can someone help?

[seeker]

Hi

I was asked the other day if Jesus ate meat and said 'yes he did. Jesus followed the Jewish diet of the day.'

Any way the person has asked me if I know of any part in the bible that actually notes Jesus eating meat. I don't think there is .......am I right about that?

I have already mentioned the vision that represented the call to gentiles but that doesn't seem to have convinced them yet.

Got any advice?

Seeker

Ps I know I should offer some advice on legalism and being freed from the law but I haven't had time to put it together for him.

[Theofilus]

I can't recall anywhere right off hand that directly says that Jesus ate meat, but it does say that he kept Passover, which involves eating meat (the Passover sacrifice).

[Annie]

yup, eating a sacrifical lamb was part of the requirements of keeping the passover (Exodus 12:3-5, 47) and we know Christ celebrated Passover:

7 Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. 8 And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.”
9 So they said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare?”
10 And He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. 11 Then you shall say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ 12 Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready.”
13 So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.
14 When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. 15 Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” - Luke 22

as the Perfect Lamb sacrificed for the sins of the world that we might saved (1 Cor 5:7) Christ had to, and did, appear without sin before God (2 Cor 5:21, Hebrews 4:15) refusing to eat the meal would have made Christ a sinner (Numbers 9:10-13)

God also told Noah after the flood;

Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs. - Gen 9:3

And Christ advocated the eating of animals:

1 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”
They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”
They answered Him, “No.”
6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. 9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”
11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.- John 21

If you can move them into a discussion about legalism, and conviction versus Biblical doctrine, i would point them to two other passages:

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. - 1 Tim 4


Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. - Romans 14 (and the whole chapter is good to drive the point home)

There is nothing wrong with choosing to abstain from eating meat for personal reasons but to try to force others to live by their convictions is not only crossing the line, according to Scripture it is sinful and a doctrine of demons.

[seeker]

Thanks. that's great!!