happens when we are welcomed into God’s kingdom. New Testament scholar, Joshua Jipp, says that Jesus, in Luke’s Gospel, announces his public ministry by proclaiming “the year of the Lord’s welcome.”
Jesus regularly ate with the stranger, sinner, and other. Jesus upsets the religious leaders by showing hospitality to disreputable people. God’s welcome is extended to those who are outside. This hospitality is indiscriminate and inclusive.
This Sunday Garden City is going to eat with Jesus, a meal we call communion. When we take communion we host Jesus as our invisible guest. This guest behaves strangely. We welcome him as a guest, but he becomes a host. A host that welcomes us into God’s presence.
What’s coming up at Garden City:
1️⃣ JOIN Series Finale & Membership Celebration – On Sunday April 6, our JOIN series concludes with a special membership celebration at The Para Project. We’d love for you to be there as we mark this moment together!
2️⃣ Identity Retreat #2 – Our first Identity Retreat was such a joy that we’re doing it again! If you missed the first one (or just want to experience it again), this is your chance. Spots are limited so sign up asap.
3️⃣ FOR Columbia – Join us in serving our city through FOR Columbia. Let’s love our neighbors and make an impact together. Registration closes on April 13 so sign up today!
Get more details and sign up here
See you Sunday, we’ll save you a seat!
Because he likes us,
Garden City
