COME TO THE TABLE

INTRO

How many of you have turned your kitchen or dining room table into a workspace during this covid time? Now I know I can’t see you, but I am guessing a lot.

A table is a flat surface with supports that allows you to have some space to do different things.

We use tables to eat at, and create, we are able to spread things out and see them from different angles and now even a home office, at the table we also listen to others when they have gathered around the table.

The table is where my family met at the end of a busy day and we shared a meal, not only physically but also fed each other with the gift of listening and talking.

we usually began with giving thanks for our meal and as that progressed many things were discussed. We laughed, we cried, and we even discussed the harder things, most of all the important part was….. that we gathered. To this day when we get together, we still do this.

Coming to the table was a safe space for me a place of joy and comfort even though it was not always perfect pretty.

we could speak our heart and my family loved me despite.

Today I want us to look at just such a table.

If you have your bibles follow along with me in

Luke 7:36–50 NLT

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!” Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.” “Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied. Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” “That’s right,” Jesus said. Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?” And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

In Luke 7 – this is a story about Jesus at the table of Simon the Pharisee.

Not unlike our table the people that gathered here did so for different reasons

· Simon we not sure of his motivation – curiosity or judgement

· Jesus always ready to meet with people no matter where – just a few short verses before he was sitting eating with sinners??

· The other guests – followers of either Jesus or Simon all had an agenda

· Then we have an unnamed woman – she is called a sinner

·

Tensions

There are a few different tensions happening here:

The pharisee sits in judgement of Jesus and this sinful woman – I am sure it does not stop there

Do you see this woman?

Jesus asks this question knowing full well that everyone at this stage is aware of the elephant in the room. They see her, hear her weeping and also smell her.

This woman is willing to risk much;

She goes into Simon the Pharisees home uninvited

She weeps openly and a lot

She lets her hair down in public

She gives her expensive perfume to Jesus

Kisses his feet.

MAIN POINT

Which side of the table are you sitting at? The table of forgiveness or the table of judgment.

Now you may be looking at your table going right now it is a mess. But this mess can be removed wiped up and start again.

So, it is with Jesus he invites us to his table one that he has prepared, with the sacrifice of love and understanding and also the ability to clean up the mess. His blood makes us new again his blood gives us a new clean slate.

We all have different tables we are sitting at:

Which table do you find yourself at:

THIS WOMAN KNEW THAT SHE HAD A LOT TO BE FORGIVEN FOR AND SHE RECOGNISED THAT ONLY JESUS COULD CLEAN UP HER MESS AND SO SHE GAVE MUCH BECAUSE SHE HAD BEEN GIVEN MUCH.

YOU SEE WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THAT SAME OPPORTUNITY AS SHE WAS AND YET WE DON’T REALLY GET IT.

The bridal table where covenant was made to love one another forever or is it until we are ticked off at each other?

HAVE YOU WALKED AWAY? - divorce stats high

The baby table where we vowed to take care and love and nurture this beautiful child, or is it until they become rebellious teenagers?

Abuse and neglect

The graduation table will you promise to fulfill the duties of your calling in career path.

The table at the market where you present your wares to the world to purchase, enterprise and livelihood. You may not be selling vegetables or goods, but you are selling whatever career you have chosen. This is you and an end user, and you here to make sure that they get what they are paying for.

Are you doing your best with what you have.

PERHAPS YOU FEEL DESPONDENT - TIRED DESPAIRED READY TO GIVE UP

WHY DOES IT MATTER???

UNFORGIVENESS AND BITTERNESS IS POISON TO OUR SYSTEM

“Resentment is like drinking poison and hoping it will kill your enemies” ~Mandela.~

RESENT WHERE YOU ARE AT

THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU

YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES

APPLICATION??

EXAMINE YOUR TABLE – OPEN YOUR TABLE

Perhaps like me my husband passed away and my kids have grown and married you may find yourself alone at the table.

Through prayer, reading his word and even through the words and actions of others – especially in the past year God has over and over again showed me he really cares, he has placed people in my life that have filled those empty spots.

I know because of my faith in God I am never alone his Holy Spirit is always with me, however in the room there is no one sitting across the table from me. Our heavenly father sets the table and he's always ready to sit and commune with you.

You do have to be open to hearing and stepping out in faith.

God meets our deepest needs and even the ones we sometimes do not realize that we have.

IF YOU SIT IN THE SEAT OF THE PHARISEE YOU WILL ALWAYS BE LOOKING FOR WHAT IS WRONG BUT IF YOU SIT IN THE SEAT OF JESUS YOU WILL SEE SO MUCH POTENTIAL IN EVERYONE.