Where Do You Sit?

Scripture Introduction:

If you’re writing a television scene and you want to tell your audience that your main character is a kid who doesn’t fit in, what setting do you place him in? You put him/her in the lunch room.

The lunch room is where you learn your place in society. Have you experienced the anxiety of this? New to a community. Here you are at the doorway, tray in hand, looking around....who is my person....which table do I belong at?

What we are going to be introduced to in Luke 14 is a dinner scene. Now a dinner table is one of those places where your social standing is on full display. If you’re a nerd—it’s exposed at the lunch table.

This was even more the case in the ancient world. The seating arrangement was huge. To be invited to the party means something…there are rules of hospitality that must be followed…rules with accepting invitations…rules with returning invitations…who sits by the host? Who is the most honored guest?

The tables would have been in kind of a U shape, honored folks right next to the host, and those less honored on the wings…It’s important where you sit. Status matters.

Have we really moved that far away from this scene? Keeping up with the neighbor down the street. We might move battle grounds in the church…seen as the most holy, the most spiritual, or even the guy who doesn’t care about all this material stuff---I’m the best at being humble. Fighting for identity. To matter. To be significant. To be part of certain groups.

All this stuff is still very much present. And it can also be incredibly exhausting. We can become just absolutely wore out—or maybe not—maybe there is an adrenaline rush that comes with this. To go to that gathering and to be seen as somebody, to get the accolades you want, to be seen as the one with the cool car, the biggest muscles, the smartest brain, the prettiest dress, the most successful kids, the most Bible knowledge. Maybe you’re succeeding in some measure and so you aren’t feeling exhausted. Or maybe you’re exhausted with the whole thing…laboring and laboring to be somebody.

As we join our scene this morning we’re going to see the hustle and the bustle of powerful people still jockeying for position. To be the best…and then when you are the best it’s not enough…you’ve got to keep that position, and so there is strategy there too. And what we are going to see is a dinner scene where there are a couple people who don’t really belong—Jesus (who is the guest but he’s going to pop a hole in this system) and then another guy…he’s sick, he’s swollen up, not looking the part…clearly doesn’t belong in this scene…but he’s there for a reason.

Listen in...

Luke 14:1–24 ESV

One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully. And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy. And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away. And he said to them, “Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?” And they could not reply to these things. Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’ ”

Imagine that you are at the Grand Canyon looking at a beautiful sunset and you’re tasked with painting a picture to try to capture some of it’s splendor. There are so many beautiful hues of color…but you realize that the only colors you have a black and white.

That’s kind of how I feel with this passage. It’s absolutely beautiful but I feel so inadequate to describe it. What we have in these 24 verses are two completely different ways to view the world—to view things like power, prestige, privilege…it’s two different ways really of viewing your place in the world. And I think if we’ll embrace it it’ll help us rest in Jesus—but at the same time motivate us to labor for others.

I believe Andy Crouch might help us to get started.

The best test of any institution, and especially any institution’s roles and rules for using power, is whether everyone flourishes when everyone indwells their roles and plays by the rules, or whether only a few of the participants experience abundance and growth.

What he is saying is that if an institution—and that would include the church, a family, a football team, the place you work…you get the picture…if an institution is firing on all cylinders is everyone benefiting or just a few? Or is the rich get richer…and the poor getting all used up?

But not everyone would agree with Crouch. I think there’s another competing vision…and this one is exemplified by that great thinker of our time Ricky Bobby...”If you ain’t first, you’re last.”

Asking questions about whether or not others are flourishing isn’t something that needs to be asked…if they want to flourish…well they need to step up their game. To each his own. Survival of the fittest. Dog eat dog world. You should pursue as much power, prestige, and privilege as you can. It’s just yours for the taking. Climb that ladder. Get what’s yours. If you ain’t first, you’re last....so be first.

These two competing visions of the world are what is at stake in this passage. Why does that matter to you? For one, it matters because I think its an answer for why we are so exhausted and so depressed and at times can be very miserable as a society. It can explain much of our anger and fighting and such. It’s jockeying for power…but not power to be used for others to flourish…power to be used for ourselves.

