Most followers of Jesus show interest in not only his teachings but also in his personal life on earth. This topic is worth discussing since there are numerous speculations regarding how Jesus lived. What many people want to understand is what did Jesus eat?
The Bible suggests that Jesus ate fish, as explained in Luke 24:41-43. There is also biblical evidence that implies that Jesus ate meat in the form of a lamb during the Feast of Passover. Matthew 14:13–21 also suggests that Jesus ate bread.
Does the Bible have evidence of what Jesus ate daily? What was a typical meal during the time that Jesus existed? What did Jesus eat during the last supper? These are some of the questions that this article will answer. Read on to find out more!
Does the Bible have evidence of what Jesus ate on a daily basis?
There is biblical evidence that shows that Jesus ate meat regularly. He participated in the Feast of Passover from a young age, as explained in Luke 2:41. This verse says, Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.
During the Feast, a lamb was sacrificed and roasted as part of the requirements of the law. Since Jesus followed the law, he had to eat the meat. The Bible also suggests that Jesus continued observing the law and attending the Passover even as an adult, as shown in John 2:13 and Matthew 26:17-30.
The Bible also suggests that Jesus ate fish and bread regularly. One famous story that supports this is when he fed 5000 people, as recorded in Matthew 14:13–21. Though there were only five loaves and two fish, Jesus blessed the food, and it became enough for 5000 people. The Bible speculates that after Jesus blessed the food, they all ate and were filled.
Matthew 4:18-22 shows that some of Jesus’ disciples were fishermen. Most Christians believe that since Jesus and his disciples used to cross the Sea of Galilee, they would catch fish along the way to consume.
What was a typical meal during the time that Jesus existed?
A typical meal during the time of Jesus consisted of bread, local fruits, vegetables, and spices. In the first century, bread was made with barley or wheat flour. The Bible speculates that during the Passover with his disciples, Jesus ate bread. Matthew 14: 20 says, He said to them, it is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me. During this era, bread was broken and never cut.
People also liked eating local fruits such as figs, as shown in Matthew 21:18. This verse says, Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then, he said to it, May you never bear fruit again! Immediately the tree withered.
The Bible also implies that spices such as mustard were commonly used during the time of Jesus. In one of his parables, Jesus compared the Kingdom of God with the mustard seed, as explained in Luke 13:18-19.
What did Jesus eat during the last supper?
According to Luke 22:19:20, Jesus ate bread and wine during the last supper. This verse says, And he took bread and gave thanks and broke it and gave it to them saying, This is My Body given for you, do this in remembrance of me.
Many Christians believe that the bread that Jesus ate during the last supper was unleavened. This is a hard and flat bread made without yeast. Some people argue that during the last supper, Jesus was eating a Passover feast. The Passover feast is referred to as the Feast of unleavened bread.
The Bible also talks about Jesus instructing his disciples to prepare for the Passover by sacrificing the Passover lamb. However, some Bible scholars debate the Passover lamb being on the menu during the last supper. Some argue that the Passover lamb symbolized Jesus, who was soon to be the sacrificial Lamb of God.
What kind of fish did Jesus eat?
Though the Bible does not explicitly state the kind of fish that Jesus ate, some people believe that he may have eaten freshwater fish like tilapia based on fish bones identified in local archeological excavations. Matthew 14:13-21 shows that Jesus mostly ate fish from the Sea of Galilee.
The Bible implies that the supply of fish during the time of Jesus was not always plentiful. This is explained in John 21, which talks about Jesus’s disciples fishing all night but caught nothing. According to the Scripture, Jesus ate fish that was salted and dried. John 21:9-10 talks of Jesus frying fresh fish for breakfast. This verse says, when they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals, and there were fish on it and some bread. Jesus said to them, bring some of the fish you have caught.
Did Jesus eat meat?
Different passages in the Bible suggest that Jesus ate meat. Apart from eating meat during the Feast of Passover, as mentioned before, Genesis 18:1-8 also speculates Jesus was eating meat. In this passage, the pre-incarnate Christ appeared to Abraham, who rushed to fix Jesus something to eat.
Genesis 18:7-8 says, Then he ran to the herd, and selected a choice, a tender calf and gave it to the servant, who hurried to prepare it. He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared and set these before them. While they ate, he stood before them under a tree.
Luke 24:42-43 also suggests that Jesus ate meat in the form of fish. This verse says, And they gave him a piece of broiled fish and a honeycomb, and he took it and did eat before them.
What vegetables did Jesus eat?
Though garlic is not mentioned in the New Testament, Bible scholars believe it formed part of Jesus’ regular diet. They argue that the Old Testament suggests garlic, cucumbers, leeks, and onions were common vegetables in the culture and may have existed during the time of Jesus.
Numbers 11:5 says We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost, also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. Some also argue that since vegetables such as beans and lentils were common during the time of Jesus, he may have consumed them.
What did Jesus eat after his resurrection?
His disciples gave him fish when Jesus asked for something to eat after his resurrection. Luke 24:40-43 says that they gave him a piece of broiled fish and some honeycomb, and he ate it in their presence.
What is the significance of what Jesus ate after his resurrection?
When Jesus appeared to his disciples after he had resurrected, they were frightened and thought they had seen a spirit. He asked for food to show his disciples that he was alive and did something they did together many times before he was crucified.
Some Scholars believe that Jesus eating fish was a manifestation of the truth of the resurrection of his flesh. Eating the fish proved that the resurrected Christ had a physical human body.
What did Jesus drink?
The Bible suggests that Jesus drank wine during the Passover celebration, as explained in Matthew 26:27-29 and Mark 14:23. The last verse says, And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. The Scripture refers to the fermented wine that Jesus took during this celebration as the fruit of the vine.
The Book of Luke 7 speculates that Jesus took alcohol at times. However, he was never drunk or gluttonous and lived a sinless life. 1st Peter 2:22 says, He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. Jesus was offered a sponge soaked in wine vinegar on the cross, as explained in Matthew 27:48.
References
- Did Jesus drink wine/alcohol
- Don Stewart: What is the Lord’s supper
- Unleavened
- Did Jesus eat meat
- The Mustard Seed-Kingdom
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.
