August 29, 2010, Chester Craig Topple
Do you ever get an itch...while your just sitting in a chair reading, eating, or watching TV, and you try to scratch it but you can’t quite get to it, you reach around, you stretch your arms, you search for some kind of relief. It gets so bad you have to stand up. What can you do? just. can’t. reach. The wall? A fake wooden hand? Where is a backscratcher when you need it?
higher higher a little to the left, little more...there, ahhh.
higher higher a little to the left, little more...there, ahhh.
I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine. Those are good people to have around.
quid pro quo - Something for something. Do me a favor now, you’ll be sure to get on in return.
It is a very utilitarian way of looking at the world. We associate with certain people because we know we can get something out of the relationship, and perhaps that person is just as likely to get something out of it to. In other words, how useful are you to me? How useful am I to you? We all have backs that itch a lot...So we have to see who may be willing to give us a little scratch...
Even 2000 years ago people sought out useful relationships. Jesus is at a party at a pharisee’s house. Sounds a little weird....Jesus at a party and he is at a pharisee’s home. He had been invited by a leader of the religious establishment to hang out...or maybe to be trapped. We don’t know. Jesus didn’t seemed bothered by it either way. He went.
But before he goes inside...he sees someone outside the party. In fact he was standing right in front of him; almost blocking his way to the door. Someone with a terrible condition- dropsy, swelling-- that leaves him a social outcast...and Jesus couldn’t just walk past him, before going to the party. Jesus heals the man (fourth time he heals on the Sabbath day in Luke--in case you were counting). The man goes away... and in the story doesn’t even say thank you.
Then Jesus goes in and sees all the to do and putting on. People sitting here are moved to there. “Why, you are a very important to me, please, come sit here.” “Hi Friend, yes you. You are nice, but you don’t quite meet my needs like this fella here...you mind sliding over?”
Jesus suggests that people should sit far from the place of honor and then get moved up. And let me tell you, some in this church have done that pretty well...only a few like to sit close to the front....and it’s not to get close to me, no, it’s to get close to (point to the painting). He’s the one who is hosting this party right now...and he’s right there!). The point Jesus is trying to make: The one exalted will be humbled, the one humbled will be exalted. Don’t think yourself better than anyone else….The humble Jesus exalted on the cross. The humbled Jesus, exalted in resurrection.
