From one generation to the next, Christians have been guided on Jesus’ service to humankind. Little is known and taught about his life outside the ministry, such as what he used to eat. Apart from the miracle of multiplying food, how often did Jesus eat?
Different passages from the Bible insinuated the instances when Jesus had a meal. It needs to be made clear how many times he would eat in a day; however, scholars have the idea that they had a meal twice daily. Many of the instances which mention Jesus eating were in the company of His disciples.
Followers of Christ may have several questions regarding Jesus’ meals. How many meals a day did Jesus eat? How long did Jesus go without food? What did Jesus eat in a day? Did Jesus have a favorite food? Find answers to these questions and more details on the topic in the article below.
How many meals a day did Jesus eat?
Jesus came from a humble background which may give us the impression that they struggled to afford a lavish lifestyle. The basic needs such as food may have been challenging to maintain daily; therefore, we may have the assumption that He had two meals in a day, as was common during the Greco-Roman period.
These two meals would be breakfast and supper, which consisted same meals such as fruits, wine, bread, and fish. Jesus Christ mingled with his followers frequently; on other occasions, he got invited for meals such as supper. The Bible gives an account of different instances when this happened.
Luke 7:36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. Jesus did not restrain particular sets of people who shared a meal with them. He accepted a Pharisees’ request and had a meal with them.
John 12:2 There they made him a supper; Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. In this account, Jesus visited Lazarus, whom He had risen from the dead, and He shared a meal with His family. Several other verses gave a narration o when Jesus got invited for meals; another instance is when he went into Zacchaeus’ house from his invitation.
Therefore, we cannot assume since Jesus traveled far and wide across towns and over lakes and rivers. They made stops that could involve breaking for water and food.
How long did Jesus go without food?
Christians are taught about fasting and the rewards that come with it. These teachings are an inspiration from Christ, who went without food while in the wilderness. Mathew 4:2 And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was hungry. Jesus went for 40 days without food. There are no other accounts of Him going without meals.
A particular verse brings to light whether Jesus’ disciples were able to fast. Mark 2:18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, and people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” this verse implies Jesus’ disciples did not fast.
Following this question, Jesus answered them in Mark 2:19, And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. In His incarnate self, Jesus enjoyed sharing meals with His followers, which explains this verse that proceeds to say that as long as the bridegroom, Christ, is with them, His followers will not fast.
What did Jesus eat in a day?
It needs to be clarified what Jesus had daily; however, different verses give an idea of what type of meals Jesus had in His incarnate self. In many instances, Jesus feeds on bread and fish. There could be other meals. Sadly the Bible does not give a lot of information.
Different scholars have explained the meals back then, mainly bread, fish, and fruits. During the Greco-Roman period, bread was the leading staple food. They then took bread with legumes and other items, such as olives.
Other events in the Bible, such as the feeding of 5,000 people, give us an idea of his meals. He fed 5,000 people with bread and fish, and during his last supper, he broke bread and shared it with His disciples. Most of His disciples were fishermen who later became fishers of men. Jesus likely fed on fish frequently.
In recent Christian movies that narrate Jesus’ story, they have setups with plenty of food. However, during that time, it may be impossible to as much food; people had yet to discover different ways of preparing food.
Did Jesus have a favorite food?
It needs to be clarified whether Jesus had a favorite food item. No verses point out his favorite meal, but one can assume the typical meals Jesus took. Bread and fish appear severally in different texts, which may have been His most preferred meals.
Mathew 26:26 Now, as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” This verse is from Jesus’ last supper with His disciples. During such a momentous occasion, the best meals had to be prepared. The bread was one of the meals, which we can assume was His favorite meal. In most instances in the Bible, which highlight Jesus having a meal, the bread did not lack.
Fish has been mentioned several times also since most of His followers were fishermen. Fish could be his favorite food. Also, certain verses in the Bible insinuate Jesus had wine on different occasions, which could make it one of His favorite drinks.
References
What Did Jesus Eat?
How often did Jesus and his followers fast?
Did Jesus drink water when He was fasting for 40 days?
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
