We have recorded in the Gospels the teachings of Jesus. These took place in the hills, from a boat, on the road, in the temple and from the table. Let us look at some of the lessons Jesus gave us from the table.
Jesus did not discriminate with whom He ate. Shortly after calling Matthew, the tax collector, Jesus sat and ate with him and His disciples. The question arose about why He ate with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus answered, “I desire compassion and not sacrifice for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matt. 9:13). At the table with Jesus we can learn compassion.
Jesus reclined at the table with Simon, a Pharisee. A woman of the city entered the house and began washing Jesus’ feet with her tears and hair, and anointed his feet with perfume. Simon thought to himself that this woman was very sinful. Jesus said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little” (Luke 7:44-47). At the table with Jesus, we see repentance with great love and the value of forgiveness.
Jesus sat at the table in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper. During that meal a woman came in and anointed Jesus’ head with oil. Some objection is raised as to the waist of such a costly commodity. Jesus responded, “Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me. Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her” (Matt. 26:10,13). So it is to this day that we learn the value of a good deed, at the table with Jesus.
There are many lessons that Jesus taught around the table. We learn the value of humility, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11). We learn self sacrifice, “While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body’” (Matt. 26:26). We also learn true service, “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14). We wish at times to have been with Him around the table. What would we have learned? More importantly than that we should desire to be with Him around His banqueting table and live in such a way to glorify Him.