Luke 10:38-42
Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. And she had a sister called Mary, who was also seated at the Lord’s feet, and was listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations;
John 15:15
No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.
Matthew 26:29
But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it with you, new, in My Father’s kingdom.”
vvvv
Jesus called us "friends." We see Him at dinner with friends throughout the Gospels. He joined Simon the Pharisee for dinner on one occasion (Mark 14:3-9).
And Martha, sister to Mary and Lazarus. served at least two meals to Jesus. He tells us in Matthew 26:29 (above) that those social occasions didn't end when He left us.
Have you ever wondered what Martha served?
Come with me to crash one of those parties.
Jerusalem farmers, like the American Farmer, depended on the weather and prayer. Poor and rich ate plenty in the good years. People dried food for the fruitless years. They ate dried fish and fruits.
The houses had small rooms that sweltered in the summer, so she cooked in the courtyard or on the roof. Excavated houses from the period have hearths for cooking indoors in cooler weather.
I used two sources to research dinner. Women in the Bible (link no longer active) covers everything in first century Jerusalem. I'm sorry this resource doesn't exist. It covered everything.
Nazareth’s Village, in Nazareth, recreates meals from the first century. If you visit Nazareth, stop for dinner.
The site lists fire-baked flat bread, dips, olives and herbal tea as dinner with Martha. The creators of the site believe people didn’t drink wine often.
Other research says they drank a watered-down wine--usually eight parts water to one part wine.
Jesus didn't overeat or drink too much, but He did eat and drink. Since they walked miles a day, He ate well to fuel His body. And he drank wine. In his first miracle, he made wine. I see a Man who enjoyed His food.
The guests dipped their bread in olives (see left).
Though Nazareth Village says they didn’t often eat meat, except for chicken, on this special occasion when Jesus sat in her home, Martha served lamb or goat. Women of the Bible describes meat cut in 
small pieces and marinated in garlic, herbs and wine.
Mystery solved. I wondered why meat cooked on such short notice wasn't raw. Martha used a cooking pit outside and a hearth when she cooked inside. The wine marinade also speeded cooking. The small pieces must have allowed for quick roasting.
Cows and goats provided plentiful milk so they ate goat cheese flavored with garlic and herbs.
She served dinner in the late afternoon or evening. Mid-day snacks for the group consisted of dried fruit and bread. Did he eat a few fried locusts? Tastes like chicken? No. They tasted similar to salty anchovies. Cooks removed the head and tail and fried them in butter. I understand why John the Baptist preferred honey with his.
A good hostess, Martha sent her guests out the next morning with bread and olives in their packs. Onions or fruit such as this pomegranate completed the package.
As I get older, I long to sit at Jesus' table, listening to Him tell us the mysteries of the universe. Will we be able to tear ourselves away?
Photos from Women of the Bible.
Dear Lord, Thank You for the Eternity You plan for us and Your wonderful provision on earth.
This post originally appeared on the site for my book, Beloved Prodigal
