As our teams have served tornado victims in both Mississippi and Arkansas this week, I'm reminded of the importance of meals in the events surrounding that first Easter week.

I've shared this with you before, but I think it's worth repeating. The night before He was crucified, Jesus gathered with His disciples for Passover and established a meal as the remembrance that would be celebrated for generations to come: "Do this in remembrance of Me." 

Think of it...

Jesus didn't establish a place we should go to remember Him. He didn't even tell us to use a symbol to remember him. Instead, He left us... a meal.

Then, on that first Easter Sunday, meals again took center stage. That evening, two of His disciples were traveling on the road to Emmaus when Jesus joined them.

The Bible says they were "kept from recognizing Him." Jesus then gave them the greatest Bible lesson of all time: "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself." (Luke 24:27).

But they still didn't recognize Jesus! It wasn't until they arrived at Emmaus that they finally realized it was Jesus who had been walking with them. And it happened over a meal:

"When [Jesus] was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him."

Later that evening, Jesus appeared to the disciples, but they simply couldn't believe it was actually Him. So Jesus asked for some food...

"'Do you have anything here to eat?' They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence." (Luke 20:41-42)

+ + Something happens over a shared meal...

My staff will often hear me say that something amazing happens over a shared meal. Perhaps more accurately, something divine happens over a shared meal. When we "break bread" -- especially with those in need -- God's love and grace are poured out in ways we simply cannot comprehend.

Two thousand years ago, God used a meal to open the disciples' eyes. And thanks to Jesus' resurrection, we now have a perpetual feast by which to remember the Risen Christ!

Thank you so much for your faithful partnership with Mercy Chefs. Because of you, millions of people have had eye-opening encounters over meals you helped provide. Even this week, thousands of families whose lives have been turned upside down by destructive tornadoes across the southeast, have been served a meal that carried both practical relief and hope. All because of the faithfulness of friends like you.

I pray God's richest blessings on you and your family as you celebrate Jesus' resurrection!

God bless,

Gary LeBlanc, Mercy Chefs

Go here to help sponsor meals for tornado victims.