Serving Soup to Jesus
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“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Mathew 25:40).
After leaving the home of His childhood and the companionship of His family, we have no record of Jesus having a home of His own. In fact, while explaining the cost of following Him, He said, “Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”
And yet we know of one home where He loved to visit, where He felt free to “drop in” unannounced, and where He deeply loved His hosts. It was in this home that He sought quiet refuge just days before His trial and death.
After Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem upon a young donkey, His disciple Matthew records, “He…went out of the city to Bethany where He spent the night.” Did Martha, Mary and Lazarus talk quietly that night with their precious Jesus, guessing that this may be their last visit with Him before the horror to come? Did Martha have hot soup and warm bread for the family supper?
What welcome would you have given Jesus? What food would you have prepared? He no longer walks physically among us, but He boldly taught that we can serve Him just as did His Bethany hosts: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.”
Hospitality can call up visions of elaborate meals or richly furnished guest quarters, but Jesus said we can be Bethany hosts whenever we serve others with an attitude of humility and joy, whenever we make our homes, whether large or small, places of refuge for those who need comfort. Why not use this Holy Week to invite “the brothers of Jesus” into your home and thus experience the presence of God?
Lord Jesus, open my eyes to those around me who need the comfort of my home. May I be generous in my hospitality and loving in my care.
Questions: Why do you think hospitality is such a scary word to many women? How can you build simple hospitality into your life in the next few weeks?
About the Author Marilyn J. Ehle
Tags: Bethany, Bible study, Chat, childhood, death, humility, jerusalem, Jesus, Marilyn J. Ehle, soup, trial
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I hear you Bongi. We used to open our home to all kinds of folks in times of need, etc. Not all are easy ‘house-guests.’
We did learn that some rules when applied made the tuff times much easier.
But I hear you in your willingness to be a blessing for His honour and glory
I have not always been happy to receive some guests because I felt overwhelemed. But I have learnt that, as my Gran used to say many years ago, visitors are a blessing. Receive them with love always. There is a reason God has sent that person in your direction.
I recently spent close to 6months living with a friend who was looking for a job in a foreign land. We did not plan me – she just called me up and told me she was stranded – the job she had been promised had failed to materialise, and she has resigned from her job back home. We had our not-so -good days but i was fortunate in that i had a friend, a christian lady who always reminded me on the not-so good days that ‘God’s child will always be kind, no matter how much they feel wronged or inconvinienced’ I am a neatness freak and my friend can spend the week without picking up anything from the floor! now i had two of them (with my husband). I hope I did serve the Lord well. During the moments when I thot I had had enough, I thought of what my other friend had said – oh and she said – at this moment, I can bet you God is proud of you, remember Job?. Just thought I’d share this with you guys. I am still trying conscious that God wants me to welcome all into my home with love and kindness – there is a reason He sends them my way.
I remember 35 yrs. ago when my husband and I went for pre marriage counseling the one thing the Pastor stressed was to always make sure you had guest over and to Never Ever use the excuse I have nothing to feed them because he said a cheese whiz sandwich will always do besides they come for the Fellowship Not the Food! I must admit I have forgotten that at times. Hugs, Linda!!!
In the past I always thought my home was not good enough to entertain guests. After I started having Bible studies in my home the ladies constantly commented about the peace they felt in my home. It helped me to realize that as long as Jesus is present anyone is invited to come into my home. I try to keep my house ready for friends that may drop by unannounced. Yes, I live in my home and at time there is some clutter from a project I am working on but it is important to be available to the people HE sends in my life.
Why is ‘hospitality such a scary word to many women?’…..Martha Stewart syndrome….lol
I say to my husband, people are coming to spend time w/us Any food will do, even if it’s just a peanut-butter sandwich and soup.
It’s the friendship and relationship people long for us to be extravagant with in our giving. NOT the outer trappings….although ‘tidy’ is a ‘good thing’ to quote Martha….lol