Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Thursday, 3 April 2014 "God's great (and costly) banquet"
Daily Scripture: Luke 22:1 Now the feast of unleavened bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching. 2 The chief priests and the scribes sought how they might put him to death, for they feared the people. 3 Satan entered into Judas, who was also called Iscariot, who was numbered with the twelve. 4 He went away, and talked with the chief priests and captains about how he might deliver him to them. 5 They were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 He consented, and sought an opportunity to deliver him to them in the absence of the multitude. 7 The day of unleavened bread came, on which the Passover must be sacrificed. 8 He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.”
9 They said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare?”
10 He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered into the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him into the house which he enters. 11 Tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ 12 He will show you a large, furnished upper room. Make preparations there.”
13 They went, found things as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. 14 When the hour had come, he sat down with the twelve apostles. 15 He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, 16 for I tell you, I will no longer by any means eat of it until it is fulfilled in God’s Kingdom.” 17 He received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, “Take this, and share it among yourselves, 18 for I tell you, I will not drink at all again from the fruit of the vine, until God’s Kingdom comes.”
19 He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in memory of me.” 20 Likewise, he took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. 21 But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22 The Son of Man indeed goes, as it has been determined, but woe to that man through whom he is betrayed!”
23 They began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing. 24 There arose also a contention among them, which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 He said to them, “The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ 26 But not so with you. But one who is the greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves. 27 For who is greater, one who sits at the table, or one who serves? Isn’t it he who sits at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28 But you are those who have continued with me in my trials. 29 I confer on you a kingdom, even as my Father conferred on me, 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. You will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
31 The Lord said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat, 32 but I prayed for you, that your faith wouldn’t fail. You, when once you have turned again, establish your brothers.”[a]
33 He said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!”
34 He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will by no means crow today until you deny that you know me three times.”
35 He said to them, “When I sent you out without purse, and wallet, and shoes, did you lack anything?”
They said, “Nothing.”
36 Then he said to them, “But now, whoever has a purse, let him take it, and likewise a wallet. Whoever has none, let him sell his cloak, and buy a sword. 37 For I tell you that this which is written must still be fulfilled in me: ‘He was counted with transgressors.’[b] For that which concerns me has an end.”
38 They said, “Lord, behold, here are two swords.”
He said to them, “That is enough.”
39 He came out, and went, as his custom was, to the Mount of Olives. His disciples also followed him. 40 When he was at the place, he said to them, “Pray that you don’t enter into temptation.”
41 He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and he knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
43 An angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. 44 Being in agony he prayed more earnestly. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.
45 When he rose up from his prayer, he came to the disciples, and found them sleeping because of grief, 46 and said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
47 While he was still speaking, behold, a multitude, and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He came near to Jesus to kiss him. 48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”
49 When those who were around him saw what was about to happen, they said to him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 A certain one of them struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.
51 But Jesus answered, “Let me at least do this”—and he touched his ear, and healed him. 52 Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and elders, who had come against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you in the temple daily, you didn’t stretch out your hands against me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”
54 They seized him, and led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed from a distance. 55 When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard, and had sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56 A certain servant girl saw him as he sat in the light, and looking intently at him, said, “This man also was with him.”
57 He denied Jesus, saying, “Woman, I don’t know him.”
58 After a little while someone else saw him, and said, “You also are one of them!”
But Peter answered, “Man, I am not!”
59 After about one hour passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Truly this man also was with him, for he is a Galilean!”
60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned, and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the Lord’s word, how he said to him, “Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.” 62 He went out, and wept bitterly.
63 The men who held Jesus mocked him and beat him. 64 Having blindfolded him, they struck him on the face and asked him, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck you?” 65 They spoke many other things against him, insulting him.
66 As soon as it was day, the assembly of the elders of the people was gathered together, both chief priests and scribes, and they led him away into their council, saying, 67 “If you are the Christ, tell us.”
But he said to them, “If I tell you, you won’t believe, 68 and if I ask, you will in no way answer me or let me go. 69 From now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”
70 They all said, “Are you then the Son of God?”
He said to them, “You say it, because I am.”
71 They said, “Why do we need any more witness? For we ourselves have heard from his own mouth!”
Footnotes:
a. Luke 22:32 The word for “brothers” here may be also correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”
b. Luke 22:37 Isaiah 53:12
Reflection Questions:
The watching Pharisees surely weren't shocked when Jesus again ignored their Sabbath healing rules. But Jesus shocked them in a different way. They loved to talk about the end-time feast for God's people (verse 15). But in Jesus' feast story, the chosen said "no," and God called street people instead! Making him your Lord, Jesus said, is costly. Count the cost before you set out on the Journey.