But it’s also important that we wrestle with what Jesus is saying here because followers of Jesus are going to want to view the world how Jesus viewed the world. We believe His way is always better.

And there is also a message in here for those who feel poor and powerless—or even ARE in some situation poor and powerless. There is great news for all of us in this passage…so let’s get to work and see the beauty of what Jesus is saying here.

Using the power and powerless vs seeing yourself as the poor and powerless. (1-6)

The first thing we see is a Sabbath day meal. The food would have been prepared the night before and it’s not uncommon to have a large gathering. And we see that this is a ruler of the Pharisee. He’s a big deal. Powerful dude. And so who would have been at this part would have been a bunch of other social elites.

But what doesn’t belong here is this man with dropsy. What is dropsy? If you use an NIV you can help us out. There it says “abnormal swelling of the body”. And that’s what the word means. Today we might call it edema. It’s where the body retains fluid and you’ve got abnormal swelling in your body.

The thing that’s significant about this, though, is that many considered this particular issue a result of personal sin. Let me set this up for us, then…it’s the Sabbath…tons of rules regarding that…and it’s a dining scene. Purity rules, hospitality, honor/shame, so why in the world is this guy there?

We get a clue in verse 1. “They were watching Jesus carefully”. That guy is a plant. Not that he’s in on it. He doesn’t know. He’s been invited to a dinner party. But he’s there in order to trap Jesus…Here’s how we also know. Look at verse 3. “And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees....”

Responded? Who said anything? Jesus knows exactly why this guy is here and he responds…Will Jesus heal a guy with a non-emergency issue on the Sabbath?

Edema is a serious deal—probably means his organs are failing…but this can wait for tomorrow. But redemption shouldn’t wait. And so Jesus…heals…Look at the words used here. Look at the words used of the Pharisees…they are passive, they are silent through pretty much the whole ordeal, but listen to what it says of Jesus...

Took him. That’s a grabby word. He seizes the guy, grabs him, takes action…heals him…and sends him away. Then Jesus silences them by saying that if you have a son or an ox who falls into a well you immediately pull him out…and so it’s not strange that Jesus immediately helps this guy.

Okay…I really really want to tell make some application points…but I think it’s more effective if we hang onto it. Let me sum up the scene.

A guy who is an outcast…a guy who is part of the poor and powerless…the Pharisees use him. Jesus heals him. Hold onto that and let’s move on to the next story.

Flipping the Table Etiquette

You’re at a new school, or new church, or new place of work, or new morning breakfast group, or day at the senior club…help me out here. And it’s lunch…you’re standing at the door…where are you going to sit.

You know why this matters don’t you. If you’re in school this is a huge moment. You know why it matters where you sit. Because there is status associated with this. There are the have’s and the have nots.

A couple of things can happen in this scenario. One, you can end up thinking that you’re one of the cool kids and you can try to sit at the cool kid table and they can totally reject you. What are you doing loser? Deep shame.

I love what happens here in verse 7. We saw that the Pharisees were watching Jesus…but Jesus is also watching them. And what he sees among the religious leaders is something that you’d see in the world—not in the kingdom of God. That ol’ familiar jockeying for position. To be the first. To be the greatest. To get the most honor for yourself as possible.

Jesus sees this. And he says humble yourself and you’ll be exalted. It’s an old Proverb…let another praise you…Don’t give yourself honor but let another give you that honor.

And so what it appears is happening in this passage is that Jesus is giving you a tip at how to game the system. If you really are a cool kid then take a lowly place—eventually people will realize you’re one of the cool kids, they will tell you to come on up with the have’s and then everything will be grand. AND you aren’t running the risk of making a fool of yourself.

But something else is happening here. Just think about this for a moment. You sit down at the low place…but you know it’s only temporary. You’ll get moved up to the cool kids table where you belong…eventually.

Except it doesn’t happen.

Now what happens? What happens in your heart? You get bitter…you’re mad at Jesus that he said you’d get to move up eventually if you just took a place that was humble.

And what happens to your enjoyment of the banquet if this has happened to you. This is the most miserable banquet I’ve ever attended. The steak is bland. The music is lame. I’ve never been so disrespected in all my life. And I know some of these goons who are seated in positions of honor above me. They should be sitting by the smelly bathroom. Not me.

