As Jesus and his disciples traveled along the road from place to place, they would receive hospitality from those who lived along the way. Jesus would have been expected to preach his message to those in the household as they were entertained for the food and rest that they received. There was no entertainment in the evenings. It was a change of the routine to have the speakers to talk to the family and the servants after they had prepared the food and finished their labors for the day. They would have witnessed the arrival of the travelers and where they would be going from there.
There would have been political exchanges about the price of corn and the effects that the Romans were having on the Jewish population. People would come to the outside of the building and listen to the talk and so it was a collection of news and wisdom that were discussed. The householder would have been wealthy enough to afford to give hospitality to the strangers who passed by. They would have been aware of spies in their midst and the political advantage of the situation. There would have been an uneasy peace as the words and ideas flowed and the conversations were exchanged according to the principles of the callers.
It is said that there is no such thing as a free meal, but in the cause and effect of the mixture of people stopping by it was at least colorful. Local politics would be discussed. The hospitality would have included wine or ale, so the tongues would be loosened. Ideas and theories could be exchanged. Travelers brought new thoughts on what they have seen and heard. Many traveled to bring spices and goods to be traded along the route. There was no other transport, but the feet and legs of the merchants and their pack animals, who covered many hundreds of miles as they passed through different countries and brought different goods for trade.
It is not spurious that many took advantage of the hospitality that was available. Inns were sparse and it took safety in numbers for the travelers to go together. When a band of travelers, such as the disciples and their families traveled along the road, they needed to be somebody, who could afford to pay for their lodgings and sustenance. Not everything was free. God did not provide everything for those doing His work. Jesus’s wife, Mary Magdalene, came from a rich background, so she was able to help pay for them on their travels. Some made donations along the way as he spoke. Many were healed and gave thanks to God as best they could afford. God gives always to help the greater good.
Friday, 19th March 2021
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