Jesus, Would You Like Fries With That?

If given the choice between being an angel and a man, I'd choose the latter for the simple reason that we have the wonderful joy of eating and drinking. To alter Chesterton slightly, Christianity is a thick steak, a frosted stout, and a good cigar. Jesus seems to agree: neither a Puritan nor a teetotaler He. He did not hold Himself aloof from feasts during His time on earth. A new book looks behind the scenes at what He might have been eating:

Douglas E. Neel and Joel A. Pugh, The Food and Feasts of Jesus: Inside the World of First Century Fare, with Menus and Recipes (Rowman and Littlefield, 2012), 272pp.

About this book the publisher tells us:

The New Testament is filled with stories of Jesus eating with people—from extravagant wedding banquets to simple meals of loaves and fishes. The Food and Feasts of Jesus offers a new perspective on life in biblical times by taking readers inside these meals. Food production and distribution impacted all aspects of ancient life, including the teachings of Jesus. From elaborate holiday feasts to a simple farmer’s lunch, the book explores the significance of various meals, discusses key ingredients, places food within the socioeconomic conditions of the time, and offers accessible recipes for readers to make their own tastes of the first century. Ideal for individual reading or group study, this book opens a window into the tumultuous world of the first century and invites readers to smell, touch, and taste the era’s food.