Reflection on Chapter 2 of A Meal with Jesus

Imagine a small-town diner in Isle, Minnesota. The kind of place where locals gather for coffee, where everyone knows each other’s business, and where the same regulars sit in the same seats every morning. Now imagine a woman walks in—one with a reputation. Maybe she’s been in and out of trouble, maybe she’s made choices others don’t approve of. The place goes quiet. People exchange glances. She walks straight up to a local pastor—one everyone respects—and, in front of the whole room, falls to her knees, overwhelmed with emotion, and thanks him for changing her life.

The tension is thick. Some folks shake their heads in disapproval. Others whisper, If he really knew what kind of woman she was, he wouldn’t let her touch him. But the pastor looks at her, sees her pain, and says, “You are forgiven. Go in peace.”

This is the scene from Luke 7. A Pharisee, Simon, invites Jesus to dinner, expecting a theological discussion among the religious elite. Instead, a woman—labeled simply as “a sinner”—enters and anoints Jesus with her tears. She lets down her hair, an act scandalous in that culture, and wipes his feet. The room watches in horror, but Jesus welcomes her extravagant display of love. Simon sees her sin; Jesus sees her faith.

Tim Chester highlights how Jesus’ meals weren’t just about eating—they were enacted grace. Meals in Jesus’ time were social markers, dividing the righteous from the sinners. But Jesus blurred those lines, welcoming the outcasts and making a place for the broken. Simon had invited Jesus into his home, but it was the woman who truly welcomed him—offering the hospitality Simon withheld.

In our churches and communities, we, too, must ask: Who do we see as unworthy of a seat at our table? Who do we whisper about in the corners of our sanctuaries or avoid making eye contact with in the grocery store? The story of Jesus at Simon’s house is a challenge: Do we welcome people with the heart of Jesus, or do we stand at a distance in judgment?

The church, at its best, should look like a table filled with misfits—farmers, teachers, single parents, retirees, recovering addicts, teenagers figuring out their faith, and people still carrying the weight of their past. A community of the broken, gathered under the cross, finding healing in the grace of Christ.

This is the invitation of Jesus: a table where grace is not just spoken about, but practiced. A place where forgiveness is not just an idea, but a lived reality. A meal where no one gets left behind.

Daily Devotions – Week 2: Grace at the Table

Day 1: The Invitation of Grace

Primary Scripture: Luke 7:36 – “One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table.”

Secondary Scripture: Revelation 3:20 – “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

For Adults:

Simon, a Pharisee, invites Jesus to a meal. On the surface, this seems like an act of hospitality. But as the story unfolds, we realize Simon’s invitation lacks true welcome. He offers Jesus no water for His feet, no greeting kiss, no anointing oil—acts of basic hospitality in Jesus’ culture. It’s a meal in name only, not an invitation of the heart.

Yet, Jesus accepts the invitation anyway. He enters Simon’s home, just as He enters our lives—not because we are perfectly prepared for Him, but because He is willing to meet us where we are.

In A Meal with Jesus, Tim Chester writes, “Jesus is happy to link His identity to sinners—just as He is happy to link His identity to you and me.” The beauty of the gospel is that Jesus steps into our messy homes, our messy hearts, and our messy lives, bringing grace where we least expect it.

The question is, will we truly welcome Him? Not just with words, but with open hearts and lives that reflect His love?

Reflection Questions:

• What does true hospitality toward Jesus look like in your life?

• Have you ever felt like you invited Jesus in, but then held Him at arm’s length?

• How can you prepare your heart to truly welcome Christ?

Optional Journal Prompt:

Write about a time when you felt genuinely welcomed by someone. How did it change the way you saw yourself?

Prayer:

Jesus, I don’t want to simply invite You into my life—I want to welcome You fully. Help me not to hold anything back from You. Amen.

For Kids:

Bible Story (Paraphrased):

A man named Simon invited Jesus to dinner, but he wasn’t very nice to Him. He didn’t welcome Jesus like a friend. But Jesus still went to the meal—because He loves everyone, even when they aren’t kind.

Activity:

Set the table for a meal and make a special place for Jesus. Talk about how we can welcome Jesus into our lives just like we welcome guests to our table.

Discussion Questions:

• What do we do to make guests feel welcome in our home?

• How can we make Jesus feel welcome in our hearts?

Day 2: The Woman Who Crashed the Party

Primary Scripture: Luke 7:37 – “A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.”

Secondary Scripture: Romans 8:1 – “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

For Adults:

The woman who enters Simon’s house is known by her reputation. She isn’t invited, she doesn’t belong—yet she comes anyway. She crashes a religious leader’s dinner party and risks humiliation to be near Jesus.

