“I am going on a diet as soon as I eat this [fill in the blank].”  Sound familiar? It’s a common practice in our diet-obsessed world. The authors of the ground-breaking anti-dieting book, Intuitive Eating call this ‘Last Supper’ eating – the final splurge before the chains of dieting ensue.

An estimated 45,000 million people are expected to go on a diet this year. The problem with diets is that they are seductive and typically viewed as temporary. They are a way of eating that is not sustainable. We cannot fully live if we are continually thinking, “How much longer can I last on this diet?”

If you remove the “t” from the word diet, the word left often describes how some feel in the state of deprivation on the diet…DIE. We know that Jesus didn’t come to give us death. He came to give us LIFE! And we know that the real Last Supper wasn’t a pre-dieting splurge, but a table filled with love, fellowship, and “see you laters” before the final price was paid.

The real “Last Supper” was the final meal that Jesus shared with his disciples. He broke bread, drank wine, and humbled himself by washing his disciples’ feet. He foretold what would happen in the next 24 hours related to his death and resurrection. Not a light-hearted meal by any means. 

That long, painful sacrifice ends in John 19:28-30 where Jesus hangs on the cross before his last breaths. 

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Jesus intentionally died JUST FOR YOU!  He died so that you may LIVE and shine His light so that others can see your good works and give glory to the Father who is in heaven. 

If the diet you are on feels like a daily struggle, or if you have struggled your whole life with food, my prayer is that right here is this moment you boldly yell out loud, “It is finished!” 

Beloved, it may not seem like it, but the death on the cross took on every piece of shame or struggle you have. The blood-stained wood was a symbol that you do not have to endure the diet battle anymore! “It is finished!” 

The Jesus that died JUST FOR YOU, is the same man who became flesh so that He could feel what you feel. He knows the feeling of struggle and he took it with nails on the cross. You don’t have to let condemnation rule your world anymore. 

Freedom to LIVE came on the cross. And our Maker made us with special hunger and fullness cues that tell us when and how much to eat, so we don’t have to depend on diets ever again.

He hosted the Last Supper, and gave himself up for us, so that we don’t have to eat a ‘last supper’ ever again. We have freedom to eat according to our body’s need and not live in chains of guilt and shame. The more we start to listen to our bodies, the less we listen to the lies diets whisper to us. 

Food is not the enemy, so let us start living like it is our friend. May we hush the enemy’s schemes that eating is bad. Let freedom ring with food because of those famous 3 words on the cross, “It is finished!” 

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