Luke 5 Calling of the Disciples Jesus’ ministry continues here in Luke 5. Jesus teaches, performs miraculous signs and calls his first disciples. Verses 1-3 Teaching from Simon’s boat • Word has definitely spread and Jesus is already drawing large crowds. So much so that He borrowed Simon’s boat to teach from – what a sight that must have been. • This would have served as a wonderful platform and kept him away from the crowd – we’ll see later that Jesus goes into the crowd. Verses 4-10 Miraculous Catch • After Jesus taught, He told Peter to go out deep and let down your nets. One reason would have been to get away from the crowd and let them disperse; but most important was to show Simon God’s glory and ask Simon to join Him in the greatest of journeys in the world! • Simon responds that we didn’t catch anything all night (which is the best time to fish) we certainly are not going to catch anything in the middle of the day, and besides, we are exhausted. • Jesus showed them otherwise, nothing is impossible for Jesus; even catching a miraculous catch in the middle of the day. • Stunned by the catch; Simon (Peter) knew that this was not a coincidence; this happened only because of Jesus. Obviously, Simon (Peter) had seen or heard about Jesus miracles and had heard His teaching and knew he was the reason for this miraculous catch of fish. • They were sinking and needed the Help of their partner boat to bring in the catch. This is a lesson to us that even with Jesus and the miracles He provides, we still need the help of others to “bring in the catch”. • Simon falls on his knees and acknowledges who Jesus is and asks Jesus to depart from Him because he is a sinful man. Jesus makes us all feel at peace, even in our sinful nature. • Peter held Jesus in very, very high esteem and we must do that as well. • James and John were equally astonished by what they were witnessing and experiencing with Jesus.

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• Jesus again puts them at ease, at peace, and tells them not to be afraid, but to follow Him and I will make you to catch men rather than fish. • Think about this; they gave up this big catch to those that were left. They left their boats, left that very valuable catch of fish and followed Jesus. Jesus showed that what He had to offer was way better than the latest catch of fish or any catch of fish. • The trusted Jesus! Do we trust like that? Note: Jesus rarely asks people to give up all they have to follow Him. Think of how little He asks us to give up (most of us just 10%). Simon Peter, James, and John just left everything – including their latest catch of fish! Verses 12-16 Healing the Leper • This passage begins the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 35:5-6) as a healer. “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.” • Jesus heals the leper. Leprosy at that time was thought of as being the result of sin, like many conditions such as blindness. Lepers were separated from society as the disease was thought to be very contagious (although it is not highly contagious) and lepers were scorned by religious leaders. Guzik notes that Rabbi’s in this time, even bragged on how badly they treated lepers. • In our story, when the leper saw God, he stated faithfully; “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” • The leper showed great faith, there was no doubt in his mind Jesus could heal him, it was just a question of whether Jesus was willing. • The word “clean” here suggests that the man knew Jesus could heal him of his sin as well as leprosy. • Jesus simply touches the leper (which was considered against Jewish law) and states; “I am willing, be cleansed.” • The touch was very important in this case as it further emphasized Jesus willingness to heal and would have had a greater impact on the leper; “he is willing to touch me!”

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• Jesus told him to show himself to the priests, and the priests only, and make a thank offering for your cleansing. • Again, we see Jesus trying to keep His identity somewhat secret. He also likely wanted to control the size of the ministry and His followers until the time was right. • This also suggests that Jesus wants the focus to be on His teaching and not just the miracles and healings. • These healings could not be kept secret, and the word spread quickly. • Notice Jesus’ response; instead of playing to the big crowds as a healer, Jesus, “often withdrew in the wilderness and prayed.” • Prayer was Jesus response to all of this success. It tells us that prayer gave Jesus the power to heal.

