Jesus and Food – Healing at a Meal

Jesus and Food – Healing at a Meal.

“One day Jesus went into the house of a prominent Jewish religious leader for a Sabbath meal. Everyone was watching Him to see if He would heal anyone on the Sabbath. Just then, standing right in front of Him was a man suffering with his limbs swollen with fluid. Jesus asked the experts of the law and the Pharisees who were present, ‘Is it permitted within the law to heal a man on the Sabbath day? Is it right or wrong?’ No one dared to answer. So Jesus turned to the sick man, took hold of him, and released healing to him, then sent him away. Jesus said to them all, ‘If one of your animals, like a donkey or a cow, fell into a ditch, wouldn’t you do all you could to rescue it even if it was a Sabbath day?’ There was nothing they could say – all were silenced.” (Luke 14:1-6).

Here we find Jesus entering a house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees. He wanted to share some Sabbath bread with this religious leader. He knew He was being closely watched for any kind of slip-up, any mistake they could charge Him with. They were obviously trying to trap Jesus, trying to trick Him into breaking the Law. But Jesus was unafraid to spend time with the Pharisees, even when He realized they had ulterior motives. A man was there in the house who had what was called dropsy, which is when one’s body had an abnormal amount of swelling due to an excessive retention of water. Jesus asks a question of the Pharisees: “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” They were all silent in response. So Jesus took this man in hand and healed him right there in the Pharisee’s house. Jesus then implied that they would undoubtedly pull one of their kids or donkeys or cows out of a pit on the Sabbath. He is implying that they would rescue an animal out of trouble, but not a human being made in the image of God? The Pharisees didn’t have an answer. They were outfoxed, shamed, and stupefied into silence.

After a while, one of those who sat at table with Jesus heard Him speak about humility, and who one should invite to a feast at one’s house. This person said to Jesus, “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!” And this is the time Jesus follows up with one of His most memorable parables, about the Great Feast. Please refer to this parable in this category of “Jesus and Food.”