Following after Jesus #91

We've seen in Luke 14 that Jesus had been invited into the home of a Pharisee for dinner. He was saying things that challenged those in attendance about their pride, and always positioning for the place of honor. He then turns to His host:

12 He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” 15 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”

Following after Jesus means not just including those in our lives who can benefit us; it means reaching out to those who we can help, expecting nothing in return. The return we get will be at the resurrection. That is still a good challenge for us.  One of the other Pharisees overhears and gives a response he thinks will impress Jesus and those around him: "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the Kingdom of God!" - sort of a toast if you will.  But then we see that three letter word: But... Jesus responds. "You would think so." But the reality is that many, including many of the Pharisees, will ignore the invitation to the banquet. They will think they are too busy for the things of God. The only ones who will come are those who think they are needy, those who are willing to accept the invitation. Once again, the core issue is pride.  We all should be humbled by the fact that Jesus invites us to His banquet, and joyfully accept without excuse.