The Guest Of Honor

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable to you, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer."

"The Guest Of Honor"

(John 6:50-51; Matthew 22:2)

INTRO:

            Jesus was a party animal!  At least that's what the Pharisees would have called him in today's terms.  Jesus DID spend a lot of time going to parties, weddings, dinners and celebrations. 

            But then, that's where the people who needed him were.  And Jesus came for those people.  Jesus came for us.

            He feel at home in our family gatherings, at our Potlucks & Sunday School Parties.   Jesus liked people.  Jesus loved people. Jesus loved life.

1.  LIFE IS A FEAST:

            Jesus said life is a feast.  Actually, Jesus said life within the Kingdom of God is like a wedding banquet.   Weddings are joyous events. 

            Pharisees had it all wrong.  Thought it was all about law and do's and don'ts.  They were so into the law, they boiled the Ten Commandments down into 613 other laws.  So many that no one  could understand them, let alone keep all of them.

            Jesus said life with God, life in the Kingdom is about two things, loving God and loving others.

2.  JESUS OFFERS A FEAST:

            This life with God and with others is to be celebrated.  That's why  Jesus says it's like a Wedding Banquet.  This banquet table though isn't spread with food.  No chili dogs or shrimp Creole.

            Yet Jesus offers us a feast.  Life with God is something to savor.  Something simple, sumptuous and sacred.  This is the banquet.

            Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. (John 14:27) 

            He said, "Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."

            Jesus said: "I came that you may have life, and have it abundantly."  (John 10:10)

            Jesus told the disciples, " I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete."  (John 15:11)  

             Jesus spreads before us the finest feast ever prepared.  An all you can eat feast of God's love, mercy, grace and forgiveness.

            These promises, these gifts of joy, comfort and hope, feed us much more than any food.

3.  WE ARE THE GUESTS OF HONOR:

            The Son of God, sets all the fixin's of this feast before us this morning in the elements of  Holy Communion.  Jesus sets the finest table imaginable, with his own hand.  With his own life.

            He is the host and he invites you and I to this banquet of Grace.   You are the Honored Guest.  The place is reserved just for you.  It is reserved and made ready by Christ's own hand, simply because he loves you.

CONCLUSION:

            I ran across an interesting quote this week.  It read:

"A fugitive is one who is running away from home.

A vagabond is one who has no home.

A stranger is one who is away from home.

A pilgrim is one who is on the way home."

            This morning it doesn't matter if you are a  fugitive, a vagabond, a stranger or a pilgrim.  You are invited to the finest banquet ever prepared. 

            As you come forward today, don't leave your worries and troubles behind.   You'll only pick them up later and be burdened by them again.  Instead, bring them with you and leave them here at  the altar.  Feast upon the joy of living unburdened through faith in Christ.

            Give yourself to Christ once again.  Feast upon the grace of this banquet.  Celebrate your commitment and your stewardship.

 This banquet has been prepared just for you by the Son of God.

You are the guest of honor.

This is the Word  of the Lord for this day