Once again, we find Jesus healing on the Sabbath. This time it is an elderly woman stooped over with arthritis. And as before Jesus is criticized for doing work on the Sabbath. He asks the critics, if any of them have led their horses or donkeys out of their stalls for a drink on the Sabbath. If so, then why would it be wrong to lead a woman out of the stall of affliction that Satan has been keeping her in? The critics didn't know what to say, and the congregation was delighted!
Farther along in the chapter, Jesus tells us to picture the Kingdom of God in a few different ways. First as a pine nut that grows in to a huge pine tree, complete with eagle nests and then as a woman who is adding yeast to dough and ends up with three loaves of bread.
When asked how many people were going to be saved, he tells them to do all they can to enter through the gates of the kingdom. He then tells the people gathered that just because they have been hanging around, that doesn't guarantee a seat at the banquet table. We need to be sure that we as believers today are not just hanging around and hoping to get in based on our charm, good looks, or because we've become part of the background. The only way is through Jesus - our host at the eternal banquet table.
Towards the end of the chapter, Jesus is warned by some Pharisee's that Herod is searching for him, and that he should run for cover. Jesus replies "Go tell that fox, 'I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.' In any case, I must keep going today and tomorrow and
the next day - for surely no prophet can die out side Jerusalem!"
The end of the chapter brings Jesus's lament for Jerusalem.
34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killer of prophets, abuser of the messengers of God! How often I've longed to gather your children, gather your children like a hen, Her brood safe under her wings-but you refused and turned away!35 And now it's too late: You won't see me again until the day you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of God.'"
Luke 14 starts with Jesus eating at the house of a Pharisee. There also was a man with very swollen joints there. Jesus asked the Pharisees and lawmen there if it was okay to heal on the Sabbath. There was no answer, so Jesus went ahead and healed the man. Jesus then asked the crowd, is it okay for you to rescue a horse or child that has fallen in to a well on the Sabbath? Again there was no answer.
Jesus then glanced around the room and noticed how some people were picking places of honor at the table. He then told those gathered a story about choosing your place at the table. Basically, he tells us to not to automatically assume that we will be given a place of honor. There may be someone else coming who belongs in that seat, and you will be asked to move. Very embarrassing! However, if you choose a not so prominent seat, and the host asks you to move to a better seat, you will be honored.
Jesus then told another story about a host preparing a banquet for many guests. Once things were prepared, he sent his servants to tell the invitees that things were ready and to come feast. One by one the invitees offered up excuses why they could not come. The host lost his temper and told his servants to go back to the streets, alleys and countryside and invite anyone who was interested. His intent was to fill the tables with these new guests and leave no room for the first round of invitees should they change their mind. A story directed towards Jewish people who rejected Jesus as the Messiah, and those non-Jews who accepted his invitation.
We're then reminded that being a follower of Christ will not be without cost. Unless we leave our family, take up our cross and follow Jesus, we cannot be his disciples. I don't think he's trying to scare us away from following him. Instead he's trying to encourage us to recognize that there will be costs up front. Those costs may not necessarily mean leaving our family. It may mean giving up a little of our time to take a meal to a shut-in. It could mean mowing your neighbor's lawn just because. Maybe it's as simple as taking an extra five minutes to stop and pray for that enemy of yours. It might mean stepping outside of your comfort zone to encourage and talk with that new face in the crowd.
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