No Chopping Zone!

It's almost supper time and all you have is some leaf lettuce, a pomegranate, a hot chili pepper and an apple turnover. What are you going to do with those four items to turn them into an edible and attractive main course?

Sounds like an episode of the Food Network's cooking challenge show, Chopped, doesn't it?

On the night that Jesus was betrayed, He met for the last time with the twelve men who had become His inner circle of disciples. If there was ever a band of unlikely suspects upon which to create a movement, this was it. Fishermen, tax collectors, and anarchists, among others, gathered around the table to participate in an historic moment.

"Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, 'Take and eat; this is my body.' Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins'" (Matthew 26:26-28).

The Son of Heaven was about to pour out His life for fishermen, tax collectors, anarchists and, yes, those who would walk away from what He was offering.

When I look at leaf lettuce, a pomegranate, a chili pepper and an apple turnover, I don't see a meal. When Jesus looks at the most unlikely of ingredients, He sees a banquet. He looks at you and me and sees a movement, a force for God and for good, a church, a light in a dark world, a reason to die, and a reason to pour His life into us to make us what He knows we can be in spite of our dubious beginnings.

And that is a reason for humble and heartfelt worship.