Guest Host

This intermingling of guest and host roles in the person of Jesus is part of what makes the story of hospitality so compelling for Christians. Jesus welcomes and needs welcome…

Christine Pohl, Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition, p. 17

In John 2, at the wedding at Cana, Jesus Christ is both a guest at the feast and the true Lord of the feast. In his lament over Jerusalem (Matt. 23:37-39) he is as one exiled from the place he loves, yet longing to nestle its children under his wings. The whole world is his and yet he had no place to lay his head. As the Apostle puts it: “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…” (John 1:11-12). The paradoxes of guest and host abound.

And we receive him by receiving others and give to him by giving to others:

  • Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me… (Matt. 18:5).
  • Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me’ (Matt. 25:34-40).
  • For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward (Mark 9:41).
  • Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (Heb. 13:2).

Therefore, be welcomed and welcome. Receive and give.

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