A Very Uncomfortable Dinner Party

Luke chapter 14 has to be one of the funniest and most serious passages and all the Gospel. The Pharisee invites Jesus over for dinner party and gets more than he possibly could have bargained for.

The first six verses are the funny part: they are examining Jesus and without them saying a word he responds to their critical spirits and heals on the Sabbath. That part of the story ends with this verse:

And they could not reply to these things. (Luke 14:6 ESV)

Then he watches as everyone chooses the best selves and send some more interesting things that I'm sure cock their attention...

"When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, "Give your place to this person," and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, "Friend, move up higher." Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 14:7-11 ESV)

From there he talks directly talks to the host party and tells him to invite those who cannot repay him from now on.

It's amazing how strong and blunt and forceful Jesus was with people at times.  So much for that image of him walking around carrying a goat and shepherds staff.

On the surface this text and these parables look like good advice, but Jesus does not give good advice, he speaks the truth. The truth from God.  So what is Jesus really doing?

He showing us what God is like. God does not push His way to the front, he comes to us in a way that is unexpected, humble, unassuming. God is also someone who invites the unlovely to his wedding banquet. He gives to those who cannot give back. That also puts people before program or tradition.

And when we claim to follow Jesus, our actions are supposed to follow us In such a way that it would dramatically change how we treat people. No playing favorites, that's not what God does. No pandering to the important ones, that's not what God does. No putting programs above people, because that's not what God does.

And I am thankful for that most of all.

PRAYER
Father I thank you that you are constantly turning the tables on what we think is important and what we think find our lives. Your words always brings us back to reality, true reality, not the stuff that we let into our hearts from the world. Help me to see people the way you see people. Especially the ones no one else is chasing after. Hope we have the heart of Jesus Your son.

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