Enlarging Your Circle

January 19, 2014 Background Scripture: Luke 14:7 – 24 Lesson Passage: Luke 14: 7 –18a, 21 – 24 Jesus’ life was always about serving others and edifying them at the same time. He used many different occasions as teaching moments with his disciples and others who happened to be present. Because we do most of our teaching or discussing of the scriptures in a church setting, it is easy to forget that the majority of the information about Jesus’ life details events that occurred away from the temple and synagogues. Today’s lesson occurs at a private banquet that Jesus and his disciples were attending. Jesus commented on the behavior of the host and his guests after he had observed them. To the host, Jesus suggested that he invite guests other than his family, friends, and rich neighbors. But rather, he should invite those who are not financially able to have their own banquet and return the favor by inviting the host to their event. Jesus observed that some of the guests were choosing to sit in places designated for the elite among them. Those places were called the chief seats. Jesus warned them that their behavior could eventually lead to embarrassment if someone more important than them arrived later and the guest who arrived earlier would be asked to move so that the late arriver could take his seat. He taught them that even if they think they deserve a special place at the table, sit somewhere else and they will be honored when the host invites them to the special seat in the presence of the other guests. Jesus reminded one of the diners that it is a privilege to be invited to a private banquet. As such, one should strive to reply to the invitation and set aside time to attend. Again, Jesus is our example of this. Jesus took three to three and a half years to teach and train his disciples prior to his death, burial, and resurrection. After his resurrection, he was here for forty additional days. As monumental as the task of selecting and training disciples to become apostles was, he took time to attend private banquets and a wedding during that time. He did not shun those events. It was clear that he expected his followers to continue to be a part of everyday life but he taught them that their behavior should be different than others while in those everyday settings. Jesus did not subscribe to the notion that while one is in Rome he should do as the Romans. While followers of Jesus are in Rome, the Romans should note that Jesus’ followers behave differently. This point was borne out in the book of Acts when the religious leaders took note of Jesus’ disciples and could discern that they had been with Jesus. Jesus also spoke of the consequences of not accepting invitations. The person who rejects the invitation could lose the privilege of being on the invitation list in the future. Obviously this lesson Jesus taught has many spiritual overtones. Then he commented about those who were not on the invitation list previously. When the first group refused to reply in the affirmative to the invitation, the host avoided embarrassment by expanding the list to include the previously uninvited. This is another reminder to the host that he should expand his social circle. While those who were invited turned the invitation down, there were others who were willing to attend. Likewise, we are commissioned by Jesus to go into the world and extend the invitation to the marriage supper of the Lamb and his bride, the Church. All who are invited will not accept the invitation so we should continue to expand the circle of invitees so that the Lord’s banquet will be filled. Robert C. Hudson January 7, 2013

Living as God’s People

January 12, 2014 Background Scripture: Luke 6:12 – 49 Lesson Passage: Luke 6:12, 13, 17 – 31 Jesus taught many lessons on how children of God should live and conduct themselves in this world. Perhaps none of his teachings on this subject are as detailed and profound as that in his Sermon on the Mount. Much of Luke 6 parallels the teachings of Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. It is not clear whether Matthew and Luke are recording the same event since Jesus was known to teach about a subject more than once during his ministry. In fact, he is recorded as using the phrase “again, I say unto you” quite often in the gospel narratives. If this is the same event, it is interesting to note that Matthew records much more information than Luke which is uncharacteristic of the two writers. On the other hand, there are some critical facts that Luke includes in this text which is what one comes to expect of Luke’s writings. According to the text, Jesus was preparing to select twelve men to become his apprentices or disciples. Jesus was going to spend the next three and a half years pouring his teachings into them and afterwards he commissioned them to go and make disciples of the entire world. Rather than use his divine attribute of omniscience to select them, he humbled himself and submitted himself to his Heavenly Father. So he spent all night in prayer to God. This is an excellent model to follow when preparing to make major decisions. The next day, he called all of his students or followers to him and from among them he selected twelve. Together, they approached the crowd in the plains where he healed the sick among them and then began to teach them about the blessings of being a part of the kingdom of God. The blessings he spoke of were to be received later in heaven rather than during their earthly life. They were going to endure many trials and hardships in their future but Jesus was teaching them to look beyond their present circumstances of distress and he assured them of a future reward for their endurance. Some of their persecutions would come because of their relationship with Jesus and they would be rewarded greatly because of their suffering. These would not be isolated incidents but persecution would become a part of their way of life as children of God. Tribulations could not be avoided but they were given assurance of their future reward to help them endure the suffering. Then Jesus turned from acknowledging their emotional and social pains in this world to warn those who have it easy in this world. The earthly blessings of this life are the totality of their reward. In the afterlife beyond this world, their fortunes would be reversed and they shall lack a reward in the future and their present joy would become anguish and pain in the future. From there his teaching moved towards how to live according to the Law of love. Jesus taught them the proper actions and response to others as children of God. There are expectations of how children of God should live in this life. Jesus taught them how to live up to the expectations that God has of His children. Our lesson passage ends with what we know as the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do onto you. This is how we live as God’s people. Robert C. Hudson January 6, 2013