The Dinner Table – Jesus Christ of Nazareth
“Later, Matthew invited Jesus and His disciples to his home
as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable
sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, ‘Why
does your teacher eat with such scum?’ When Jesus heard this, He
said, ‘Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.’ Then He
added, ‘Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to
show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’”
God's promise to bless the planet via Abraham was ultimately realized through the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.
Jesus lived in a time when there was an intense,
violent racial conflict between Jews, Gentiles, and Romans. However, Jesus
frequently stood in the way of oppressors and the downtrodden. He made a special effort to interact with, dine
with, and show compassion to those who were social outcasts, powerless, and
frail, and He hoped that we, the following believers from every race,
socioeconomic class, and cultural background, would be ONE.
A few of the texts we've examined in the current sermon
series from Faith Church, "At the Table," come from the Gospel of
Luke. A major motif in this gospel is the frequent teaching at tables by Jesus,
and many of these episodes can only be found in the Gospel of Luke. This has
prompted research on the subject, including the book Lord of the Banquet by
David Moessner. Since there isn't enough room on a blog to conduct a
dissertation-length analysis of a subject, I thought I'd highlight a few of
these passages and discuss any lessons we may draw from them.
When we examine these events, two important things jump out:
Jesus' teachings and the individuals he ate meals with. Jesus dines with
sinners and tax collectors, but he also spends time at the table with Pharisees
and other members of the religious establishment. He approaches both groups; he is an inclusive table. The tax collectors and sinners
need to hear that they matter, can be forgiven, and have a place at the table,
whereas the Pharisees need a wake-up call to ensure that they are not
self-righteous but living as people who care for others and God, not just
following his rules and regulations. He offers different teachings to different
groups. A similar idea can be seen in Mary and Martha's
home in certain aspects, as Martha becomes preoccupied with hospitality, which
is admirable but overlooks the significance of the relationship with Jesus.
These tales, in my opinion, can present difficulties for us
in our fast-food, at-your-desk, on-the-go world. When Jesus sits down to eat
with others, he reveals himself to them. Do we also disclose who Jesus is by
inviting individuals from all backgrounds to our tables and using these
gatherings as opportunities to discuss truth and love? Do we serve evangelism
and justice at our tables? May our tables serve as representations of the
kingdom of God and as sites of its extension!
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