Brenda Khan
Jesus's diet is a topic that has been explored by many, including in Dr. Don Colbert's book, What Would Jesus Eat?. While Christians are not required to follow a special diet, Jesus's diet is believed to have consisted of whole, God-made foods, including water, wine, whole grain bread, olive oil, grapes, figs, pomegranates, vegetables, and fish. He likely abstained from pork and shellfish, and definitely consumed real wine, with some sources suggesting he drank grape juice as well. Jesus probably ate what was common during his time, with his food coming from donations as he traveled.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Food | Whole grain bread, fruits, vegetables, fish, lamb, olive oil, grapes, figs, pomegranates |
| Drinks | Water, wine |
| Abstained from | Pork, shellfish, processed foods, sugar, food additives |
| Dieting | Not biblical, not a matter of absolute moral principle |
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What You'll Learn
Jesus ate whole, God-made foods
Jesus ate the foods that were common to the people of his time and place. He likely ate whatever people gave him, and his diet was probably informed by donations, as was typical for a travelling religious teacher.
The Bible states that Jesus ate broiled fish and bread. He also drank wine, as is evidenced by the fact that wine is used in the Eucharist.
Jesus's diet consisted of whole foods that God made. This is supported by the fact that Jesus pronounces all foods clean. This suggests that he would have eaten whatever was provided for him, including pork on occasion, although this would have been difficult to come by in the places he preached.
Jesus can repair your relationship with food. Dieting is not biblical, and you should not hate yourself for what you eat or how you look. Food will not satisfy feelings of emptiness, only God can.
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He drank water and wine
While there is no definitive answer to what Jesus's diet was, we can make some inferences from the Bible and historical knowledge. It is believed that Jesus and his disciples ate whole foods, including fish, bread, and lamb, and drank water and wine.
Water was an important part of Jesus's life and ministry. In the Bible, Jesus often used water as a metaphor for spiritual truths and the importance of staying hydrated. For example, in John 4:13-14, Jesus tells a Samaritan woman at a well, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever." Here, Jesus is offering the woman "living water," representing the spiritual refreshment and satisfaction that only He can provide.
During his 40-day fast in the wilderness, there is some debate among scholars as to whether Jesus abstained from both food and water or just food. Some interpret Exodus 34:28, which describes Moses' fast, to mean that Jesus also went without water for 40 days. However, others argue that Jesus likely followed Jewish customs of the time and drank water during his fast, as total dehydration for that length of time would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to survive.
Now, let's turn to the topic of wine. Wine was a common beverage in biblical times, and it is believed that Jesus drank wine during his ministry, including at the Last Supper and the wedding at Cana, where he performed the miracle of turning water into wine. The type of wine Jesus drank is a matter of speculation, but some experts believe it was a dense, full-bodied red wine with an alcohol content of around 14 degrees, possibly similar to what is known today as Syrah. It is important to note that the process of making wine in biblical times was different from modern methods, and the wine was likely naturally fermented in unglazed earthen pots and flavoured with honey, herbs, or spices.
In conclusion, while we cannot know with certainty every detail of Jesus's diet, we can surmise that he drank water and wine as part of his daily sustenance and spiritual practices. These beverages held cultural, social, and religious significance in the regions where Jesus lived and preached, and they continue to hold symbolic value in Christian traditions today.
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He ate fish
It is believed that Jesus ate fish. In the Bible, there are several references to Jesus cooking and eating fish. In Luke 24:42–43, Jesus is described eating a piece of broiled fish, and in John 21:9-13, he is seen cooking fish over a charcoal fire. In addition, some of Jesus's disciples were fishermen, and he performed miracles involving fish, such as multiplying loaves of bread and fish to feed a multitude.
Jesus lived in a cultural context where fish were farmed and consumed regularly. It is likely that he ate fish as part of his daily diet, and it is also possible that he ate whatever was provided to him by those he interacted with during his travels.
However, some have questioned whether Jesus ate fish due to the modern-day industrial fishing industry's negative impact on the environment and animal welfare. While Jesus ate fish, he also promoted love, service, and compassion. Today's fishing practices, which include overfishing, crowded enclosures, and cruel slaughter methods, may not align with Jesus's teachings and values.
The decision to eat fish or not is a personal one, and individuals may choose to follow Jesus's example or interpret his teachings in a way that aligns with their values and beliefs.
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He may have kept kosher
It is believed that Jesus ate whatever people gave him, mostly donations, as was the custom for travelling religious teachers during his time. However, it is also theorised that Jesus may have kept kosher.
Kosher dietary laws are based on Jewish religious regulations, which outline specific rules about what foods can be eaten and how they must be prepared. Kosher laws dictate that certain animals are not to be eaten, including pigs and certain types of seafood. This is supported by the fact that Jesus is believed to have abstained from eating pork and shellfish.
In the book of Mark, Jesus is quoted as saying, "There is nothing that enters a man from the outside that can defile him". This has been interpreted to mean that Jesus believed that food could not defile a person, and that all foods were clean and could be eaten. This is further supported by the fact that Jesus is said to have pronounced all foods clean, which would include animals that are typically prohibited in a kosher diet, such as pork.
However, there are also passages in the Bible that suggest Jesus may have followed some dietary restrictions. For example, in Mark 7:1-23, Jesus is involved in a debate with the Pharisees about the importance of washing hands before eating, which could indicate a concern for ritual purity. Additionally, Jesus is believed to have eaten a Passover meal, which typically includes specific foods such as lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs.
Overall, while there is no definitive answer, it is possible that Jesus may have kept kosher, at least to some extent, during his lifetime.
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He ate with reverence and gratitude
Jesus ate with reverence and gratitude. He ate what was available at the time and shared meals with others. He drank water and wine and ate whole grain bread, lamb, fish, and fruits like grapes, figs, and pomegranates. He also consumed olive oil and a variety of vegetables.
Jesus likely received his meals through donations, as was common for traveling religious teachers during his time. He is believed to have kept kosher, abstaining from pork and shellfish. In the Bible, Jesus is described as eating broiled fish and bread, and he also shared a meal of fish and bread with his disciples.
Jesus's diet consisted of whole, natural foods. He is thought to have avoided processed foods, excessive sugar, and food additives. This way of eating is sometimes referred to as "the Jesus way of eating" or "eating like Jesus." The idea is to focus on God-made foods rather than man-made ones, emphasizing fruits, vegetables, water, and animals that graze.
Jesus's approach to food is seen as a way to repair one's relationship with food and promote a healthy mindset. It is not about dieting or perfection but about being grateful for the nourishment provided by God and enjoying food with others. This perspective encourages individuals to reflect on their food choices and consider whether their eating habits align with Jesus's example.
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Frequently asked questions
Jesus's diet consisted of whole foods that were available during his time. This included fruits, vegetables, fish, lamb, bread, olive oil, grapes, figs, and pomegranates. He also drank water and wine.
Jesus likely ate what was common among the people of his time and place. He probably ate whatever was provided to him as was the normal way to feed a traveling religious teacher.
It is believed that Jesus kept kosher and abstained from eating pork and shellfish. However, since he pronounced all foods clean, it is assumed he would have no issue with eating pork occasionally.
Yes, Jesus drank real wine. This is evident from the story of the Wedding at Cana, where the guests got drunk from the wine he provided.
Jesus can help repair our relationship with food. Dieting is not biblical, and we should not hate ourselves for what we eat or how we look. Food will not satisfy us, only God can. We should focus on eating whole, God-made foods instead of processed, man-made foods.