The picture of a divine feast for God's people came from Isaiah 25:6-10. Isaiah said this banquet would be for "all peoples," "all nations," "the whole earth"—but in Jesus' day, the religious leaders wanted to limit it just to their own group of Israelites. What does Jesus' picture of inviting people from "the city's streets, the busy ones and the side streets," "the highways and back alleys," tell you about the wideness of God's mercy, and about the church Jesus was creating?
Jesus at times used extreme words to focus his hearers on priorities. "Hate" (verse 26) didn't always mean active malice; it could be a Middle Eastern way to describe making something less central to your life. It can be a challenging spiritual exercise to ask in prayer, "Lord, are there any things, people or dreams I love more than you?" If you do this, make sure you're willing to shift priorities to honor any insights you get.
Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, of course I want to be one of the guests at your great end-time feast. Give me a heart that will continue to rejoice in being there even if some of the other guests might initially make me uncomfortable. Amen.
Insight from Shawn Simpson
Shawn Simpson serves as the Director of Technical Arts and Operations at The Church of the Resurrection’s West campus in Olathe, KS.
Picture this: you’re standing in the middle of an oil refinery, surrounded by an endless sea of machines, piping, heavy equipment, tall structures, and other people dressed in flame retardant coveralls, hard hats, safety glasses, and ear protection. You’re staring at a piping and instrumentation diagram for a section of the refinery with a piece of equipment that you’ve been tasked to work on. The P&ID doesn’t tell you WHERE it is, only what goes to and from it, so it’s up to you to chase it down from there. You’re really hoping that it’s a nice, ground level part that you can walk right up to. Even something up a level would work since that would actually get you out of the heavy traffic of other people scurrying around on this multi-billion dollar turnaround project. But in the back of your mind, you know where you’re going to find it. You can see it shaping up right in front of you. It’s at the top of that HUGE tower that’s standing in front of you. The one that is about 275 feet tall and about 18 feet in diameter at the top. The one with about 22 levels of work platforms and access ladders to climb to get up there? Yep, that’s the one.
Now, you’re not intimidated by the work itself. Your heaviest tools are just glorified volt and current meters and your most used tool is your trusty mechanical pencil. What ARE you intimidated by? Heights.
Airplanes? Nah, that’s no problem. You’re enclosed, buckled in, and under the careful control of an expert pilot.
Roller Coasters? Not so bad. After all, you’re strapped into a contraption that’s rigorously tested for safety.
Ladders? Now we’re getting touchy. Going up and knowing that a wrong step can send you plummeting to the ground is a recipe for acrophobia galore. A 275 foot tower with 22 sets of vertical ladders, swaying in the wind blowing off the Pacific Ocean? Yeah, no thanks.
But alas, the job has to get done and you’re the one standing there with the drawings. And to make matters worse, your job partner is your Dad, and he’s standing there putting his gloves on to head up. There’s no getting out of it now!
So, yeah. That’s a true story from a job I went on with my Dad some years ago. I have a serious fear of heights and was quite concerned about whether I’d be able to survive it. My Dad told me, “You just have to go one level at a time, and remember, this thing has stood here for 20 years. It should stand for another hour or so while we’re up there.” From there we just went from one level to the next with a little rest when needed. By the time we got about half way up, I was over my fear of the height. I’d discovered something entirely new to be afraid of: fatigue! Climbing 12-16 foot sections of completely vertical steel ladders is exhausting. We got to the top and all I could think about was how much I wanted to lie down and rest!
My Dad took me on that job to show me how to do what he’d been doing his entire career. Going into it, he said that sometimes the work was easy, but sometimes it was hard. I kept nodding and agreeing, like I understood. He said that there were always people around that you’d want to stay away from. I kept nodding and agreeing, like I understood. He told me that there would be plenty of times when I’d want to quit. I kept nodding and agreeing, like I understood. When the job came to a close and I realized that all of the things he’d said had been true and far different than I’d expected, I knew I hadn’t understood.
The parable in Luke 14 tells us to count the cost and be prepared to walk alongside those that we may not know or like if we’re going to follow Jesus. The cost of a life of discipleship may well require us to leave our comfort zone. We want to worship at ground level, but sometimes Jesus is going to haul us to the top of the tower. We’d love to always be working with our best friend, or Dad, but sometimes it’s the loud mouth guy whose vocabulary consists of swear words and insults who needs an extra set of hands. Jesus tells us all this and we keep nodding and agreeing, like we understand, but do we?
Lord, please help us to understand.
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