---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Jesus is like a host who invites us to…"
description: "\"“Jesus is like a host who invites us to sit down at his table, share a meal together, and get to know him deeply. He is more than a heroic example of a..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/joshua-ryan-butler-21982_better-way_jesus-is-like-a-host-who-invites-us-to-s_2129075.jpg"
---

#  Jesus is like a host who invites us to sit down at his…

![“Jesus is like a host who invites us to sit down at his table, share a meal together, and get to know him deeply. He is more than a heroic example of a better way to live; he is the presence of life breaking into our darkness and death. He does not give us a map to go out and find the Creator; he…” quote by Joshua Ryan Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/joshua-ryan-butler-21982_better-way_jesus-is-like-a-host-who-invites-us-to-s_2129075.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/joshua-ryan-butler-21982_better-way_jesus-is-like-a-host-who-invites-us-to-s_2129075.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/joshua-ryan-butler-21982_better-way_jesus-is-like-a-host-who-invites-us-to-s_2129075.jpg)

> ““Jesus is like a host who invites us to sit down at his table, share a meal together, and get to know him deeply. He is more than a heroic example of a better way to live; he is the presence of life breaking into our darkness and death. He does not give us a map to go out and find the Creator; he is the presence of the Creator come to us.””

[Joshua Ryan Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ryan-butler/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Jesus is presented not as a distant doctrine but as an intimate, life‑changing presence that meets us in our struggles.

**In simple terms:** Jesus is a present, life‑changing presence.

Key Takeaway

Invite this presence into daily life.

Themes

spirituality faith community

Mood

contemplative hopeful

Type

theological inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal prayer
- group worship
- counseling sessions
- life crises

Key Concepts

theology incarnation existential meaning

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you experience this presence personally?
- In what ways does this view reshape suffering?

A Different Perspective

Relying on external guidance alone may overlook personal responsibility.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Better way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-way/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Presence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presence/)

## Related quotes

> [If you go searching for the Great Creator, you will come back empty-handed. The source of the universe is ultimately unknowable, a great invisible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/if-you-go-searching-for-the-great-creator-you-will-come-back-empty/)

[Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/)

> [“We don't treat Jesus like a puppy, soaking in his excitement over our coming home and then leading him back to stay in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-sprink/we-don-t-treat-jesus-like-a-puppy-soaking-in-his-excitement-over-our/)

[Holly Sprink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-sprink/)

> [Jesus was a liberal. Jesus was like the original liberal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forrest-griffin/jesus-was-a-liberal-jesus-was-like-the-original-liberal/)

[Forrest Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forrest-griffin/)

> [“There is a tendency to treat our relationship with Jesus like the diet we keep meaning to start. I’m going to start eating right,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-idleman/there-is-a-tendency-to-treat-our-relationship-with-jesus-like-the/)

[Kyle Idleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-idleman/)

> [I don't do things which are wrong according to Jesus. Like don't make 'bad' relations with anyone except your husband.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakhi-sawant/i-don-t-do-things-which-are-wrong-according-to-jesus-like-don-t-make/)

[Rakhi Sawant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakhi-sawant/)

> [Reading the Gospels, without the personality of Jesus, is like watching television with the sound turned off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/reading-the-gospels-without-the-personality-of-jesus-is-like-watching/)

[John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/)

> [The resurrection of Jesus was like a boulder crashing into the pool of history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/the-resurrection-of-jesus-was-like-a-boulder-crashing-into-the-pool/)

[Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/)

> [Jesus was nothing like I thought - He wasn't condemning. He was loving and leading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-ireland/jesus-was-nothing-like-i-thought-he-wasn-t-condemning-he-was-loving/)

[Kathy Ireland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-ireland/)

> [I don't know anyone less Jesus like than Christians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-don-t-know-anyone-less-jesus-like-than-christians/)

[Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/)

> [“The test results also suggest that, even though we like to think we are becoming more like Jesus, the reverse is probably more the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-mcknight/the-test-results-also-suggest-that-even-though-we-like-to-think-we/)

[Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/)

> [“Enjoyment of Jesus is not like icing on the cake; it’s like powder in the shell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/enjoyment-of-jesus-is-not-like-icing-on-the-cake-it-s-like-powder-in/)

[John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/)

> [I want to build friendships. I want to come across as being a good illustration of what Jesus is like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-schuller/i-want-to-build-friendships-i-want-to-come-across-as-being-a-good/)

[Robert H. Schuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-h-schuller/)

> [But still, everything is for Jesus; so like that everything is beautiful, even though it is difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/but-still-everything-is-for-jesus-so-like-that-everything-is/)

[Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/)

> [“Nothing says ‘I Love Jesus’ like a plastic crucifix bought at Wal-Mart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ross/nothing-says-i-love-jesus-like-a-plastic-crucifix-bought-at-wal-mart/)

Christina Ross

> [“Come in, O strong and deep love of Jesus, like the sea at the flood in spring tides, cover all my powers, drown all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/come-in-o-strong-and-deep-love-of-jesus-like-the-sea-at-the-flood-in/)

[Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/)

## More by Joshua Ryan Butler

> [“Jesus’ doctrine of hell levels the playing field. This is one of the things I have come to love about it. It does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ryan-butler/jesus-doctrine-of-hell-levels-the-playing-field-this-is-one-of-the/)

[Joshua Ryan Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ryan-butler/)

> [“One of the problems with the ways we tend to talk about the power of hell is that we shift the blame for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ryan-butler/one-of-the-problems-with-the-ways-we-tend-to-talk-about-the-power-of/)

[Joshua Ryan Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ryan-butler/)

> [“Jesus contrasts who blesses and curses. The sheep are blessed “by my Father.” We might assume, then, that the goats are inversely cursed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ryan-butler/jesus-contrasts-who-blesses-and-curses-the-sheep-are-blessed-by-my/)

[Joshua Ryan Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ryan-butler/)

> [“Now, the Law is good, and God gives it to his people, but God’s primary purpose in bringing Israel to the mountain is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ryan-butler/now-the-law-is-good-and-god-gives-it-to-his-people-but-god-s-primary/)

[Joshua Ryan Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ryan-butler/)

> [“When we reclaim the biblical story of God’s purpose to bless, reconcile, and heal the nations through his international, multiethnic kingdom, the subtopic of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ryan-butler/when-we-reclaim-the-biblical-story-of-god-s-purpose-to-bless/)

[Joshua Ryan Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ryan-butler/)

> [“Jesus calls us to holiness and justice. Holiness involves dealing with the spark, the poisoned well, the root in our own hearts. Justice involves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ryan-butler/jesus-calls-us-to-holiness-and-justice-holiness-involves-dealing-with/)

[Joshua Ryan Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ryan-butler/)

> [“We’re invited not to set out and find God, but to stop running and be found.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ryan-butler/we-re-invited-not-to-set-out-and-find-god-but-to-stop-running-and-be/)

[Joshua Ryan Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ryan-butler/)

> [“Sacrifice is not something we use to clean ourselves up so God can stand to be with us again. On the contrary, sacrifice is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ryan-butler/sacrifice-is-not-something-we-use-to-clean-ourselves-up-so-god-can/)

[Joshua Ryan Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ryan-butler/)

> [“But God beckons from our brokenness, breaks in through the back door, invites us to encounter him in our insecurities, sits in our suffering,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ryan-butler/but-god-beckons-from-our-brokenness-breaks-in-through-the-back-door/)

[Joshua Ryan Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ryan-butler/)

> [“The extinction of desire stands in stark contrast to the redemption of desire.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ryan-butler/the-extinction-of-desire-stands-in-stark-contrast-to-the-redemption/)

[Joshua Ryan Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ryan-butler/)

> [“This is our salvation: to be indwelt by God within us (the Spirit), united to God before us (the Son), and embraced within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ryan-butler/this-is-our-salvation-to-be-indwelt-by-god-within-us-the-spirit/)

[Joshua Ryan Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ryan-butler/)

> [“The cross is not a mechanism we use to get to God, but the way God has come to find and raise us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ryan-butler/the-cross-is-not-a-mechanism-we-use-to-get-to-god-but-the-way-god-has/)

[Joshua Ryan Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ryan-butler/)

> [“A moralist looks at Jesus in the desert and immediately jumps to, We need to pony up, try harder, and be faithful under temptation!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ryan-butler/a-moralist-looks-at-jesus-in-the-desert-and-immediately-jumps-to-we/)

[Joshua Ryan Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ryan-butler/)

> [“Our problem is not that we’re reaching out for God and he’s refusing to be found. It’s the opposite: God’s reaching out for us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ryan-butler/our-problem-is-not-that-we-re-reaching-out-for-god-and-he-s-refusing/)

[Joshua Ryan Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ryan-butler/)

> [“One wonders whether the loss of such ceremony has contributed to the Western world’s exaltation of the autonomous individual over the world—no longer seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ryan-butler/one-wonders-whether-the-loss-of-such-ceremony-has-contributed-to-the/)

[Joshua Ryan Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ryan-butler/)

