DINNING WITH CHRIST

Luke 19:1-10; 7:36-50; John 21:1-14

Jesus never refused a dinner invitation. Sometimes he would invite himself literally speaking. We are going to consider three different occasions when Jesus dined with somebody. In each of those occasions, His glory was manifested; the work of salvation was advanced. Someone attending the dinner received a divine encounter. This fulfils the scripture that says, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word proceeding form the mouth of God” (Mat.4:4; Luke 4:4). The stories we shall read today will help us understand Jesus better. I pray that someone in this gathering, this barbecue day will receive a divine encounter in Jesus name! We are going to consider only three of such occasions.

1. A Buffet With Zacchaeus

(Luke 19:1-10)

 Baffled Publican (Luke 19:1-4): Zacchaeus was a chief or leader of the publicans. A man of small stature, he could not hope to see Jesus face to face though he very much wanted to see him, just as everybody wanted to see Him. Christ’s fame was increasing day by day (Luke 2:52; Mat.4:24; 9:31; Mark 1:28). Eighteen times in the gospels, the evangelists described multitudes following Christ (Mat.4:25; 5:1; 8:1, 18; 9:8, 33, 36; 11:7; 12:15; 13:2; 14:22, 23; 15:30; 21:9; 26:55; Luke 5:15; 14:25). Many of those were sick, wounded, helpless and lost. Christ healed them all, comforted and fed them all. Those oppressed by the devil were delivered. Those burdened with sin were saved. Zacchaeus was one of them. He needed acceptance! So he wanted to see Jesus. Jesus knew what he needed most – salvation… (Rom.3:23; also (Rom.3:10-18); (Rom.6:23; 5:8; 10:9-10; 5:1).
Blissful Believer (Luke 19:5-10): The dinner with Christ marked a turning point in the life and career of Zacchaeus. That day Zacchaeus was saved and became a believer in Christ! That day he knew that what preachers normally call the four spiritual laws were applicable to him. He came to know that (1) “God loved him and had a wonderful plan for his life” (John 3:16); (2) Humanity is tainted with sin and therefore separated from God. “As a result, we cannot know God’s wonderful plan for our live in that state” (Rom.3:23; 6:23); (3)”Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for our sin (Rom.5:8; John 14:6; Acts 4:12); (4) “We must place our faith in Christ Jesus as saviour in order to receive the gift of salvation (John 1:12; Acts 6:31). Zacchaeus believed and was saved. Compare this with (Luke 18:24-25). We see that Jesus can save the rich in spite of the difficulty . If you believe today you can be saved!
Bewildered Onlookers (Luke 19:7-10): Do not expect the whole world to praise you and clap for you when you get saved. Instead you will face persecution (Gal.6:12; 2Tim.3:12). Enemies of God will not be applauding you for being saved! Many, especially the Pharisees, where angry with Jesus for “breaking” their tradition by visiting a sinner and dinning with him! The action of these onlookers were (i) predictable - the enemy always finds ways to oppose Christ's work; (ii) prodigal/plentiful - "they all", without exception complained against the Lord; (iii) It was perfidious/perverted - "..gone to be guest with a sinner.." was an irresponsible comment. Christ had a divine purpose for going to Zacchaeus. Have you dined with a sinner lately? 

