How Do We Approach God?
Jesus teaches this truth in the setting of a real-life moment: He’s at a 🔥 party. A Pharisee—someone with social standing and religious clout—has invited Him, and Jesus notices how the guests are scrambling for the best seats at the table. Is it familiar?
Background
That wasn’t unusual. In those days, where you sat at a banquet said a lot about your status. The closer you were to the host, the more important you were. And the Pharisees, Jesus said elsewhere, “loved the places of honor at feasts.” They were all about being seen, respected, and admired.
So, Jesus takes this moment to tell a story—not just about dinner parties, but about the kingdom of God. He says:
“When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t choose the place of honor. What if someone more important than you is also invited, and the host tells you to move down? You’ll be embarrassed in front of everyone.
Reflection
Instead, choose the lowest place, and then the host may come and say, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you’ll be honored. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” This wasn’t just about table manners—it was about heart posture before God.
Gospel
A Party You’re Invited!
Jesus often compared the kingdom of God to a wedding feast—a joyful, lavish, unforgettable celebration. It’s the most festive event in almost every culture, and Jesus uses that image to describe eternal life with God.
Now here’s the real question: How do we come to this feast? With pride—thinking we deserve to be there? Thinking we’ve earned a seat at the head table? Or with humility—recognizing that we don’t belong there on our own?
Jesus warns against coming in proud and self-important, acting like God should be impressed by us. That’s not the way into His kingdom.
Instead, we come in lowly. And if we’re honest, we have every reason to be humble.
We know our sins. We know the ways we’ve failed, hurt others, ignored God’s Word, and lived for ourselves. We know how broken we are. We don’t walk into God’s presence demanding attention—we come in repentance, with hearts that are sorry for our sins and amazed by God’s grace.
Gospel
Beloved, here’s the best part: God invites us anyway. Despite our unworthiness, despite our sin—He welcomes us in.
Jesus: Is the Ultimate Example of Humility.
Think about the greatest reversal of all—Jesus Himself. Paul writes in Philippians: “Though He was in the form of God, He did not count equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant… He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross.” Jesus, the Son of God, lowered Himself all the way to the cross. He humbled Himself completely—so that we, undeserving as we are, could be lifted up.
*That’s the Great Exchange* :
- Jesus took our sin.
- He gave us His righteousness.
- He bore our shame.
- He gave us honor.
- He died—so we could live.
And because Jesus humbled Himself, God highly exalted Him, giving Him the name above every name, so that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Application
Through Christ’s humility and exaltation, we are brought into the kingdom, given a seat at the table—not just any seat, but a place of honor as God’s redeemed children. Today, a Foretaste of the Feast If there is Lord’s Supper!
Today, we receive a taste of that eternal celebration. In the Lord’s Supper, we gather at a table—not because we are worthy, but because Christ welcomes sinners. Do you qualify?
If you’re a sinner—and you know it—then yes, you are invited. Here, Jesus says to you, “Friend, move up higher.” This is the Great Reversal: the lowly are lifted up, the humble are honored, the undeserving are welcomed. What a joy. What a Savior. What a feast!
Conclusion
So come—come humbly, come repentant, come trusting in Christ. And rejoice, for you are part of the eternal celebration in the kingdom of God. Amen.