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Parable | the invitation to the wedding banquet

Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. 4 Then he sent some more servants and said, 'Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.' 5 But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. 6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.' 10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless. 13 Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14 For many are invited, but few are chosen."
(Matthew chapter 22, verses 1-14)

Imagine: You plan a feast and nobody comes. Annoying!

You have friends and acquaintances who you believe – they might have time and come. Everyone suddenly has a reason why they cannot come and you wonder why nobody wants to.

Imagine: Jesus invites you to come to him. Oops!

What is the reaction of people (today)? Well, a little bit of belief and going to church every now and again cannot hurt – but more? What might people say if they see me next to and with Jesus? They might possibly think: "now he’s well truly lost it”, or "now he’s going a bit over the top". He then prefers not to go and avoid this “danger” happening. We can surely think of other reasons why an invitation from Jesus is rejected.

What does Jesus do then? He invites different people all together, those who are never invited, who usually stand on the edge. These people are just as important and he loves them just as much. He invites someone but does not force anyone to come. Everyone can take or reject his offer.

Imagine: How do the people feel who rejected the invitation and then see the people who accepted the invitation? (They watch while the others celebrate....)

Possible questions:

What would you do if Jesus sent you an invitation?
What reasons might there be to reject the invitation?
What reason might there be for you to accept such an invitation?
Would you be happy about such an invitation?