[Explore all 28 Joshua Ryan Butler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ryan-butler/)

## More Better way quotes

> [We're also fairly stubborn, I think, fairly independent. We have our share of difficulties with our federal government, although I've tried to as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-miller/we-re-also-fairly-stubborn-i-think-fairly-independent-we-have-our/)

[Dan Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-miller/)

> [You know, I'm blessed. 'Blessed' is a better way of saying 'rich.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/you-know-i-m-blessed-blessed-is-a-better-way-of-saying-rich/)

[Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/)

> [I believe there should be a better way to start each day...instead of waking up every morning...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-believe-there-should-be-a-better-way-to-start-each-day-instead-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [WE NEED TO TALK. Why do we fear these four little words? Why do they arouse the same physical protective responses that occur in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santanu-mishra/we-need-to-talk-why-do-we-fear-these-four-little-words-why-do-they/)

[Santanu Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santanu-mishra/)

> [If you really know how to live, what better way to start the day than with a smile?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-really-know-how-to-live-what-better-way-to-start-the-day-than/)

[Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/)

> [“Frequently, when I suggest to people that they detach from a person or problem, they recoil in horror. “Oh, no!” they say. “I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/frequently-when-i-suggest-to-people-that-they-detach-from-a-person-or/)

[Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/)

> [“I was reminded ... the way that wood crumbles into dissolution.’ ‘The release of energy. Perhaps a better way of seeing it.’ ‘Such release…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/i-was-reminded-the-way-that-wood-crumbles-into-dissolution-the/)

[Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/)

> [I explain at the parties that I believe knitting is a transformative and intriguing act that can change the life and brain of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-pearl-mcphee/i-explain-at-the-parties-that-i-believe-knitting-is-a-transformative/)

[Stephanie Pearl-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-pearl-mcphee/)

> [“No better way to avoid making a decision than burying yourself in a big fat book.” (p. 105).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bard/no-better-way-to-avoid-making-a-decision-than-burying-yourself-in-a/)

[Elizabeth Bard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bard/)

> [Failure does not mean that God has left you, but it does mean that God has a better way and idea for you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prodigy/failure-does-not-mean-that-god-has-left-you-but-it-does-mean-that-god/)

[Prodigy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prodigy/)

> [The answer lies in preventing these failures, not in looking for better ways to fix the people who are failing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-glasser/the-answer-lies-in-preventing-these-failures-not-in-looking-for/)

[William Glasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-glasser/)

> [There never was a tonic that would cure more social ailments than a healthy, happy home. There never was a greater source of social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-l-evans/there-never-was-a-tonic-that-would-cure-more-social-ailments-than-a/)

[Richard L. Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-evans/)

> [It's a truly disgusting idea that the creator of the universe - capable of inventing the laws of physics and designing the evolutionary process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/it-s-a-truly-disgusting-idea-that-the-creator-of-the-universe-capable/)

[Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/)

> [It was only after I had been out of the art school that I actually copied a small Seurat, and I copied it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-riley/it-was-only-after-i-had-been-out-of-the-art-school-that-i-actually/)

[Bridget Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-riley/)

> [There is no better way of elevating the novel than by making it into a construct which contains ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-mann/there-is-no-better-way-of-elevating-the-novel-than-by-making-it-into/)

Heinrich Mann

[Browse all 882 Better way quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-way/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Jesus is like a host who invites us to sit down at his table, share a meal together, and get to know him deeply. He is more than a heroic example of a better way to live; he is the presence of life breaking into our darkness and death. He does not give us a map to go out and find the Creator; he is the presence of the Creator come to us.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Joshua Ryan Butler"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ryan-butler/jesus-is-like-a-host-who-invites-us-to-sit-down-at-his-table-share-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Better way"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ryan-butler/jesus-is-like-a-host-who-invites-us-to-sit-down-at-his-table-share-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/joshua-ryan-butler-21982_better-way_jesus-is-like-a-host-who-invites-us-to-s_2129075.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/joshua-ryan-butler-21982_better-way_jesus-is-like-a-host-who-invites-us-to-s_2129075.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/joshua-ryan-butler-21982_better-way_jesus-is-like-a-host-who-invites-us-to-s_2129075.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Jesus is like a host who invites us to sit down at his table, share a meal together, and get to know him…” — Joshua Ryan Butler",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Joshua Ryan Butler",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ryan-butler/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Jesus is like a host who...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ryan-butler/jesus-is-like-a-host-who-invites-us-to-sit-down-at-his-table-share-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ryan-butler/jesus-is-like-a-host-who-invites-us-to-sit-down-at-his-table-share-a/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