Society labeled her a sinner, but she saw something in Jesus that others missed. She saw grace. She saw the possibility of being loved, not judged.

How often do we let our past mistakes define us? How often do we hesitate to approach Jesus because we feel unworthy? But the gospel reminds us that Jesus isn’t waiting for us to get our lives together—He is waiting for us to come to Him just as we are.

Reflection Questions:

• What holds you back from approaching Jesus fully?

• Do you ever struggle to believe that God’s grace is for you?

• What does this woman’s courage teach you about faith?

Optional Journal Prompt:

Write a letter to Jesus, expressing anything that makes you feel unworthy of His love. Then, write His response as if He were speaking grace to you.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to approach You with the confidence of someone who knows they are deeply loved. Amen.

For Kids:

Bible Story (Paraphrased):

A woman wanted to see Jesus, but she wasn’t invited to the party. That didn’t stop her! She went in anyway and showed Jesus how much she loved Him.

Activity:

Act out a pretend dinner party. Have someone “crash” the party and let the kids practice welcoming them with kindness.

Discussion Questions:

• Have you ever felt left out? How did it feel?

• How does Jesus treat people who others leave out?

Day 3: The Gift of Tears

Primary Scripture: Luke 7:38 – “She stood behind him at his feet weeping, and began to wet his feet with her tears.”

Secondary Scripture: Psalm 56:8 – “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?”

For Adults:

Tears are often seen as weakness, but in this moment, they are a gift. The woman weeps at Jesus’ feet—not out of shame, but because she knows she is safe. Her tears are an offering of love and gratitude.

How often do we hold back our emotions from God? We try to be strong, to keep it together, to pray “respectable” prayers. But Jesus never asks us to hide our tears. He welcomes them.

Tim Chester writes, “Jesus doesn’t just tolerate sinners—He embraces them.” He embraces our tears, our brokenness, our whole selves. What would it look like for you to bring your full self to Jesus today?

Reflection Questions:

• When was the last time you cried in prayer?

• Do you feel safe bringing your emotions to God?

• What would it mean to be fully vulnerable before Jesus?

Optional Journal Prompt:

Write about a time when tears brought healing.

Prayer:

Jesus, thank You for welcoming my emotions, my tears, and my whole self. Help me to trust You fully. Amen.

For Kids:

Bible Story (Paraphrased):

The woman cried because she loved Jesus so much. She knew He was kind and forgiving.

Activity:

Draw a picture of a teardrop and inside it, write or draw something that makes you happy, sad, or thankful.

Discussion Questions:

• When do you cry?

• How do you think Jesus feels when we are sad?

Day 4: The Power of Forgiveness

Primary Scripture: Luke 7:39-40 – “When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.’ And Jesus answering said to him, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’”

Secondary Scripture: Micah 7:18 – “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance?”

For Adults:

Simon the Pharisee is uncomfortable. He assumes that if Jesus really knew who this woman was, He would send her away. In Simon’s world, forgiveness had to be earned, and some sins were just too big to forgive. But Jesus sees differently.

Tim Chester writes, “Jesus’ radical grace disrupts social expectations. He embraces those who others would reject.” Instead of rejecting the woman, Jesus redirects the conversation. He challenges Simon’s assumptions about sin, worth, and grace.

Forgiveness isn’t about deserving—it’s about grace. And Jesus’ forgiveness isn’t just for the “respectable” sinners—it’s for everyone. Including you.

Reflection Questions:

• Have you ever felt like your sins were “too much” for God to forgive?

• How does Jesus’ response to Simon challenge your own attitudes toward forgiveness?

• Is there someone in your life you need to extend grace to?

Optional Journal Prompt:

Write about a time when you received grace you didn’t deserve. How did it change you?

Prayer:

Jesus, thank You for seeing beyond my failures. Help me extend the same grace to others that You have given to me. Amen.

For Kids:

Bible Story (Paraphrased):

Simon thought Jesus should send the woman away. But Jesus saw her heart and knew she was sorry for her mistakes. He loved her anyway!

Activity:

Make a paper heart and write “Jesus loves me no matter what” on it. Keep it somewhere to remind you of His love.

Discussion Questions:

• How does it feel to know that Jesus forgives us no matter what?

• Why do you think Jesus loved the woman even though others didn’t?

Day 5: The Measure of Love

Primary Scripture: Luke 7:41-43 – “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

Secondary Scripture: 1 John 4:19 – “We love because He first loved us.”

For Adults:

Jesus tells a parable about two people who owed money—one owed a little, one owed a lot. But the debt was forgiven for both. Who would be more grateful? The one who had the bigger debt erased.

This woman’s love for Jesus was extravagant because she understood the depth of His grace. Simon, on the other hand, didn’t recognize his own need for forgiveness, so his love was cold.

