His perspective is what really matters!

[7] Now [Jesus] told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, [8] “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, [9] and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. [10] But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. [11] For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Jesus is talking about His solution to these things. He talks about the fire that He was going to bring on earth, the fire of His holiness and righteousness put in service to the Father’s justice and judgment. He’s talking about the work that He would do on the cross that would reconcile us to God and to one another. That’s the key. With Christ as the center of our lives, with His forgiveness as the key to our sense of self, with His words as the wisdom directing our words, and with His love as the motivation for our service, then there can be real peace, reconciliation, diversity, and tolerance. But without Him at the center, our efforts toward peace, diversity, and tolerance are all a sham.

Can the divisive Christ of our text also be the peace-giving Christ of the Scriptures? Yes, if you see His message not as some self-help, humanity-based proclamation for peace, but as a blood-bought, cross-earned message of peace and mercy offered as a free gift to you by grace through faith. When you see the cross, you see your Savior. His work on the cross overcomes the divisions of our sin, reconciles us to our heavenly Father, and, through repentance and faith, also bonds us to each other like nothing else can. The cross looks ugly, even divisive, but real unity and peace are found only there.

When it comes right down to it today, this is what should ultimately matter to Christians: “What does Jesus think about what I am doing or saying?” It shouldn’t matter what others think. It shouldn’t matter what society thinks. It shouldn’t be about what is popular or what is not. Why? Because Jesus Christ is The Way, The Truth, and the Life and no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). Yet for many today, even many Christians, it doesn’t seem to matter what Jesus says about something. All that matters is that Jesus “loves” us. Of course, people then want to define what that word means too, right? But, my fellow Christians, doesn’t Jesus’ love for you also call you to follow Him, to trust in His word, to strive to live a life to glorify Him, and to serve others in His Name? Surely it does. And doesn’t our life ultimately depend on what He says about us? Surely it does. That’s why it’s important to hear what the lesson for today says. What matters in Jesus’ parable is what the head of the wedding feast says to the invitees. Period. Jesus is dining at the house of a prominent religious leader of the community. For many, social status mattered then just like it matters today. But Jesus turns that discussion completely upside down with this story. He talks about a wedding feast, being invited, and how you should receive the invitation. The point? His Kingdom party is the one that you are invited to. Such an invitation is a gracious, undeserved gift, so come with a humility that is open to whatever place the head of the feast has for you. Why? Because this world’s idea of “first and last” doesn’t matter; what matters is what the head of the eternal wedding feast says about you. And know this: you won’t be disappointed with His invitation, with His joyful celebration of life. Even His guidance and direction for how to live life at His party will be the most freeing way to live for God and for neighbor. His perspective on your life is what really matters for you. Without that, you are on your own. Sadly, today we’re seeing even Christians choose the “go our own way” view of life. You might recall the confused talk coming from the Bachelorette who professed that, even though she engages in premarital sex openly and unrepentantly, “Jesus still loves me.” And anyone who disagrees with that is open to public shame and ridicule. Or how about the former songwriter for Hillsong, a popular movement in Christianity, who now openly professes his unbelief? Many who have seen the reduction of the message of Christianity to a form of “personalized, therapeutic, self-help, deism,” regard such confused, public confessions as inevitable. So, now more than ever, for all of us, the invitation to really hear Christ’s word on His terms and to trust Him alone matters. And the good news is this: No matter what the world thinks about Jesus’ perspective, faith in Him means that even sinners like us aren’t “going it alone.” Instead, we strive to live a life of love which includes the joy of engaging in the struggle to follow Him in how we live, how we love, and how we serve those whom He brings into our life. Because, if the Bible is clear about anything (and it’s clear about a lot of things), it lets us know that when it comes to what really matters in our life, our Lord’s perspective, His judgment, and His mercy are what matter most of all.

PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, give me Your perspective on my life. Then teach me to value Your wisdom and guidance, Your perspective about who I am and what I do in all things. Thanks also for Your mercy and love which are new every

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

There’s nothing more wonderful than meeting a person who is filled with hope, is there? That’s especially true when their hope isn’t merely “wishful thinking.” Real hope comes from a place that is more solid than our best efforts, political desires, or cumulative technological savvy. Such hope is way more certain and enduring than that. Real hope is all encompassing and it’s all inclusive. That’s the kind of hope that Peter is talking about today in the reading. He wants to make sure that you know you can have it because of Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection for you, and for all. He then wants you to get ready to give that hope to others when the opportunity presents itself in the relationships that you have in this world.

So, are you ready to meet that opportunity when it comes? What would it take to do that? Ironically, what it takes most of all is being immersed in the faith relationship that you have in Jesus Christ through His Word and Sacraments. Let His Word dwell in you richly, as Colossians 3:16 says. Remember daily that you have been baptized into His Name, that you are His son or daughter. And in worship remember that you are invited to His Supper where He gives you His body and blood for the forgiveness of your sins, comforting you with His real presence so that you can face whatever comes your way in this world. Being immersed in His gifts will then start to “spill-over” from our lives into the lives of others. It just does.

I watched a new favorite movie this Easter season. It’s called “Risen.” (I love to watch “King of Kings,” “The Robe,” and “The Passion of Christ” every year too.) I highly recommend “Risen.” Throughout the movie, one can see the “spill-over” that comes when you meet people who are filled with the hope of the risen Savior Jesus. This movie is about a fictional Roman centurion who was present at the crucifixion of Jesus. He is called upon to verify that Jesus is dead by finding His body. To do so, he starts to round up Jesus’ disciples. He meets one of them, Bartholomew, and tries to get him to tell “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,” even threatening him with death. Bartholomew’s reaction is precious. He smiles. He has such joy and hope in the resurrection of Jesus that even the threats of the centurion can’t take that joyous hope away. At the point of greatest fear, Bartholomew can’t help but “spill-over” the joy that comes from being filled with the hope that comes by faith in Jesus. The movie is powerful because it not only shows the weaknesses of the disciples, people just like us, but also the overwhelming hope that comes from knowing the risen Christ by grace through faith.

So, are you ready to face whatever comes with hope? These days we will often face the skepticism, ridicule, and hopelessness of an unbelieving world. But, incredibly, we will also encounter curiosity and, yes, the faith and trust in Christ that comes by the power of the Spirit-filled words of the Gospel that we speak to others in His name. It’s important to get ready for it all -- for the questions, the challenges, and also for the joyous responses of faith. We live in a pessimistic, yet arrogant world today. What is really needed is humble people with incredible, Christ-filled and Christ-engendered hope. Then, whatever comes, we’ll be ready because, in Him, we already are!

PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, this world is a tough place. Sin abounds. But Your grace super-abounds (Romans 5:20). Keep my heart and mind focused on the eternal hope that I have in You. Then also give me wisdom to live hopefully in this world so that others might hear about and receive the joy that comes from living in You. AMEN.