Jesus and Food: Insights from the Gospels

Luna and I walk most every days now as we have the sun so much earlier. She has to sniff all the sniffs and I learn breathing and calming techniques as I wait for her little nose to be ready to move on to the next delight. Here’s some things I have picked up as we have been walking together for a few years. The first half mile has to be all the sniffs. I know where she will head next, unless she has decided to mix it up a bit. I also have learned that a closed hand on the leash at all times is critical. We have 3, 000 squirrels, 2,500 bunnies, countless robins, sparrows and other various distractions. Side note: bunnies standing like a statue does not really work as a defense mechanism. Her predecessor could walk next to me without a leash without any issues (after a few years of trust building). I know that this is not a viable option for the above mentioned. Recently, I watched a neighbor let his dogs loose in the park. One did just fine, the other was not interested in listening to the owner’s urgent suggestions of coming back. Having met both dogs, this fell into place with their little personalities. It was a surprise to see him running and calling for his dog. Knowing my dog and her penchant for adventure, I choose joy. haha.

I’m not sure the first time I heard this verse: Mark 7:37 “They were extremely astonished and said, ‘He has done everything well! He even makes deaf people hear, and people unable to speak, talk!'” I read it with a catch in my throat every time. Not that I would expect anything else, but that Mark makes note of this, reminding the audience as well. Something I keep learning over and over, the more I think on Jesus, the more peace fills my heart. So I am turning my mind and heart to this. What did Jesus do well? Everything. What is everything?

I decided to split things up so I could go a little deeper on a few topics. It also occurs to me that there are four gospels written to everything Jesus did/does well so I may have bitten off more than I can chew, which is a nice tie in to the first topic. haha.

My first thought that I’m sure is an obvious, but food was communal event during this time. There was an invitation. There was a plan. Bread to be made. Meat to be, well, made into meat. Fish to be caught, to be seasoned, etc. Water to be drawn. Wine to be poured. Jesus did meals well.

Think of the beginning of his ministry, calling the four, after a night of no fish. Calling them to become fishers of men. Fish was their income, their food. Now, they were called to gather men, bring them to Jesus.

Remember Matthew? Zacchaeus? A pattern of coming to dinner and making the teachers of the law uncomfortable, but sitting with those who needed him the most. He went straight to the sinners, tax collectors. He went directly to the hearts. Think of the discussions! Of course we hear of Jesus speaking sharply with the teachers, but we don’t hear all the other conversations. The food passed. Eyes met. Love spoken with and without words.

Thinking on Jesus like this, I realize I’m not good with having people over at our house. I can blame events that happened years ago. I could blame that I have piles everywhere and I wouldn’t want someone to think badly of me for not having a well put together house. Yet, as I consider what happens over a meal, conversation, connection, etc, I have been missing out for a long time. Nobody I know who loves me is going to be thinking about the state of my house. Nobody is coming to my house to spend time with my house. Not only that, when my house is closed, I’m also not aware of those who need a meal or also need community. As a dear one says, I don’t want to make it all about me. Haha. Who’s alone on a holiday? Who could use time in a crazy house with crazy animals and loud people?

That’s what time with Jesus does. What do I do with what he is showing me about himself? How do I respond to his invitation to be a part of the meal, the community? How often do we refrain from reaching out because of shame or pride?

The next way we see Jesus move around food is the feeding of the 5000+ and 4000+. In Mark 6, the disciples and Jesus are weary. The disciples have just returned from a Jesus sent mission and Jesus tells them to come and rest. The crowds followed and pursued from towns and places all around. They recognized Jesus. What did they recognize? The Scripture doesn’t say. It does say that he had compassion on them. He recognized. He saw they needed him, “…they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then he began to teach them many things.” Mark 6:34b-35 HCSB

There was no waste in these meals either. Jesus had them gather the leftovers. I wonder what stories were told with the leftovers as they traveled to houses. You need to hear the story about this fish! Listen to all I learned while eating this bread. Ministry continuing on. Of course, it does bear repeating the disciples forgot to take any as they left. (Mark 8:19-21) Yet, the even greater reminder stands. Jesus provides.

Finally, (truly there is so much more!!) we think about the Last Supper. The invitation to turn the Passover meal into a remembrance of the sacrifice of Jesus, because in this care, it really is all about him! The invitation to become a part of a different kind of leadership, servanthood. Laying down one’s life for all. Washing the feet of the disciples.

On this memorial day 2026, we stop and remember all those who paid the ultimate price so we can be free. Those that will never come home for another meal so we can have all the freedoms America has provided. So I stop and give thanks for how Jesus demonstrated this sacrifice so that all might live and be with him in heaven one day. And I stop and give thanks for all those who have served and followed his lead.