Tim Chester writes, “When we grasp how much we’ve been forgiven, our love for Jesus overflows.” When we forget grace, our faith grows stale. How big is your love for Jesus? If it feels small, maybe the answer isn’t to try harder—but to remember how much you’ve been forgiven.

Reflection Questions:

• Do you think of yourself as someone who has been forgiven much or little?

• How does remembering God’s grace change the way you love Him and others?

• What’s one way you can express your love for Jesus this week?

Optional Journal Prompt:

Write about a time when someone forgave you for something big. How did it make you feel?

Prayer:

Jesus, remind me how much I need You, so that my love for You overflows. Amen.

For Kids:

Bible Story (Paraphrased):

Jesus told a story about two people who owed money. One owed a little, one owed a lot. When they were both forgiven, the one who owed more was the happiest!

Activity:

Draw two jars—one small, one big. Fill them with “thankfulness” by writing or drawing things you’re thankful for.

Discussion Questions:

• Why was the person who was forgiven more extra thankful?

• What are you thankful to Jesus for?

Day 6: Jesus Welcomes the Broken

Primary Scripture: Luke 7:44-46 – “Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.’”

Secondary Scripture: Psalm 34:18 – “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

For Adults:

Jesus doesn’t just defend the woman—He holds her up as an example of what true love looks like. In contrast, Simon, the “religious” one, failed to show hospitality, honor, or love.

Tim Chester writes, “The difference between Simon and the woman is not just how they see Jesus, but how they see themselves.” Simon thought he was righteous on his own. The woman knew she was broken—and knew Jesus was her only hope.

The truth is, we are all broken. And Jesus welcomes us, just as we are.

Reflection Questions:

• How do you see yourself—more like Simon, or more like the woman?

• What does it mean to be fully known and still fully loved by Jesus?

• How can you welcome others with the same love Jesus shows?

Optional Journal Prompt:

Write about a time when you felt broken but found love and acceptance.

Prayer:

Jesus, thank You for welcoming me, even in my brokenness. Teach me to welcome others with the same grace. Amen.

For Kids:

Bible Story (Paraphrased):

Jesus told Simon, “You didn’t show Me kindness, but this woman did. She gave me her best because she loves Me.”

Activity:

“Caring Hands” Craft – Trace your hands on a piece of paper and cut them out. Write or draw ways you can show kindness and welcome others (like Jesus does). Glue or tape them together to form an open heart shape.

Discussion Questions:

• How can we make sure people feel welcome and loved like Jesus does?

• How do you think the woman felt when Jesus spoke kindly to her?

Day 7: Go in Peace

Primary Scripture: Luke 7:47-50 – “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little… And he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’”

Secondary Scripture: Isaiah 26:3 – “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

For Adults:

Jesus’ final words to the woman are not a command, but a gift: “Go in peace.” This wasn’t just about feeling calm—it was about being restored, whole, and secure in God’s love.

Tim Chester writes, “Jesus is not embarrassed by sinners. He lets them kiss His feet.” He doesn’t just tolerate us—He embraces us, forgives us, and sends us forward with new life.

Have you received this peace? Not just the idea of it, but the reality of knowing you are fully forgiven and fully loved?

Reflection Questions:

• What does Jesus’ peace mean to you?

• Is there anything holding you back from fully embracing His grace?

• How can you live differently knowing you are truly forgiven?

Optional Journal Prompt:

Write a letter to yourself from Jesus, reminding you of His love and peace.

Prayer:

Jesus, I receive Your peace. Help me walk in the freedom of Your grace. Amen.

For Kids:

Bible Story (Paraphrased):Jesus told the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” That means she didn’t have to be afraid anymore—Jesus forgave her!

Activity:Make a "peace jar." Fill it with notes or pictures of things that remind you of God's love.

Discussion Questions:

What do you think it means to "go in peace"?
How can we remind ourselves that Jesus loves us every day?

Week 2 Playlist: Radical Hospitality

"Come As You Are" – Crowder (Contemporary Christian) Theme: Grace, Invitation This song captures the heart of God's invitation for us to come as we are—imperfect and broken—yet accepted by grace. It echoes the central gospel theme of grace freely given and radical inclusion.

"No Outsiders" – For King & Country (Contemporary Christian) Theme: Radical Hospitality A stirring call to embrace the marginalized and bring them into our communities with open arms. It challenges us to live out Jesus’ radical hospitality and inclusive love by extending grace to everyone.

"Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" – Chris Tomlin (Contemporary Christian) Theme: Grace, Redemption A modern rendition of the classic hymn, reminding us of the power of God’s grace to free us from sin and transform lives. This version connects deeply with the redemption found in Jesus’ ministry.