2. A Banquet With Simon

(Luke 7:36-50)
A Captivated Audience (Luke 7:36, 49): Dinners and banquets were common among the Jews during the time of Christ. Rich Pharisees like Simon held elaborate dinners from time to time. Simon was a Pharisee and held a dinner and invited Jesus, and other people too, many of whom would be Brother Pharisees. Pharisees were known for their insistence on observing the tiniest details of the Torah while ignoring the weightier matters of the Law (Mark 7:2, 5, 8; Mat.23:23). Of the many other things they did was not permitting a perceived sinner into their home. Simon invited Jesus to the dinner. He should have washed the feet of Jesus and given him a welcome kiss just like other honoured guests. But He did not. Many of the guests probably saw an opportunity to ask questions and to trap Jesus.
 A Convincing Anguish: (Luke 7:38):  Suddenly this woman came crashing in! Consider four facts about the woman that crashed into the dinner uninvited: (i) she was defiled, (ii) she was desperate, (iii) she was daring and, (iv) she was determined. All the gourmet that Simon provided, all the dainty food would not satisfy her. She risked ridicule, and even rejection. All that did not perturb her. She must tell Jesus all of her gratitude. She must pour out all her heart and lay her love at the feet of Jesus. Her fragile frame obviously shook with sobs gratitude for what Jesus had done for her. She must show Jesus that she really meant to thank Him for forgiveness! compare with (1Cor.7:11)
Jesus was convinced of the genuineness of her repentance (Mat.3:7-10). Have you repented? Is your repentance genuine? Can we see the fruit of it?
A Convicting Analyses (Luke 7:39-46): As the Master teacher, Jesus uses a parable to drive home his condemnation of Simon. The person who owed little represents Simon and the person who owed much represents the sinful woman. This sinful woman was overwhelmed with guilt and condemnation and desperately needed forgiveness. Christ forgave her. She showed the fruit of her repentance and love by lowering herself to the place of the lowest servant (Luke 7:38, 44-46). Jesus was all the time conscious that Simon did not accord him the honour of a guest. By his statement in (Luke 7:39), Simon denied the deity of Christ; he denied His dignity; he denied the discernment of Christ. But this lady did what Simon should have done for Christ. Simon’s ego was deflated!
A Calculated Absolution (Luke 7:47-50): Forgiven! That’s what the lady came for, not for Simon’s dainties. She wasn't forgiven much because she loved much! She loved much because she was forgiven much! She received forgiveness of her sins! She was saved from her sin. She went home rejoicing! This is clearly what Jesus came to do - to seek and save that which was lost, to forgive men's sins, to grant them a place in the Kingdom of God! Who can with argue this? A verse of one old hymn says,

How can I show my gratitude to Jesus,
For His love unfailing and His tender care?
I will proclaim to others His salvation,
That they may accept Him and His promise share,



How do you show your gratitude to Jesus! Do you unashamedly proclaim what he has done for you? Do you serve Him with all you are and all you have?

3. A Barbecue On the Beach

(John 21:1-14)
3.1 A Perplexing Proposal (John 21:1-3): “I go a fishing”. Do you see that? Peter was going back to his original fishing business! And over half of the disciples decided to follow Peter! This is perplexing because Jesus has called them and made them fishers of men (Mat.4:18-20). This is backsliding – leaving what Christ called you to do and going back to do your own business (Luke 9:59-62).
3.2 A Puzzling Promptness (John 21:3): These disciples were very prompt in joining Peter to go fishing. They had followed Jesus for the past three years; they had travelled with Him, ate with Him, heard Him teach and preach, saw all the miracles he did. But they also saw Him crucified. They knew He rose from the dead. He had been appearing to them since He rose from the dead. Were they being discouraged? Were they going back to try to provide for their families? Did they want to get away from it all? Despite all that had happened in their lives the past three years,  they just decided to go fishing.
3.3 A premonitory Persistency (John 21:3; Luke 5:5). They must be aware that they were doing the wrong thing but they wanted it to succeed. They were persistent. They toiled all night. But the result was stark – the caught nothing. To fishermen that is not strange because it does happen. This night was just different, they just gone back fishing, leaving behind their divine assignments. Many today here the call of Christ – call to repentance, call to follow Christ,  call to holiness, call to purity, call to righteousness; but they ignore it and carry on living their own way. If you are in that category Jesus is calling you today, “Come and dine”. If you heed His invitation, he will save you; He will prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies; He will provide a future for you in heaven. 
3.4 A Ponderous Pull In (John 21:4-8): Jesus seeing that they caught nothing, decided to perform a miracle to remind them of their life commitments. “Cast your net on the other side” – (i)on the side of Christ; (ii) on the side of His Kingdom; (iii) on the side of repentance; (iv) on the side of obedience to His word. Only when we do this will we have good success. He will guide us in the path of righteousness. He will prepare a table before us in the presence of our enemies (Psalm 23:1-6). He will turn failure to success.
3.5 A Prepared Potluck (John 21:9-14): "Come and dine." Christ's style of ministry is vastly different from ours. Peter had not been restored since denying Him, yet Christ begins with "come and dine"! They left their job He assigned to them and went back to fishing, yet He said, "Come and dine"!
Which of you having an errant child will perform a miracle for him/her; provide him/her with the very thing that has caused him to err before he finally corrects him/her? That is Christ’s style. Let us go to Him and learn from Him. Jesus will help you if you come to him. He will deliver you if you come to him. He will save you if you come to him! He will provide for your every need if you come to him. You can come to him now!