Jesus ate with anyone...
Illustration
Object:
Jesus ate with anyone, Democrat or Republican, sinners or righteous (self-righteous?), rich or poor. He will even eat with us. Some are very class conscious and won't associate with those of the wrong class. In Nepal the outcasts would not associate with the Brahmins. In my seminary class and in our church we had both classes and they were as one in the Lord. When they went to a home of non-Christians near our church, we tried to send someone of the same class so as not to alienate anyone. When they came to the Lord, they sat together in church and shared with each other. It was the same in Jesus' day. In the upper class home where Jesus was eating they could be very offended if someone of a lower group even came in the door.
In my church in Weehawken, one of my members told me to visit a woman who had three children but no church. I went to see her and invite her to come. I asked about her husband. She said she didn't have one. I began to realize that she was a prostitute. I was proud of my member who was concerned about her and the children. She was received well by my congregation and joined our church. I believe she gave up her profession.
This text indicates there are certain duties expected of a host when they invite someone. Our traditions are not as ridged, but all people in the world have them -- even if it is nothing more than offering a cup of coffee to a visitor.
My grandma always kept a pot of coffee ready in case someone should come in. It was the depression and we were one block from the railroad tracks. There were often some unsavory characters who were invited in for coffee. When they left Grandma often gave them one of Grandpa's old funeral outfits that he had outgrown. Imagine seeing a vagrant walking the streets in a swallow tailed coat with a bowler hat! My mother always told me to be proud of my family for caring for others. No they did not wash their feet!
The woman who came to Jesus may have been poor but she spent her money on some anointing oil for his feet. What a contrast! I'm sure Jesus loved the Pharisees, but they evidently did not love him in return, but this prostitute did love him. He pointed out the difference.
I like to think of a church as a hospital for sinners, not just a club for the righteous. Some, I know stay away because they think they would be out of place.
In Cleveland there was an item in the church paper about a church that had thrown out a man because he was dressed like a bum when he tried to come in to a Christmas service. When the members realized what had been done, it made the whole church wake up. It never happened again.
In my church in Weehawken, one of my members told me to visit a woman who had three children but no church. I went to see her and invite her to come. I asked about her husband. She said she didn't have one. I began to realize that she was a prostitute. I was proud of my member who was concerned about her and the children. She was received well by my congregation and joined our church. I believe she gave up her profession.
This text indicates there are certain duties expected of a host when they invite someone. Our traditions are not as ridged, but all people in the world have them -- even if it is nothing more than offering a cup of coffee to a visitor.
My grandma always kept a pot of coffee ready in case someone should come in. It was the depression and we were one block from the railroad tracks. There were often some unsavory characters who were invited in for coffee. When they left Grandma often gave them one of Grandpa's old funeral outfits that he had outgrown. Imagine seeing a vagrant walking the streets in a swallow tailed coat with a bowler hat! My mother always told me to be proud of my family for caring for others. No they did not wash their feet!
The woman who came to Jesus may have been poor but she spent her money on some anointing oil for his feet. What a contrast! I'm sure Jesus loved the Pharisees, but they evidently did not love him in return, but this prostitute did love him. He pointed out the difference.
I like to think of a church as a hospital for sinners, not just a club for the righteous. Some, I know stay away because they think they would be out of place.
In Cleveland there was an item in the church paper about a church that had thrown out a man because he was dressed like a bum when he tried to come in to a Christmas service. When the members realized what had been done, it made the whole church wake up. It never happened again.
