The Ultimate Feast

Every family has different customs and traditions at holiday times, but I don't think there is a better way of representing the sentiment of a holiday gathering than with a wonderful meal, a feast.

This is what will happen in countless homes in eight days, on Easter Sunday. We will bring ourselves around a table, differences and all, to share the experience of a meal. No family is perfect and we all know that it can be stressful at times to gather together in the midst of conflicts and hostilities which sit unresolved for years at times. Most of us try to put aside these problems for the sake of others, such as our parents, our children, and perhaps because it is "tradition" and we will not break from it.

There is a great film which depicts a feast. The film, "Babette's Feast" begins with the story of two elderly sisters of a strict pastor who live in a communal like village in Denmark. It is suggested that both women have spent their lives in service in honor of their father's ministry and have turned away from lives of wordly pleasure. After he passes away, the women continue to preside over the village their father was the leader in.

Unfortunately, nearly everyone in the village has developed conflicts with someone else in the community, and the community becomes a dark, dismal, and loveless place. It is at this time that the two women take in Babette as their servant. Babette, who was a great chef in Paris comes to work for the women and finds out that she acquires a great deal of money. She offers to prepare a feast for the community in honor of the sisters' deceased father.

She plans a wonderful feast and begins in advance to plan the meal. The day of the meal arrives and we see all of the guest take their places around the table. The power of the carefully prepared meal begins to break through the defenses of the people and one by one, former enemies begin to soften toward one another. Healing takes place and all those present are transformed in one way or another. The diners experienced momentary bliss.

Dr. Tim Keller in his book, 'The Prodigal God', weaves this story with Isaiah 25 in which Isaiah's predictions of the new heavens and new earth will be marked by a feast. This feast as described in the bible, will fill us up with satisfaction that even an earthly feast, like Babette's, can not. Babette's feast of satisfaction may been momentary as are our holiday celebratory truces, but we can praise God that Jesus' salvation, the ultimate feast is eternal.

Jesus says, "I am the bread of heaven". To enter into this life, means we will be apart of the greatest feast. Here, all sadness, conflict, grief, regret, anger and shame will disappear. We can live with anticipation here on earth, knowing that our God, who will be present then is also present now with us.

As you prepare your heart for Easter, remember you are not only preparing the external sensory feast for your family, you can instrumental in guiding your family toward Jesus in every part of your celebration. No food, gifts, new clothing, or family gathering can be perfectly satisfying as knowing the grace of God, and His sacrifice for us. He has made Hope possible.

HE IS RISEN. CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED!