Day 23 / Luke 14:15-24
By Morgan Ellison
As we move toward Easter, we reflect on the life of Jesus, who He is, what His purpose was, and how we can be the hands and feet of Jesus to those with whom we commune. Luke 14:15-24 tells us the Parable of the Great Banquet.
The Parable is told while Jesus is attending a meal at the home of a Pharisee, where he has told the host that those who serve others “will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous” (v. 14). One of the attendees says to Jesus upon hearing of the resurrection, “Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the Kingdom of God.” And in response, Jesus tells the Parable of the Great Banquet. This parable teaches us that there is room for everyone at the table. The host of the banquet is not satisfied with an empty – or even partially filled – table. Every seat deserves to be filled. The Great Banquet is a lesson and reminder that those who reject the invitation of a relationship with God, miss out on the greatest gift of all, having eternal life and spending the rest of our days with Him. Those who accept the invitation, however, have that joy forever. As followers of Jesus, we have the responsibility and privilege of sharing the Word of God with those we interact with, whether that be friends and family, or strangers. When we share the Gospel and the love of Jesus by loving and serving others, we invite them to be a part of the Kingdom of Heaven – which is exactly what being the hands and feet of Jesus means.