Jesus – what a guy. Don’t invite Him over to a dinner party if you want a quiet time.
He accepts an invite to a dinner at the crib of ‘a prominent Pharisee’. It’s an invite to a meal. Now decent manners would suggest you don’t call too much attention to yourself. Enjoy the hospitality, respect the host, eat the food, burp politely, compliments to the chef, bless the house, get your coat, job done.
Not so with Jesus.
He first of all makes a deal of healing … ON THE SABBATH (cue: dramatic music). I mean the man’s not there to heal, he’s certainly not there to heal on the Sabbath. (Though notice how they’re up for a big meal on the Sabbath that must have taken a lot of wor… never mind.) Not only does he heal, he makes an issue of healing and the importance of doing good on the Sabbath – in the crib of a prominent Pharisee. You can imagine the main course hasn’t come out yet.
Oh there’s more.
Jesus observes how the folks rush for the places of honour at the dinner table. Watching that the Lord and Saviour of mankind has this to say on the matter.
When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. (Luke 14:8-11)
Now it’s bad enough that you come in and disrupt things with the scandalous Sabbath service, but to disrespect the mentality of those who want to get ahead and tell them to take the back table, well, that’s just ridiculous.
It’s interesting how there aren’t too many recorded occasions of Jesus being invited to dinner at the crib of a prominent Pharisee on a Sabbath after this occasion. He doesn’t help Himself with some of His comments after that, but you can read more of that in Luke 14.
What’s outstanding about Jesus’ comments about humbling yourself is that it is not the first time such a sentiment has been expressed.
Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence, and do not claim a place among his great men; it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,” than for him to humiliate you before his nobles. (Proverbs 25:6, 7)
In a society that is about pushing yourself to get people’s attention – this goes against the grain. In a culture where you have to big yourself up and there are ample opportunities to do so, this approach is just bizarre. In a world where if you don’t grab the initiative and show whose in charge it’s a sign of weakness, this must be totally pathetic.
It is thus the hallmark of kingly righteousness that this is the way of wisdom. This way is not about pointing to yourself, but letting your work do the talking and in the fullness of time if you’re to be recongised you’ll be recognised. The at times counter-cultural practices of the Kingdom are built on a wisdom that baffles society, but is right in the sight of a God who is all about the giving and so expects His creation to be the same.
Even if that means you won’t get invites to certain dinner parties.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 