I had been entertaining a dream of that moment when the host came over and encouraged me to sit in one of the more valuable positions at the banquet. It was going to be great getting that VIP badge placed around my neck and to give that smug look as I passed my near-the-smelly-bathroom dwelling peers.

But now that dream is being overtaken by another as anger towards the host is overtaking me. How dare he not exalt me? How dare he ignore my position and not put me in the honored places I belong? Now I’m picturing myself making a scene as I leave. I don’t need this stupid banquet anyways. It’s dumb and the food tastes like cardboard. He’s a miserable host anyways who doesn’t take care of those he invited. I’m going to thumb my nose at all these arrogant jerks as I make a rather noisy exit.

—

So what can you say of my heart if I took the lowest place at the table and now I’m seething because I didn’t get moved up? If this is my heart, I’m not truly humble, am I? I’m not giving deference to the host. I know my place. I took this dumb seat because I figured you’d move me up, but I’m still here and I’m mad about it. That’s not humility that’s exalting self.

Jesus’ parable in Luke 14 isn’t a way to fake-humble your way into honor. It’s not an invitation to fish for compliments or to find a way to make the party about yourself for a few minutes. This parable is about exposing all of us. It’s exposing the fact that none of us but the true King will kiss a cross. We’ll fight for the seat of honor even if it means enduring a seat near the bathroom for awhile.

This type of false humility is just as deadly as blatant platforming and jockeying for the best seat at the table. In fact it might even be worse, because it’s hijacking gospel-truths and gospel-language as a means to make the gospel about my exaltation rather than His.

True humility is happy to be invited to the party. True humility gives deference to the host. The truly humble will take the low position and not be shocked, dismayed, or depressed when he stays there.

And that’s really what this is about anyways.Jesus is flipping the script. It’s about identifying with the poor and powerless. That’s what the kingdom is about. You identify with the poor and the powerless and you will be exalted by the LORD.

You’re standing there trying to figure out where to sit…do you find the place of honor? Or do you look for the poor and the powerless? Jesus says his followers are going to seek out the poor and powerless. They aren’t going to fight to get into the room where it happens…they aren’t going to try to be in a place of raw power, or to get into a seat for their own self-aggrandizement.

But then Jesus turns to the ones who invited him. Don’t invite people based upon what you get out of it. Invite the poor and powerless.

They were playing he same game that the guests were playing. You scratch my back…I scratch yours. Who do you give the seat of honor? Well, you give the guy who can benefit you the most…and then he is obligated to return the favor…so then you get invited to an important party.

And this is where we come back to the guy with edema. They did what Jesus said here, right? They invited one of the poor and powerless. But why did they invite him? They thought he could repay them by trapping Jesus. The same reason Jesus was invited…to trap him, to fulfill their needs.

And that’s what wickedness does. It uses people for its own ends. Remember what we said at the start with an institution actually being healthy. Let’s say everything worked as planned on this day…what happens…the Pharisees are lifted up, shown to be awesome, Jesus is shown to be a fool, the guy with edema plays his role perfectly and he’s tossed aside…he’s not healed..he’s used up.

But that’s not what happens in the kingdom of God. Put yourself with the poor and powerless, Jesus says. And if you end up getting “lifted up” then use that position—when you get to throw the party, use that place not in order to grow your power or play that game that keeps you in a place of power…no, use that power to invite the poor and powerless. That’s the kingdom.

Jesus has all the power in the world. Jesus Christ has all power and dominion and authority. And what does he do? He stoops. He comes to earth, washes feet, dies a criminals death and he does it for people who were his enemies. If while we were yet enemies Christ died for the ungodly…do you see??

And that’s what we see here in this last bit. I could do a whole sermon here about excuses…and we might circle back around there next week. But I want to sum this one up kind of quickly this week.

After this second parable some dude shouts out, “blessed are those who eats bread in the kingdom of God”. he’s assuming that’s going to be him. He’ll be there…so will his buddies. They’ve paid their dues. They are the “haves”. They are “in”.

But then Jesus tells another story.

