Mark 10:45 (NIV) - “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Luke 19:10 (NIV) - “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Luke 7:34 (NIV) - “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’”

These are three ways that the New Testament completes the sentence, “The Son of Man came…” The first two (Mark 10:45 and Luke 19:10) are statements of purpose. They answer the question, ‘Why did Jesus come?’ He did not come to be served, but to serve, to give his life as a ransom, and to seek and save the lost. This third statement (Luke 7:34) describes his method. How did Jesus come? He came eating and drinking.

Jesus came right into the heart of our existence, into the very thing that gives us life and fellowship - our eating and drinking together. It is in this precious moment where food reminds us of our basic needs and our Provider that Jesus reveals to God’s grace to us. We all need grace. And God has made His grace known through Jesus Christ. In greatness and generosity, God enters into our lives and ‘feeds’ us with His Presence.

How has the Son of Man come in your life? Today, let us thank the Lord for seeking and saving us, for coming into the very core of our lives (the eating and drinking of life) and bringing to us His grace and mercy. Let’s us ask for a deeper desire to be with Jesus, to seek His Presence in the midst of our everyday tasks and interactions. And let’s pray that we also be those who participate in this precious means of God’s grace - welcoming others with generous hearts.

-TR