Where Would Jesus Sit?

What would Jesus do? This fundamental question of discipleship became something of a fad several years ago as WWJD bracelets became a fashion accessory. If you go to www.whatwouldjesusdo.com, you can buy WWJD bracelets and T-shirts and even have them customized for your church or youth group. Unfortunately, the various WWJD fashion accessories were much more popular than actually worrying about what Jesus really would do or did do or taught. For example, I'm fairly sure that one of the things that Jesus would not do is operate a web site that sold WWJD fashion accessories. Maybe I'm wrong.

The question raised by our daily Bible reading today in Luke 14 is, "Where would Jesus sit?" Jesus is eating at the house of "a prominent Pharisee," which itself makes a point.  Sure, Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners... and took hits from the society page crowd because of that. But he also rubbed shoulders with the rich and powerful. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, and he didn't care much what tax bracket they were in. As Jesus looked around the banquet table, he noticed how all the quests were scrumming and scuffling to get the best and most prestigious seat at the table. People invited quests to these affairs based on social standing; the more important your quests, the more important your party... which reflected, of course, on you.   And guests were seated at these affairs based on their relative social importance. If that sounds crass, then go you a political fundraiser, state dinner or college alumni banquet and notice how the seating is arranged! Jesus was always looking for a teachable moment, and do he gives us a lecture on where to sit at parties (Luke 14:8-10).

8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this man your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. 

Jesus isn't really talking so much about party etiquette... or at least, he isn't talking ONLY about party etiquette. He is talking about life. We are not to worry about things like social status and how much we are valued by others. Rather than pushing ourselves, worrying about our standing or focusing on our egos, we are to live lives of humility before God and service to others. We are not to be concerned with the outward shows and standards of value and worth. Jesus wants us to have the heart of a servant even when it comes to choosing where to sit.

So where would Jesus sit? I will resist the temptation to take a cheap shot about people at church always choosing the best seats (the ones on the back row) rather than sitting toward the front (where holy people always sit anyway) and saving the back seats for people who really need them-- like parents with small children, latecomers and bashful guests. (OK, so I didn't completely resist taking a cheap shot). Think about it.  If something as trivial as which seat we choose can reflect our basic commitment to follow Christ, then what part of our lives fall outside the realm of discipleship?