Finding Connections at the Table

By Emma Rooker

When I pour over the pages of the Gospels, observe the life of my Savior, I realize how fully human Jesus actually was. We talk a lot about the human nature of His suffering, the excruciating pain that He endured, the solemn moments of his human-ness. There is weight and significance to those motifs. But, I never want to forget that Jesus knew the joys of His humanity too. He knew what it was like to walk in the cool of the day, to feel the sun on His skin after it had rained for too many days in a row. He knew the sound of His own laughter, and was familiar with the voices of His siblings, parents, and friends. Because of the implications of His humanity, He deeply understood and shared in the need for both spiritual sustenance and physical sustenance.

Jesus’ Appetite

This week, I am reminded that Jesus knew what it was like to eat—to favor different foods and perhaps dislike them too. The Gospel writers, especially Luke, take note of His many meals with people. He was fully aware of the power that food held, and He used it to draw people near to Him while extending an invitation into the Kingdom of God.

The Scriptures are brimming with stories of Jesus sharing meals with people and what we know of represents a glimpse into his daily life. Imagine all of the meals, laughter, and transformations that took place at the tables where He was a guest. I think often of the scene near the ocean after Jesus’ resurrection in John 21, when He eats breakfast on the beach with the disciples. And earlier, in John’s gospel account, where Jesus prepared a table in a wide, open space. The table was spread with bread and fish, picnic-style, for a crowd of thousands (John 6:1-14). Jesus understood the beauty of sharing food in a corporate sense, and He also knew the satisfaction of preparing food and eating it with the humans that He loved.

Jesus Shared Meals with the Lost

People who had been deemed detestable and unlovable by society—He sought them out. Though He had little to His own name, Jesus freely extended hospitality to those around Him, even when it cost Him His reputation.

He used the simplicity of a meal to live out His mission: to seek and to save the lost, and to bridge the divide between opposing sides in His first century world.

There’s no doubt that our own world is in turmoil. Just read the colorful opinions and angry posts floating around on social media. Take in the messages flying in all directions from street corners. Common ground can feel incredibly out of reach and impossible to find. When Jesus walked the earth, people were no less divided. And yet, Jesus made space in places people might be more inclined to find common ground (around a shared meal) to create connection over hard conversations. Jesus regularly gathered people from all walks of life at the dinner table in an act of His unifying love and undying compassion for the people He came to save.

Jesus Built Community Around a Table

I sense it, in the space that I currently call home, where I share my sink and cupboards and hot sauce and dark chocolate peanut butter cups from Trader Joes with four other women. I sense it in the evenings when each of us happens to be home all at once, and we migrate to the living room and congregate around the coffee table because we only own four chairs and there are five of us.

I sensed it at a waffle place just this morning with my friend Morgan. Food is nothing short of being a form of worship for me, especially when shared with the family of God. Jesus met the most unlikely characters in the story of God around tables, and so it is with us.

He sought out simple, effective, interactions with those around Him, and not because He was merely biologically related to a group of people. No, He did this because He understood the overarching plans of the Father, and was well aware that He was foreshadowing what would eventually be revealed in the early church.

Jesus knew that after the event of Pentecost, the table would be open to everyone: to the Gentiles and the Jews, to you, and to me.

During His ministry Jesus took something as simple and habitual as a meal, and shared it with others. His hope was that someday, He would share a meal with us in Heaven.

Walking through the mountains and valleys of my life, I’ve realized how fully human I am too—that I am flesh and bone—that I feel pain, and loneliness, and joy. More than ever, I’m aware of how much I need human connection. I need someone to look me in the eye and ask me how I’m really doing. I need to feel worthy of belonging and of receiving love, and of being listened to.

Our Place at the Table

I don’t know which tables we will find ourselves at this week, or how many people will join us. I don’t know if those people will be our family, chosen family, friends, or if they will be strangers. Wherever we do find ourselves, I pray that we are witnesses to His presence at our tables. That we would be agents of His hospitality, compassion and joy as we consume and commune with one another.

To those of you gathered together with loved ones, may you sense Him there, in the pieces of His character that He’s deposited in every person, whether they are aware of it or not. I pray that your conversation is meaningful, and that you might be brave enough to ask questions that acknowledge the hard things and offer up hope to one another.

Let us not be surprised at Jesus’ appearance at our tables, but take our places there fully expectant of His arrival because we have long since asked Him to come.

He is consistent in showing up.

To the ones who sit alone – may you feel His arms gathering you up and holding you close.

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42-47)