Luke 14-15. Jesus Taught in Parables
Jesus’ Mission to
the Marginalized
(Today's Subtitle)Did He Just Say That? Oh No He Didn’t!
Revolutionary Words in the Subversive Parables of Jesus
The parables of Jesus play an important part in Jesus’
Mission to the Marginalized.
This is true in each of the gospels, but Luke puts the parables together
in such a way that it’s easier to notice how Jesus lifts up those of low status.
Eugene Peterson calls Jesus’ parables subversive,
meaning that they indirectly challenge the status quo in an attempt to forge
a new loyalty to the different values in God’s kingdom. Follow this link to read what he has to say,
quoted from Peterson’s book The
Contemplative Pastor by fellow blogger Ted M. Gossard:
In his parables in Luke 14-15, Jesus lifts up the lowly
and marginalized to a place of greater honor and respect. Here is a list of four questions that might
help us interpret the impact of these parables on our lives:
- For whom is this good news? How might Jesus want them to respond to this good news?
- For whom is this bad news? (That is, who might be threatened by this?) How might Jesus want them to respond?
- Is this good news or bad news for me? In what ways am I the one being lifted up? In what ways am I the one being brought down?
- How can I extend these insights beyond myself to the larger social world (family, friends, class, region, nation, race, etc.)?
Chapter 14 – Status
Reversal
This chapter features parables that portray God’s reign
as an “Upside-Down Kingdom.” Here, the
tables are turned in the area of status and honor. Jesus speaks of a reversal of fortunes, good
news for the lowly but downright infuriating to people of power & privilege.
Here Jesus’ parables arise from an encounter with the “haves” and
a “have not” in 14:1-6. Jesus rubbed
shoulders with the upper class, but he didn’t buy in to common upper class
notions that de-valued those of low or impure status. Here he’s heading to a
high-class dinner at the home of a prominent Pharisee. On the way he encounters a man who is
suffering from a disturbing physical condition. Everything about the situation said "hands-off," but Jesus draws near to heal him anyway, offering some choice words to his high-class friends in verse 5.
Key verses:
From the Parable of the Wedding Banquet, Luke 14:7-14
- 14:11 “For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
From the Parable of the Great Dinner, Luke14:15-24
- 14:21-24 “… ‘Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame’… ‘For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.’ “
A note on Jesus’ teaching about the cost of discipleship,
Luke 14:25-35
Seen in its context in Luke 14, the cost of following
Jesus looks more like downward social mobility.
No longer tied directly to the status of family, and now committed to following
a leader who calls you to take up the cross and live a humble life of service
to the lowly. Notice how the challenge
ends…back to possessions again, the currency of status. 14:33 “…none of you can become my disciple if
you do not give up all your possessions.”
Chapter 15 – Lost
People Matter
Notice that all the parables of the lost in this chapter
emerge from a social situation in Jesus’ ministry. “Tax collectors and sinners” were coming to
him to listen to his teaching, and Pharisees and scribes grumbled about this
disapprovingly. In these parables the
tables of religious status are turned.
The lost matter just as much (or more?) than those who are already in
the family/fold.
Key verses:
From the Parable of the Lost Sheep, Luke 15:1-7
- 15:7 “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”
From the Parable of the Lost Coin, Luke 15:8-10
- 15:10 “Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
From the Parable of the Lost Son, Luke 15:11-32
- 15:31-32 “The father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”
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Jesus, in our pride/exalted status bring us down, in our
sinfulness/lowliness lift us up, all to the glory of Our Heavenly Father. Amen.
Kurt
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