Great banquet…they’d have sent out an invitation…kind of an RSVP…and then when it was the day, they’d call them up and say, “everything is ready.” But what happens here. Three different guys have excuses. Somewhat reasonable excuses. Even things that the Torah say could be excusable for stuff like going to war.

But what’s Jesus saying here? Why did these guys make excuses? Why not go to the banquet? Because they didn’t really care about the invitation…they didn’t value it. And why would you not value the invitation? Because your own stuff is more important. That’s why they don’t show.

And the master of the house calls in who…the poor and powerless. And the master wants this to be a real banger…and so he wants it jam-packed. The poor and powerless have all come and so now he extends it to the highways and the hedges…even further to the outcasts. Compel them to come in. Doesn’t mean force them…just means that they don’t even know this dude…so you’re going to have to labor. But those other dudes…they’ve lost their seat. They aren’t going to the banquet.

But I’ve got a question…and answering it will help us wrap this up. Who did Jesus say to invite to your banquet? The poor and powerless. But why doesn’t it seem like that is what happens in this Great Banquet with the kingdom of God. Why didn’t he start with the poor and powerless…why do they come in only after the first people reject it?

Because of what is happening here. This is, I believe, a little about the religious leaders of the day, their rejection of Jesus—and eventually Gentile inclusion—inclusion of the outcasts among outcasts. Were they poor and powerless?

Depends on who you ask. Ask a Roman emperor if this ruler of the Pharisees was a big deal. And you know what that Roman emperor would say? Who? Is that one of those Jews that we didn’t tax enough…why, go back and tax him some more…make sure he knows his place.

But ask a widow woman in Jerusalem. He’s super powerful. He’s one of the haves. He’s one of the important dudes. And that’s also the answer you’d get if you asked the Pharisee himself. He might fake some humility…but his lifestyle is going to tell us that he’s about being a big deal, keeping that power, growing that power, etc.

But remember our quote at the beginning…if a healthy institution is thriving on all cylinders then it’s going to benefit everyone and cause flourishing all around. If an unhealthy institution is running on all cylinders then it’s going to only benefit a few.

So what would happen if the one system is thriving? Well if you’re one of the powerful people then it works great doesn’t it…if you’re one of the poor and powerless you don’t benefit at all. The only way to benefit is to become one of the powerful, one of the haves, a guy who sits at the cool kids table.

And that’s so often what happens…the religious elite assume they are going to the party, that they are the honored, and they stop identifying with the poor and powerless. They start to think they’ve moved up spots at the table…and suddenly start taking those seats of prominence. And before you know it their no longer doing justice and loving mercy.

But what happens if Jesus’ system is running on all cylinders. Let’s go to the great banquet. What happens is that they listen to Jesus’ call here…and they invite the poor and the powerless. They take the proper seats. They realize they are among the poor and powerless…and Jesus exalts them. Everyone is lifted up. Everyone is flourishing. Everyone is playing their role and they benefit…they are all eating bread in the kingdom.

Jesus came for the poor and the powerless.

A couple points of application here. One I think it’s fitting for us to ask this question of our own lives and of our community here at Calvary. If we are running on all cylinders does everyone benefit? Are we a healthy institution in that way…is our posture towards the poor and powerless correct? Are we using whatever Jesus has given us in order to create flourishing in others?

What Jesus is doing here flipped everything. You want to change a community what do you do? One strategy is to get into places of power, have the seat at the table, and that’s the most important thing. You’ve got to be in the room where it happens no matter the cost. But Jesus identifies with the poor and the powerless. Not creating some system of dependence but he actually gives himself in such a way that they are fulfilling what God called them to do. Valuing them. Showing worth, restoring humanity, etc.

We can spend so much time jockeying for position, trying to be significant, to matter, to be accepted to be somebody....and what we are seeing here is that in Christ the poor and the powerless are already accepted, and going to in Jesus be exalted. He came for the poor and the powerless.

Am I willing to see myself in that position? Am I willing to step off the treadmill and trust in Jesus on my behalf?

So where do you sit? Do you have a seat in the kingdom?

Are we reflecting the worldview of Jesus? Or the one that he says, “none of these men who were invited shall taste my banquet”