Comments on: A Tale of Two Meals http://lofitribe.com/a-tale-of-two-meals/ A compendium of writing concerning progressive community, literature, culture and faith by Shawn Anthony. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:14:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Shawn Anthony http://lofitribe.com/a-tale-of-two-meals/#comment-9897 Shawn Anthony Mon, 08 Oct 2007 22:28:17 +0000 http://www.lofitribe.com/2007/10/08/a-tale-of-two-meals/#comment-9897 Hey, Michael! Thanks for jumping in on this! Do I think Jesus was uncomfortable? I think the potential for discomfort was there, for Jesus and his host. This hunch is totally derived from the historical context behind verses 36-38 of the 7th chapter of Luke. Remember, as Jesus traveled around sharing meals with tax-collectors, drunkards, prostitutes, etc., the religious elitists of his day were holding meals too. Their meals, however, were themed around strict obedience to law. This was the only way to the God, according to them. Jesus' meals were festive proclamations of God's unbrokered love. That's a big difference in meals, brother. So, in verses 36-38, you see these proclimations colliding; the two meals clash, so to speak, just as the sinful woman bursts upon the scene. Later, in verse 39, we get a small peek at the indecision Simon has concerning Jesus and his ministry. Simon actually resolves the debate that would have happened had not the woman burst upon the scene when he says to himself, "<strong>IF</strong> this man were a prophet ..." Jesus, Simon resolves, is not a prophet and probably a blasphemer." Jesus then goes on to tell Simon a parable about two debtors to substantiate his actions concerning the sinful woman. Jesus was awesome at disarming his detractors with parables. So, Simon's "I suppose" could simply be a product of his being disarmed so easily in front of room full of his own guests! Yeah, there is a lot going on at that meal! Jesus and the religious elitists of his day had some pretty serious disagreements and fallouts. These conflicts can't be cleaned up and/or sanitized. They were straight up conflicts loaded with emotions, stress, and anger. Seriously, Jesus gets killed because of this stuff. So, yeah, it seems pretty likely that all parties were uncomfortable when engaging one another in different settings, even at dinner! Great thoughts, brother. Hey, Michael! Thanks for jumping in on this! Do I think Jesus was uncomfortable? I think the potential for discomfort was there, for Jesus and his host. This hunch is totally derived from the historical context behind verses 36-38 of the 7th chapter of Luke. Remember, as Jesus traveled around sharing meals with tax-collectors, drunkards, prostitutes, etc., the religious elitists of his day were holding meals too. Their meals, however, were themed around strict obedience to law. This was the only way to the God, according to them. Jesus’ meals were festive proclamations of God’s unbrokered love. That’s a big difference in meals, brother. So, in verses 36-38, you see these proclimations colliding; the two meals clash, so to speak, just as the sinful woman bursts upon the scene. Later, in verse 39, we get a small peek at the indecision Simon has concerning Jesus and his ministry. Simon actually resolves the debate that would have happened had not the woman burst upon the scene when he says to himself, “IF this man were a prophet …” Jesus, Simon resolves, is not a prophet and probably a blasphemer.” Jesus then goes on to tell Simon a parable about two debtors to substantiate his actions concerning the sinful woman. Jesus was awesome at disarming his detractors with parables. So, Simon’s “I suppose” could simply be a product of his being disarmed so easily in front of room full of his own guests! Yeah, there is a lot going on at that meal!

Jesus and the religious elitists of his day had some pretty serious disagreements and fallouts. These conflicts can’t be cleaned up and/or sanitized. They were straight up conflicts loaded with emotions, stress, and anger. Seriously, Jesus gets killed because of this stuff. So, yeah, it seems pretty likely that all parties were uncomfortable when engaging one another in different settings, even at dinner!

Great thoughts, brother.

]]> By: michael garland http://lofitribe.com/a-tale-of-two-meals/#comment-9890 michael garland Mon, 08 Oct 2007 21:15:34 +0000 http://www.lofitribe.com/2007/10/08/a-tale-of-two-meals/#comment-9890 Hey brother, I like your approach on this parable. Do you truely think Jesus was uncomfortable there at the table with Simon? I think simon might have been the one who was uncomfortable, because when answered he wasn't very certain "I suppose" probably implies an uneasy reluctance. not that you are wrong or I'm right I just have a hard time picturing Jesus being uncomfortable in a situation like this . I do see where you are coming from. This picture is a great example to us. Blessings Hey brother, I like your approach on this parable.
Do you truely think Jesus was uncomfortable there at the table with Simon? I think simon might have been the one who was uncomfortable, because when answered he wasn’t very certain “I suppose” probably implies an uneasy reluctance. not that you are wrong or I’m right I just have a hard time picturing Jesus being uncomfortable in a situation like this . I do see where you are coming from. This picture is a great example to us. Blessings

]]>