A meal with Jesus

Editorial:

A meal with Jesus: a picture of the church as Easter people
 
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows,
sings David in his best-known Psalm (23:5).
 
Authentic faith does not pretend that the troubles of this world and suffering for being a Christian do not exist. Nor does it promise freedom from these things for true believers. Rather, just as David experienced and expressed so vividly the comforting presence of the Lord, his guiding hand and his provision of nourishment are there in the midst of struggle, even opposition.
 
At the recent Gafcon gathering in Plano, participants were reminded as to why and how the first GAFCON was held in 2008, and why the movement has been necessary since that time [video of Gafcon 25 session: ‘Our Foundations’ here]. As a wonderful expression of unity, bringing faithful Anglicans together from different cultures, celebrating and proclaiming Christ and his gospel together, certainly. But also the recognition that even in the Anglican Communion, we are in the presence of enemies: as the Conference Statement says, “those who have promoted unbiblical teachings, who have torn the fabric of our Communion and shown themselves to be out of step with the apostolic faith.” (see also our News digest for April 2025)
 
The Gafcon 25 assembly also heard of other situations where those faithful to Christ face severe opposition and need to live as disciples in the presence of physical enemies: Muslim background believers and the Christian minority in war-torn Myanmar, to name but two. They gather round the Lord’s table at Easter in celebration, not detached from trouble but in the face of it.
 
The apostle John presents a vivid picture of the Lord Jesus experiencing something similar himself on the evening before Palm Sunday:
Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.  So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore took a pound  of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. (John 12:1-3).
 

 
On Jesus’ previous visit to Jerusalem, recorded in chapter 11, he had proclaimed himself to be the resurrection and the life, and had raised Lazarus from the dead. While many believed in him as a result, the religious leaders were appalled at potential disruption to the system over which they had control, and they made plans to kill Jesus (11:53). Hatred from his enemies was even closer to home: Judas Iscariot who was later to betray him, was actually at the dinner with Lazarus, brought back from the dead, and his sisters.
 
So, in the presence of his enemies, a table is prepared for Jesus. Three friends are mentioned as being there. Lazarus is a walking miracle – a man who had been brought out of the tomb in the sight of many witnesses. Martha is busy serving, but she is also the one who earlier had a conversation with Jesus about the resurrection and said that she believed in him as the Messiah. The focus is on Mary. She takes an expensive bottle of perfume and pours it on Jesus’ feet, while he’s at the table.
 
In the parallel passages in Matthew and Mark, it’s an unnamed woman who pours it on Jesus’ head. The anointing of the head with oil is something we see in the Old Testament, part of a solemn and joyful ritual in ordaining or recommissioning a high priest. Kings were also anointed, and pouring oil was a general sign of blessing – “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head…” (Psalm 133:1).
 
But here Mary pours the oil on Jesus’ feet, which would actually have been more practical. They had a low table, and people often ate by lying on the floor, propped up on their elbows, head near the table and feet stretched out behind. Worshipping at God’s feet is a biblical picture – Psalm 99:5 “Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool, holy is he.”
 
And then, anointing with oil was also something associated with death, as Jesus mentions. He links this action of anointing, with the normal custom at the burial of the dead. It’s as if he is saying: when he dies, they will pour perfumes and spices all over his body as they wrap it up. Mary is performing a prophetic action in anticipation of this now, pointing to his imminent death, and all that means for our salvation.
 
The picture which John portrays, of the intimate supper with Jesus and his friends, with surrounding tension, threat and trouble, is an illustration of the Christian life, with each of the three family members pointing to different aspects of our discipleship.
  

 
Like Lazarus, we have been raised to new life. We were dead in our sins, but God in his mercy made us alive with Christ and raised us to sit with him in the heavenly realms. Jesus says, I stand at the door and knock. Open the door, and I will come in and eat with you. We can’t do that when we are spiritually dead, just as Lazarus couldn’t eat with Jesus and others when he was in the tomb. But here he is, having experienced resurrection, having fellowship with the Lord and others. A reminder of the Lord’s power now, and a foretaste of the future in heaven.
 
Like Martha, we’re called and equipped for service of the Lord and his people. Historically the church has set apart deacons and priests or presbyters for leadership in the church, but actually we are all deacons, we are all servants of the Lord and of one another, because Jesus did not come to be served but to serve, and no servant is greater than his master.
 
Like Mary, we kneel at Jesus’ feet, showing costly love to him in humility and devotion and worship, praising him as the real high priest and king, publicly remembering the centrality of his saving death for our sins, as the punishment that we deserved fell on him..
 

 
As Easter people, cleansed from sin by the blood shed on Good Friday, dead to sin, raised to new life in Christ, let us kneel at his feet in love and praise. As we confess him as Lord in the presence of malign spiritual powers, human enemies of the gospel and the trials of life, let’s willingly and humbly serve Jesus and those around us, to his glory.
 
 
Two Easter Collects:
 
Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the Cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Collect for Monday of Holy Week
 
Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, may, by your life-giving Spirit, be delivered from sin and raised from death; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Collect for Easter Sunday