Aug 24, 2016

Party Invitation

“People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.” Luke 13:29–30)

Jesus was entering Jerusalem, the geographic center of Jewish faith, when he was asked if only a few people were going to be saved. The question could have had many differing meanings. The person may have been asking if, in comparison to the vast numbers of people on the earth, the number of people saved in the end would be few. It may have been asked because Jesus’ teaching was perceived by the person to be exclusive, even in comparison to the legalistic Jewish law. However, in light of how Jesus answers, it is more likely that it was asked in terms of the Jews being God’s chosen, though they were relatively few in the world’s population. In other words, the person was speaking from a position of pride in being a Jew, one of the chosen few.

Jesus affirms that the doorway to salvation was indeed narrow, but he also indicates that the person’s culture was not the ticket for entrance. In his explanation, when Jesus tells about the owner of the house closing the door and someone pleading to be let in, he quotes the beggar as saying, “We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets” (vs. 26). In other words, we associated with you. We knew who you were. We would hang around you.

But the owner replied, “I don’t know you or where you come from” (vs. 27a). The person wanting to enter did not have a relationship with the owner. While he knew of the owner and may have been a part of the crowd, he never got to know the owner personally. It didn’t matter where he came from. If the owner didn’t know him, he would not be allowed in.

Jesus went on to say that the person asking would see fellow Jews inside including Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but they would also see people there from all over the world. He was letting the person know that being a Jew was not the key. They key was having a personal relationship with the Owner.

Many people today claim the title “Christian” the way the person in Luke 13 and many during Jesus’ time claimed the title “Jew” — as a card of introduction or a ticket to Heaven. They believe if they are a relatively good person who has lived in a “Christian” nation that they will be allowed into God’s Kingdom. However, because they have never accepted Jesus as Lord and developed a personal relationship with Him, they will not be allowed into Heaven. The Owner will say, as He does in Jesus’ explanation in Luke 13:27, “I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!”

Do not become proud of your “Christian” heritage in a way that causes you to mistakenly think that all you have to do is say you’re a Christian. To know eternal life, you must truly be a Christian and that requires surrendering your life to Jesus. As you pray today, reflect on what your true relationship is with God. Will you be invited in when the Banquet begins?