Honored to Be at the Feast

Rev. John Bussman, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Cullman, AL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 14:1-24.

A Sabbath meal at the house of a Pharisee provides Jesus the opportunity to correct misunderstandings concerning the kingdom of God. The Lord cuts right through the confusion of Pharisaical traditions by healing a man with dropsy on the Sabbath. He holds together true love of God and true love of neighbor in opposition to the legalism of the Pharisees. As Jesus watches the Pharisees jockey for positions of honor, He teaches that honor is not something earned but a gift bestowed by the Father in the kingdom of God. Because all depends on God’s gift, there is no need to use others to gain honor for ourselves, but we are set free to show love to even the lowest of neighbors. Those who are included in the feast of God’s kingdom are blessed indeed, but they come only through the invitation of Jesus. To reject the Lord’s invitation is disastrous, yet He longs to fill His table with His faithful. As long as it is today, the call goes out, “Come to the feast!”

“The Beloved Physician’s Orderly Account” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. Luke. The Evangelist wrote his well-researched account of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection so that Theophilus would have certainty concerning the things he had been taught. As we still read the Word of God recorded by St. Luke, our gracious Lord gives us that same certainty that Jesus is our Savior.