Tasting the Kingdom 5
In the life of Jesus as he comes announcing the Kingdom of God, we find that it is not only the words that he speaks but the life that he lives that gives people a taste of the Kingdom of God. As people interact with Jesus (and his church) they not only hear but they experience a foretaste of the wedding banquet of the Lamb.
“When 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.”
Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
“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.’
“Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’
“Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
“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.’
” ‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’
“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. I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’ ” (Luke 14:15-24)
1. This is a parable that is told in response to a statement about eating in the kingdom of God. A banquet we may take then is a common metaphor for the Kingdom of God. In the Kingdom we will experience table fellowship, acceptance with God. The question then, though in picture language is actually about entering the Kingdom of God. But I still love the picture that those who enter the Kingdom are those who eat with the king.
Think of all that eating together with good friends and family means to you. Good memories. Eating together has a special place in the human make-up. And this, God tells us, is just a picture of what being in the Kingdom is going to be like…
2. Eating and banqueting together is a very physical activity. Now I know this language is simply picture language but it does make me wonder about our neo-Platonic view of heaven, with angels, harps, fluffy clouds and all those disembodied spirit floating around.
The picture Jesus chooses to use of his Kingdom is far more robust and “earthy” – sharing a meal with family/friends/community, laughing, eating, drinking, sharing stories, good food, wine (?). I resonate with Jesus’ picture far more than the traditional picture of the Kingdom that the church has borrowed from Plato. Perhaps if we had a more robust doctrine of the life of the Kingdom we would theologically have a far higher view and priority on hospitality… should our homes not be a taste of the kingdom in our community?
3. I realise that at the most basic level this parable is about the rejection of Israel and the gospel going to the Gentiles. But I am sure it is too limited to only apply it in this direction. Is it significant that this story comes straight after the teaching about pride and humility and Jesus radical instructions for throwing a party? (Luke 14:7-14)
When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
I also feel it is significant that the manner in which Jesus describes the “alternate guests” who are invited – poor, crippled, blind, lame. These are often equated with the “sinners” and unclean within Israel who responded to Jesus message whilst the respectable religious leaders refused to come to the banquet.
4. I think this is still true in most gospel endeavours. The rich and comfortable in this world often have no use or concern for the gospel and its radical call. They may sit in church, come to Bible study, give money and debate doctrine, but have they ever surrendered their lives, dreams, family and comfort to the call of Jesus. (DISCLAIMER: I know many wonderful wealthy Christians, who have a radical Kingdom worldview!) It is fascinating that in the denomination I belong to that we concentrate the majority of our time, effort and money in establishing churches among the middle-class. The rationale is often that then we can support self-sustaining churches.
Where is this a concern of Jesus? We seem to pander to the lifestyle and worldview of those very people who both Jesus and Paul did not think would be receptive to the gospel. If we believe Jesus when he proclaimed an “upside-down” kingdom that turns the values/status/power-structures of this world on its head, then why do our churches not look any different? Why are most “successful churches” in Cape Town filled with middle-class people? Why are the township churches so often lacking good teaching, the suburban churches have an abundance of Bible teachers? Why are the levels of training and mentoring so radicaly different for these two groups?
Why are there not people praying, weeping and planning to reach the vast areas of poverty, low-cost housing, townships and informal settlements all over Cape Town. Why is all our energy focused on those who Jesus have better things to do than get with Jesus’ kingdom agenda?
5. What would it look like for people in Cape Town to taste the Kingdom. For the poor – if we, because of Jesus, came to be with, get to know them, love them, become community with them, share Jesus with them – that may include the giving of food and blankets but those acts are not enough in themselves. Those are easy to do – the Kingdom of Jesus is about eating and drinking and being together. That is a taste of the kingdom
For the wealthy – it is our acts of sacrifice, service, inclusion, “upside-down” values and priorities that are strangely attractive to the people they want to be. But yet are at odds with and challenge their middle-class comfort, values and priorities. It is as we “love the unlovely” “look after widows and orphans” etc that we challenge the hearts/values of the comfortable and content. And in that they taste the Kingdom… and when they ask (1Peter 3:15) – give them the reason for the hope you have – Jesus and His Kingdom
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