I'll Be There in a Sec, Jesus... // Luke 14:15-24

The Parable of the Great Banquet
15When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, "Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God."
16Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.'

18"But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.'

19"Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.'

20"Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.'

21"The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.'

22" 'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.'

23"Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. 24I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.' "

Stuff that stood out:

*** 18"But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.'

19"Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.'

20"Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.': Excuses, excuses. I am the king of them. Spiritually speaking, this is something that gets us in so much trouble, and I think in our American/"civilized" society, it is all the harder. We have so many "important" things pulling at us, so many lists that need to be completed, so much criteria that must be met before we will surrender to Jesus and follow him. I think this keeps so many of us from truly being a disciple. We have had a "surface" taste of God, and we like the concept of having him in our lives, but we let stuff get in the way. Business. Worry. Fear. Sports. Relationships. Grades. Insecurities. Addiction. You name it. These are all things I need to remember, but the next few verses are what "hit me" is what really should freak me out...

*** Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.'; verse 21: Now, I certainly don't have anything against the crippled, blind, or 'lame', and it's awesome to know that Jesus cares deeply about them. But this response was given as the ones who are "too busy", distracted, etc., allowed their priorities to put off Jesus...and what does Jesus say? "Oh, it's ok...I'll be around, no worries." Oh wait, that's not what he said...

*** 24I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.': Ouch. That freaks me out. How many times have I put off the Lord so I could just do what I felt like doing, or convinced myself I was too busy to truly follow? Too many times to count, if I'm honest. That ain't good. But where this should scare more folks claiming the name Christian is that Jesus doesn't say stuff like, "Oh, it's ok...just let me know when you're ready,", he basically doesn't let them in at all. That doesn't sound like the welcoming Jesus I'm used to hearing about. But it does make me think about other similar examples that are pretty tough...like the rich guy who is asked to get rid of all possessions...and he can't. Or even the concept of idolatry. Simply put, if we really are followers of Jesus, then we should be wanting to not miss him. I am so grateful to God's grace and forgiveness in my failings, my inattention, etc., but verses like this should wake me (and others) up...

Questions for me today:

Am I making some excuses right now that are keeping me from following Jesus?