Jesus was on a great mission. He spent months and even years preparing for His death and for our resurrection.  He associated with all kinds of people, including the ruler of the Pharisees who invites Jesus to his house for dinner. The Pharisees were watching Jesus to find something they could use against Him.

A many with dropsy comes to be healed and Jesus asks the others if it is right to heal on the Sabbath, but no one answers.  He continues to heal the man.  He does it  and is immediately chastised by the leaders of the church.  Jesus obeys all the laws of Moses, but He tells His accusers that they certainly wouldn’t leave a son or an ox to die if it had fallen into a well and it was the Sabbath.  They spoke no further on this.

He continues to tell His parables, which are rich in examples on how to live.  The parable of the wedding feast, shows that we should not take a place of honor at the banquet, but enter in humility.  In other words, it is good to place yourself lower than others.  That is such a common thread in Jesus’ teachings.  If we love our neighbor as ourselves and put ourselves lower than them, just imagine what a beautiful world this would be.  Unfortunately, this isn’t something that’s done today.  We’ve fallen very short of the Golden Rule.

He goes on with another parable of the Great Banquet Feast, where many are invited, but they instead make excuses for not coming, so the host tells his servants to call on the poor, the sick and needy, the lame, weak and helpless. Even then there is still room.  There is a place for everyone in God’s house.  We shouldn’t be making excuses for not showing up.

In the final verses, Jesus talks about the cost of being a disciple.  We are expected to give up all our worldly goods, leave our family, spouse and children, as well as taking up our own cross and following Him.  That’s not an easy job description. Following Christ requires sacrifice.  Are you ready to give up everything for Him?

What I’m getting from this study of Luke, is really how much Jesus loves all of humanity.  He dines with prostitutes, tax collectors, shepherds, fisherman, common folk, the rich, the sick and ailing, those possessed with evil spirits.  He discriminates against no one.  His time with us on this planet is filled with three years of training for us to digest.  There is still time for an eternal home in heaven.  Jesus made sure of that when He died on the cross.  When He rose from death, He sealed our certainty of paradise.  Come and meet this Jesus.  He’s told about in the Bible, which was inspired into the pens and hands of everyday men who used God’s words.  He will change your life!