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INVITATION (to dine)

When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.  (Luke 7:36)

Gospel accounts of Jesus dining with others are manifold.  The Greek verb φάγω phago means simply eat, but he is asked, ἐρωτάω erótaó, and his presence requested – in other words, he is invited – on many occasions, and by many different kinds of people.  There are those of high society, which in Jesus’ day, were the ultra-religious.  In addition to the head quotation, Luke records two other instances of Jesus accepting an invitation to dine in a Pharisees’ home, 11:37 and 14:1 but, of course, the Pharisees were also critical that Jesus was indiscriminate in his choice of table.

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ARK

 Make yourself an ark of gopher wood.  Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. (Genesis 6:14)

Jesus says that 

The word translated ark is תֵּבָה tebah and it means a box or chest, which is why it came to English translations in this fashion; ‘ark’ derives from the Anglo Saxon ærc for casket – as clearly, God only tasks Noah to build a sea-worthy vessel, not a boat or ship.

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MULTIPLY (WIVES)

Neither shall (a king) multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away (Deuteronomy 17:17)

The Hebrew word translated ‘multiply’ isרָבָה rabah and it is found in the first commandment given to humankind.

‘Be fruitful and multiply…’ (Genesis 1:28)

But in the head quotation, Moses is relaying instructions for the establishment of monarchy for the time when the Israelites will demand that they have a king as do other nations.

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(Christ’s eternal) ANGUISH

Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:11) *

Jesus’ agony on the cross was for all to see, the spectacle of suffering was the deterrent the Romans intended; but Isaiah says Jesus endures spiritual torment.  Can it be that Jesus suffers even as he is glorified?  

The word translated ‘anguish’ is עָמָל amal which means trouble, labour or misery.  It intimates a sustained burden from which there is no escape.

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