Come, Now, for All is Ready
Luke 14:15-24
June 18, 2023 anno Domini
In the Small Catechism, at the end of his 20 questions for those who intend to go the Sacrament, Martin Luther asks this question, “But what should you do if you are not aware of this need and have no hunger and thirst for the Sacrament?”
If I were so bold and foolish to rewrite this question, I might put it like this, “What if I wake up on Sunday morning and don’t feel like going to church?” Luther’s answer is a threefold test.
First test. Pinch yourself – do you still have skin? Is your heart beating? If you’re still in your flesh and your blood is still pumping, then believe what God’s Word says about you. Until the day you die, you’re a sinner who needs Jesus. Though you believe in Jesus, though your sins are forgiven, though you are alive in the Spirit, your flesh is still corrupt and loves sin and death. As long as you’re in the flesh you’re going to wrestle with the Spirit of Christ. You need Jesus. Go.
Second test. Look around and see if you are in the world. If you look around and you’re in heaven you don’t need to go to church. But if you are still in the world there will be no lack of sin and trouble. You need Jesus. Go.
The third test is based on the first two. If you are still alive and still in the world, then in addition to your own sin and the trouble of the world, the Devil is after you, with his lies and death. You cannot beat the Devil, but Jesus did. Go to where Jesus gives you His victory. Hear His Word! Partake of His Supper.
This morning, you all passed the test, but this isn’t the final exam. Every Lord’s Day the Lord extends His invitation, and every day the Devil’s tempts you to excuse yourself, as did those in the parable of the great banquet.
Jesus tells this parable in response to what sounds like a nice, pious observation by one of the guests at the table with Jesus, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” Isn’t that true? What is more blessed than eating bread in the Kingdom of God? But there is one little problematic word in that observation, the little word “will.” The guest at the banquet seems to be talking about a future event. He is talking about a time yet to come, yet the time of the great banquet has come. Jesus is sitting right there in front of the guy.
That is the problem with the parable. The rich man had prepared a great banquet. He had sent out “save the date” cards to all his friends. Then, when all was ready, through His servants He said, “Come.” And “come” means “now.” If you show up a day late for the party, you’re going to be drinking warm beer and eating cold food. If you show up late for your wedding, you’re not getting married. If you think missing your own wedding would be bad, missing this invite is worse, as is evident at the Master’s anger over all the excuses. When Jesus tells the same parable in Matthew this is the wedding feast of the King’s Son. This is about you and Jesus. This is a matter of life and death. This isn’t until death parts us, this is for eternity. The Son of God became man and came into the world for you. Every Lord’s Day Christ comes into the world in His Word and in His supper for you.
Throughout the Old Testament the prophets proclaimed the great feast was coming. The New Testament begins with John the Baptist saying, “Come, for all is ready” or in his words, “Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The Kingdom of God is Jesus in the flesh. This banquet is the feast of life. The prophets and the apostles and faithful pastors proclaim the same message. There is no other person, no other place, no other possession, no other food or drink that will deliver life to you, except Jesus, the Son of God and the son of Mary. You are a sinner and He alone has forgiveness for all your sins. You are dying and He is the resurrection and the life. You are hungry and that is evident by your appetite to devour and consume everything in sight, but He alone is the bread of life. You are thirsting for real life and never quenched. He alone is real drink and whoever believes in Him will never thirst.
You want life. Jesus is life. You want hope. He rose from the dead and promises you the same. You’re guilty. He forgives. You’re ashamed. His blood cleanses you from all sins. You despair over the evil in this world. He is not only good, but makes you good, and His Kingdom, reign and rule, is pure good. Come, for everything is now ready. Jesus of Nazareth lived, died, and rose again for you. By His Holy Spirit He has set the table of this great banquet wherever His Word is preached in truth and purity, and wherever His sacraments are given according to His Word.
Why wouldn’t you come? Why wouldn’t everyone come? Jesus’ parable tells us. You’ve got more important things to do. Excuse me, I’ve got land to look at, and oxen to test out, and if those things aren’t enough, I’m getting married. I’ve got the lake to enjoy. I’ve got a new Mustang convertible and there’s a car show. My daughter’s in soccer. My grandson is playing baseball. They are in the championship game. Excuse me, I cannot come. I have chosen to love something more than Jesus. Not today, Jesus. Not now.
Do you know how God responds to such refusals? He gets angry, but He still loves. His love is shown first in that He won’t force anyone to hear His Word. He won’t make you become a Christian. You don’t have to accept the invitation, but remember, “none of those men who were invited” and refused “shall taste [His] banquet.”
He loves in that He always invites, but never forces. How different than the idols of this world that we make from God’s gifts? Idols always demand more and hate you if you don’t worship them. If you make your children your idols, if you live for them instead of Christ, then that idolatry will demand more and more. That idol will take your evenings and weekends and the Lord’s day, and if you fail in your worship, your child will hate you, the coaches will hate you, you will be compelled and forced to offer your sacrifices. The same will happen with your possessions, your pleasures, and your pastimes. Like all idols they promise and don’t deliver. They demand, but never love in return. They promise life and happiness and hate you if you don’t believe their lies.
Pride Month is a great illustration of one such idol. Pride is supposed to be about love, free love, happiness is loving anyone or anything you want to love. But what if you don’t agree? What if you experienced the love of Jesus and you love Him in return by believing His Word, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” Better not say that if your company sells Pride merchandise. Better not protest Drag Shows for children. You’re a hater. You haven’t bowed down to the idol of death which is Pride.
God will not force you, because love doesn’t force. He loves you enough to tell you the truth. You’re a sinner who needs Jesus. If you follow the idols you love, you’ll end up hated by your idol and damned to death with the Devil. God doesn’t want that. He wants you to have life with Him. So He prepares the meal of life in His Son Jesus Christ. Every Lord’s day He sets the banquet of forgiveness in the Word and Sacrament. He keeps sending out the invitation to you and to the world. He wants His house full and it isn’t yet. There’s still room for you. Come, for everything is now ready. It’s ready for you. In the name of Jesus. Amen.