Jesus did some insulting things.
He publicly called out the pride of religious leaders, taught with heavenly authority, flipped tables in Jerusalem, and even compared himself to God. People were always offended by his actions.
But the most consistently insulting thing Jesus did was also the most casual.
He hung out with the wrong people.
Reclining with the wrong people
We get a picture of this in Matthew 9.
Frustrated with this troublemaker from Nazareth, the pharisees were aghast that “as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.” (Matt 9: 10).
His posture toward these morally degraded people was out of whack.
Instead of condemning them or shaming them, he reclined with them. He sprawled out on the couch, dipped bread into olive oil while drinking some wine and welcomed them into his company.
The Son of God enjoyed their presence and fellowship, opening up his personal space to all the wrong kinds of people.
Who’s at your table?
This was a challenging reality of Jesus’ life then and remains so today.
We all have people in our minds whom we consider morally tainted and unworthy of our presence. People we struggle to be with and befriend. But Jesus offers us a picture of his Kingdom where all the wrong people are welcomed in and given a seat at his table.
The hospitality of Israel’s God is indiscriminate….but what about ours?
Who is welcome or unwelcome at our table?
Who is morally worthy or unworthy of our hospitality?
As we seek to join with Jesus in realizing the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven, perhaps our dinner table is the perfect place to start.