the Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard,..”
Luke 7: 34a

In Mark Chapter 1 we are introduced to John the Baptist and we learn about his diet. Living out in the wilderness he scavenged for food as a survivalist and depended upon locusts and wild honey. His life as a prophet meant he made many sacrifices, one of which was living on a rather austere diet.

In Luke Chapter 7, the evangelist notes that John the Baptist ate no bread. (Say, isn’t that food item the staff of life?) The evangelist tells us that John the Baptist abstained from drinking wine.

In Luke Chapter 7, the evangelist tells us that the Son of Man (Jesus) came eating and drinking and the people said of him, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” Certainly, in other places of the gospels we read where Jesus ate bread and fish, and drank of the fruit of the vine (was it grape juice or wine?) Nowhere do we find that Jesus ate locusts! He might even have said, “Hold the locusts, please!” Locusts might be classified as a “gourmet” food, but I would just as soon not try that delicacy if it were served to me!

Certainly, Jesus was a bon vivant, who accepted the hospitality that people extended to him. We know Martha made a big fuss over Jesus and wanted everything from appetizer to dessert to be just right when Jesus dined at their table. On some occasions, for example with Zacchaeus, Jesus went so far as to invite Himself to dinner at their home. Jesus enjoyed table fellowship, but I believe that His critics went too far by calling Him a glutton and a drunkard. On one occasion Jesus even prepared breakfast for His disciples who had resumed fishing after His resurrection.

Prayer

Creator God, we thank You that there are so many wonderful ready-to-eat foods available and that there are so many foods that can be used to create wonderful dishes. We thank You for family and friends who often share the table with us. We thank You that Jesus teaches us to savor the moments as well as the food … to enjoy life to the fullest and to ignore those who would call us gluttons and drunkards when we revel in table fellowship as did our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, in whose name, we pray. Amen.