Verses 17-26 Jesus Forgives • Luke again reminds us that Jesus relied on the power of the Holy Spirit to heal; “the power of the Lord was present to heal them.” We can connect this to Jesus quiet times of prayer. • This emphasizes Jesus was there not just to teach, but heal as well. • The Pharisees (self-righteous Jewish leadership) were there and we will see, they came with an agenda. • The house where Jesus was teaching was obviously packed with people and there was no way to get their paralyzed friend to him. Imagine the faith it took to climb on the roof and lower him down into the courtyard. These guys and the paralyzed man, knew, if they could just get him in front of Jesus, he would be healed. • Jesus however, went a step further, and said; “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” • This angered the Pharisees; after all, only God can forgive sins. They saw this as blasphemy. Jesus in turn challenged them and asked; “Why are you thinking these things in your heart?” • It wasn’t that the Pharisee’s were wrong in their thinking; their mistake was not seeing that God in the flesh was right in front of them.

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• We need to remember here that forgiveness comes from God through Jesus Christ; no other source. We cannot forgive ourselves. • Jesus through his deed and then his words to the Pharisee’s and others in attendance showed that He has both the power to heal physically and the power to forgive a man’s sins. • The man immediately rose up, grabbed his stretcher and went home glorifying God! The people there were awestruck as well and they glorified God. Verses 27-32 Calling Levi (Matthew) the tax collector to be a disciple • Jesus has so far in this chapter, Jesus has contacted and even touched a paralytic, a leper, a demonic, and now he is going to call a tax collector (the worst of all) to join his group of disciples. • Jesus simply said; “Follow me”. Again, the response is without hesitation, Levi leaves and everything and follows. This cost Matthew a great deal financially. • Levi then invited his friends, other tax collectors to a meal with Jesus. He followed Jesus because he came to faith, so he wanted his friends to have the same opportunity. Note: We can learn a lot from Levi and his desire to have all his friends know about Jesus. Do we respond the same way; are we “throwing a dinner” so our friends can come to know Jesus? • The Pharisees, who only looked at the law were complaining about the disciples eating with sinners/tax collectors. Really they were attacking Jesus; but they didn’t want to do it outright, because of the wonderful things Jesus was doing. • Jesus responded that He didn’t come to call the righteous, after all, if you’re not sick do you need a physician (again something Luke knows something about). • The point here is, one has to admit they are not well, admit they are sinful, and then come to Jesus for forgiveness and healing. • The Pharisees did not see themselves as needing healing.

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• Guzik points out; “The church is the only group in the world where you have to be unqualified before you can join.” We have to admit we are sinful and in need of a savior to join the body of Christ. Verses 33-39 Questions about fasting • The Pharisees were wondering now why the disciples of Jesus were not like their followers or John the Baptist’s disciples. • Jesus answers a few different metaphors; one having to do with a wedding feast, another patching a garment, another regarding wineskins, and yet another regarding the quality of old verses new wine. • First; no one would fast with the bridegroom at a wedding feast; it was a time of great celebration no one would think of or was expected to be fasting. • Second; patching an old garment with new cloth would cause a worse tear when the new cloth shrank with washing. • Third; one would never put new wine in an old wineskin; as the wine ages it would burst the old wineskins. • Fourth; no one having drunk old, aged and mellowed wine, would ever desire new. After all, the old is much better. • What Jesus is getting at here is the fact that this is a time of celebration while He is with them; people should enjoy these times with Him. • Jesus with the other metaphors is telling them that people who follow Him are different; the new faith (what we know as Christianity) does not fit into Judaism. Jesus is saying I didn’t come to make Judaism better, but to make everything new. Jesus is basically telling them this isn’t a remodel, but completely new construction. • Sadly, for the Pharisees, those tied to the old ways will never come to the new way, what Jesus is trying to offer.

Note: Do we ever do this? Are we set in our ways? Do we forget to celebrate Jesus; are we a happy people of faith or do we get too caught up in the rules and rituals? Do we have people to our homes to get to know Jesus?

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Do we have room in our hearts and minds for new Christians, with new ideas, now ways to serve, or are we afraid and set in our ways? Are we afraid to do something completely new, beyond remodeling?

Sources: Guzik, David; Luke Study Guide, blueletterbible.org Bock, Darrell L.; The Luke NIV Application Commentary Matthew Henry Commentary Barclay, William; The Gospel of Luke

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