We’ll continue our six-week worship series, Tasting Resurrection, this week by reflecting on lessons from the Gospel of John and a Netflix series called Chef’s Table. Each week focuses on a story from John and a chef featured in the first season of Chef’s Table. This week we turn to John 13.31-35 & Niki Nakayama.
Outline for Tasting Resurrection
• April 3: John 20.19-31 & Massimo Bottura
•April 10: John 21.1-19 & Dan Barber
•April 17: John 10.22-30 & Francis Mallmann
•April 24: John 13.31-35 & Niki Nakayama
•May 1: John 14.23-29 & Ben Shewry
•May 8: John 17.20-26 & Magnus Nilsson
Read John 13.31-35.
A biblical scholar named D. A. Carson writes, “[Jesus’] new command is simple enough for a toddler to memorize and appreciate, and it is profound enough that the most mature believers are repeatedly embarrassed at how poorly they comprehend it and put it into practice” (The Gospel according to John, 484). We hope that by reflecting each week in our Kitchen Tables on doing harm and doing good, we will continue to become more intentional and conscious about how we are practicing Jesus’ command to love one another.
Food was one of the main ways Chef Niki Nakayama learned to love other people as a child. Her family helped her to understand that food was a way to celebrate, to show love, and to give affection to one another. Who are some of the people in your life, past and/or present, that have shown love through food? What is a story of how someone watched over you in love with food?
How might you use food to show love in the coming week? If you are willing, see if you can make it happen.