"All Are Welcome" (ELW 641) (Hymn) Theme: Inclusivity, Radical Love One of the most powerful hymns of inclusivity, it speaks to God’s radical welcome for all. The lyrics invite people of every background to come together, reinforcing Jesus’ embrace of the outcast.

"Hospitality" – Michael W. Smith (Contemporary Christian) Theme: Radical Love, Grace This heartfelt song emphasizes extending the love and hospitality shown by Christ, calling Christians to live with grace in their relationships and create spaces for others to belong.

"With Arms Wide Open" – Creed (Secular) Theme: Acceptance, Invitation A song about unconditional love, mirroring Jesus' radical openness and acceptance of all people. Its message aligns with God’s invitation for everyone to experience His love and grace.

"The Welcome Table" – Mahalia Jackson (Hymn) Theme: Community, Welcome A gospel hymn that reflects the inclusivity of God’s “welcome table,” where all are invited regardless of past or background. It captures the spirit of radical hospitality that Jesus demonstrated.

"Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace)" – Hillsong Worship (Contemporary Christian) Theme: Restoration, Grace This worship song highlights how God’s grace restores and mends broken lives. It’s a reminder that at God’s table, all are welcome to experience renewal and restoration through grace.

"Stand by Me" – Ben E. King (Secular) Theme: Community, Solidarity, Acceptance A timeless anthem about standing by one another in challenging times. It beautifully aligns with the message of offering grace, support, and unconditional love to those in need of acceptance.

"For the Healing of the Nations" (ELW 612) (Hymn) Theme: Grace, Healing, Restoration This hymn speaks to extending healing, grace, and peace to a hurting world. It’s a call for the Church to be a vessel of healing and restoration, offering grace as we serve those in need.

"You've Got a Friend" – James Taylor (Secular) Theme: Friendship, Support, Hospitality A song about friendship and mutual support, reflecting the kind of hospitality we are called to show others. Its warm, inviting tone aligns with the loving community we seek to create in Christ.

"One Love" – Bob Marley (Secular) Theme: Unity, Hospitality This song champions love, unity, and healing, echoing the themes of radical acceptance and breaking down barriers. It’s a call to practice hospitality and peace by embracing all people in love.

Art Connection

Adults & Older Children

Option 1: “Inviting Hands” Mural

Instructions:

Create a large mural using handprint designs. Each person adds their handprint to symbolize their role in welcoming others into God's hospitality. Add words or symbols of inclusion, grace, and love on the handprints to visually connect the idea of radical hospitality in Christ.

Reflection:

How can we extend Christ’s radical welcome through our own hands? How do our actions convey openness and grace?

Option 2: “Bridges of Welcome” Drawing

Instructions:

Draw a bridge or doorway as a symbol of radical hospitality, extending beyond the ordinary to connect people to the table of grace. Use colors and elements to reflect themes of breaking barriers and welcoming the outsider.

Reflection:

What are the “barriers” that we need to overcome to welcome others? How can your personal actions build bridges of love and inclusion?

Children (Elementary Age)

Option 1: “Hands of Hospitality” Craft

Instructions:

Trace and cut out handprints on construction paper. Have children decorate them with words or pictures that represent hospitality. Arrange the handprints in the shape of a heart or a welcoming symbol on a piece of poster board.

Reflection:

How can your hands show love and kindness to others? What does it mean to offer a welcoming hand like Jesus?

Option 2: "Grace Garden" Art

Instructions:

Draw a garden with each flower representing a way we can show grace, like kindness, forgiveness, or helping others. Children can color or use stickers for the flowers and add symbols of sharing and welcoming, like hearts or hands.Reflection:

What "graces" can you plant in your life to make the world a more welcoming place?

Younger Children (Preschool & Early Elementary)

Option 1: "God's Open Arms"

Instructions:

Cut out large arm shapes from paper and let the children decorate them with colors, stickers, and drawings of people they would welcome into their lives. The arms can be positioned to form an embrace or outward-facing to represent openness.Reflection:

How do we welcome others with open arms, like Jesus?

Option 2: “Circle of Love” Drawing

Instructions:

Have children draw a big circle on a piece of paper. Inside the circle, draw or place pictures of people that show friendship and hospitality. Use stickers, crayons, and drawings to decorate the circle with symbols of grace, love, and joy.

Reflection:

How can you share love and kindness like Jesus does? How can you make others feel welcomed?

Weekly Blessing: Radical Hospitality

(For individuals or families to pray together)

God of radical love,You welcome us all with open arms,no matter who we are or where we've been.Bless our homes with the spirit of hospitality,that we might embrace strangers as friendsand share grace with all who cross our path.Open our eyes to the needs of those around us,and teach us to love without reservation.May our lives reflect Your abundant welcome,and may we create spaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and loved.In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.