I’m guessing Jesus made things really uncomfortable for the others at this table.
Sometimes I think that we, as the body of the church, have become way too nice. We make far too few waves and ruffle hardly any feathers. Acting this way is not following in the steps of Jesus. Jesus was not a good dinner guest but then again the Pharisees had it coming. Take a look at how he acted in Luke 14: 1-14.
Jesus stepped on toes all the time. Imagine your guest pressing you for a values or ethics or morality judgment. When you’re unwilling to give it, your guest declares they’ve decided their opinion or stance or morals are correct. I’m thinking no pound cake would be served and it might be an early night. Your guest isn’t done though and doesn’t even seem to care; he’s just getting warmed up and takes aim at your ego.
The story he tells and the lesson of it are a poke in your eye. Your black eye becomes the black eye of your other guests and your friends; really everyone in the group. Needless to say you won’t be inviting this guy back!
Jesus knew the score. He knew the undercurrent and the reason he had been brought to the table. It wasn’t to make friends, break bread, find common ground or extend some sort of olive branch. The purpose was to make him look bad, to trip him up. He had the audacity to fight back though, to call a spade a spade and to declare what he knew to be right. I’m afraid personally this doesn’t sound too familiar.
When was the last time you did something like that? When was the last time you stood alone and said “Here’s what I believe, what I know to be true and what I, as a follower, will do.” I’m going to confess for me personally it’s been since…..never. I hope you’ll join me in saying, “That’s gonna change!”
What would the consequences be for you personally for doing what Jesus did? What are the consequences for NOT doing what he did? Which has the immediate impact and which has the eternal impact? Which one makes it easier to sleep at night? I’d like to hear your thoughts on this.
I’m afraid I do a lot of hand-wringing and work through a lot of remorse when I review how I acted. I find myself coming up with the exact words I should have spoken, only about 12 hours too late. There’s lots of reasons I do this and not what I should do in the first place. Maybe this story and example will give you courage. If someone you know needs that too I hope you share it with them.
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