He offended the powerful and lifted the weak.

Saturday 10-1-16 (Martinez, Argentina)

Scripture reading:   Zech 10 – 12   Psalm 126    Luke  14

S=Scripture O=Observation A=Application P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  Luke 14:12-14 Then he turned to his host. "When you put on a luncheon or a dinner," he said, "don't invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will repay you by inviting you back.  Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.  Then at the resurrection of the godly, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you."

Vs 21-24 The Jesus tosses in this parable: Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the city and invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.'  After the servant had done this, he reported, 'There is still room for more.'  So his master said, 'Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.  For none of those I invited first will get even the smallest taste of what I had prepared for them.' "  NLT

O. Jesus takes advantage of every situation. Now He is sitting at a banquet of a political leader. Obviously Jesus has been invited because He has hundreds of followers. The leader has seen that Jesus has a strong following so He has been considered important enough to sit at this table.  I cannot help but notice how much time Jesus dedicates to the needy, the hurting, the downtrodden and how boldly and He scolds the powerful, the governors and religious leaders directly to their faces.

A. If I had been one of His disciples, I might have pulled Jesus aside to let Him know that He is making enemies in high places. Jesus, You have to use tact when talking with these guys. Remember what Herod did to Your cousin, John the Baptist. If You get these kind of people mad at You they might decide to take off your head, too. 

P. Dear Lord, I truly admire You for Your daring, Your courage and Your directness.  You were looking them in the eye and telling it like it was.  You saw their faces get red with anger and You did not back off.  These may have been among Your enemies later crying out, “Crucify Him!  Get rid of Him! Shut His mouth forever!”  But they did not silence Your voice, for You rose again to inspire, anoint and send us, including me, out to the ends of the earth with Your message of truth.  Amen.

Ralph