Jesus used a number of pedagogical methods for teaching his disciples (and the crowds). At times, he went into theological discourse (John 3, with Nicodemus), other times he used parables. There were even times still he taught using “act-speech”—that is, teaching a lesson through action. A great example of this is his conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well. The lesson? The Kingdom of God is about love, forgiveness, mercy, grace, and breaking cultural norms if needed.
The greatest example of this, of course, is his voluntary suffering and death.
One of the greatest “act-speech” lessons that Jesus taught was the Last Supper.
This was one of Jesus’ last opportunities to speak with and teach his disciples in private. This is his parting lesson to them. Interesting, isn’t it, that he didn’t go into discourse, nor did he share parables with them. Rather, he shared a meal with them. They broke bread together. Not only this, but it around sharing this meal that the new covenant is set up.
This isn’t the only setting in which Jesus shares a meal with his disciples. He shares another meal with them on the beach after his resurrection. He makes them breakfast on the shore while they are out fishing again, wondering what the future held now that their Rabbi was gone (what is Jesus doing for you while you’re off on your own, confused and trying to figure it out?).
This, for me at least, speaks volumes to the character of God. Jesus, more than anything else, revealed to the world Who God Is. He showed them who he is through his parables, through healing, through teaching, even through pronouncing judgment (primarily against religious people).
In this lesson, Jesus teaches us that God wants to share a meal with us. He wants to share a meal even with those that he knows will betray him (i.e. Judas Iscariot). He goes even further than this. He wishes to share a meal even with those who betrayed him the night of his judgment before the Sanhedrin.
“Peter!”, Jesus say, “Come and eat with me! I’ve made us breakfast!” All after Peter denied him three times.
This is the kind of God that we serve.
Not only does Jesus share a meal with them, showing the hospitality of God, but he says, “Eat this. It’s my body.” He tells them to find nourishment in his flesh. This is the stuff of salvation. He not only offers them a meal, but lays down his life so that they can have nourishment, so that they can live.
There is no life without sacrifice.
Once the Church gets it heart around this, the world will never be the same.
