A Simple Meal!

April 14, 2022

A Simple Meal!

I don’t need an extravagant meal when I get together with friends. 

Oh, I know how to use two spoons, three forks, two knives, a finger bowl, and a cloth napkin.  I know it is not proper to start eating until the host/hostess has taken their seat and makes the first move.  I also know in many families there is a prayer after all the food has been set on the table. 

Sometimes I enjoy an elegant dining experience.  But, I don’t need all these fancy things to connect with friends over a meal.  Commonsense and good food are a great combination.  A simple prayer and engaging conversation are a blessing. 

Jesus invited His disciples to join Him for dinner.  Although no one else knew, it was the evening Jesus would be arrested and thrown in jail.  It was the evening before Jesus would be whipped to the point of death and then die while suspended on a cross. 

No one knew what was coming after the meal except Jesus.  So while they lie on the floor eating the meal, Jesus recites the narrative of the traditional Jewish Passover Meal.  The words were familiar and comforting. 

With each item on the plate, Jesus tells a part of the story of how the Lord God saves His people, delivers His people, and loves His people.  Between the narratives, Jesus offers the traditional prayers of the Passover Meal.

This is a simple meal rather than a grand banquet or amazing buffet.  This meal is not so much about eating delicious food in an extravagant place as it is about friends coming together to share the blessings of God and life with friends.

No knew it was the last meal Jesus would share with them before He was executed.  Instead, a simple meal with friends becomes a deeply spiritual moment. 

At the center of the meal, was bread and wine.  Jesus tells the group to gather often to share the loaf and cup with one another.  We do the same today; we call this meal with friends the Last Supper, Holy Communion, or the Eucharist (Thanksgiving).

If you live in the North Platte area, I invite you to join in our celebration of the Last Supper this evening at 7:00 p.m.

It is a simple meal with friends that points to the Lord God’s saving grace, the Holy Spirit’s powerful deliverance, and Jesus’ amazing love for you and me. 

When we share in a simple meal with friends, we have the opportunity to know the love of God and the love of friends.  When we experience this love, our hearts are filled with delight.

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug