Luke 5 - Jesus Calls His First Disciples

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Jesus Calls His First Disciples

The crowds had come by the Sea of Galilee to listen to Jesus teach. Notice he is teaching, "The word of God". We know Jesus would eventually be called the, "Word of God who came to dwell among us".  In this case Jesus is teaching from the Old Testament. Jesus was teaching the Jews how the Old Testament related to the Good News he came to bring. Since the crowd was so large, he jumped into Simon Peter's boat, so he could more effective preach to a wider audience. 

“Note the many strange pulpits in which Christ preached.” (Morrison)

When he was done it was time for a little object lesson for Peter. He asked him to go out a little further and throw out the nets into the water. Peter was incredulous because the fish weren't biting all night long. But Peter obeyed Jesus at his word and in return he hauled in such a big catch two boats could not hold all the fish. Peter knew right away this was not a product of a lucky throw of the net, but a miracle of divine proportion. His first response was to realize that before Jesus, he was a sinful man. 

When Peter saw the great power of Jesus – displayed in Jesus’ knowledge in an area where He should have no knowledge – it made Peter realize his own spiritual bankruptcy compared to Jesus. - Guzik

The other men including James and John, the sons of Zebedee were amazed too. And then Jesus added something more intriguing when he said, "For now on you will fish for people." I have to believe the disciples didn't really understand the magnitude of Jesus' words. 

Though they had just caught the biggest catch of their lives, they left it all behind to follow Jesus. This was quite a major decision. In those days following someone meant you completely gave up your life to do life with this person. 

"They started out relatively untrained and uneducated, but Jesus taught them. Their education and training came more upon an apprenticeship model than a classroom model."

"Apprentice" is a good substitute for the word disicple. if you want to be a brick layer, you follow someone who is an experienced brick layer, until you can do the work yourself. In the same way, followers of Jesus at some point start doing the things Jesus did including: teaching, preaching, healing, and delivering people from evil spirits. This can seem very daunting but realize it is not by our authority or power that we do anything, but by Jesus' authority and in the power of His Holy Spirit. 

Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy

As you probably know Jews avoided lepers at all costs, because they were considered unclean. The worst part about being a leper was not only the public shame they endured but also because people thought it was their own fault. I love what the man says, "If you are willing you can make me clean."

Jesus says, "I am willing." Though Jesus didn't want the news of this to spread to quickly, it still got out and people started coming from everywhere to be healed. Importantly we see that with all of the demand from the people around him, he needed to take time for himself. So, he found a lonely place and prayed. Solitude is very important because we can't meet people's needs 24/7, nor should we try to. In solitude we meet with God and can pray to him. A Christian is never alone because God is always with them. 

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man

The unusual aspect of this healing is that when the men found a way to lower the paralyzed man through the roof to get to Jesus, he saw their great faith. He also pronounced their sins were forgiven because of their great faith. The Pharisees and teachers of the Law had heard enough. How could any mere mortal announce forgiveness unless they were God? That was the point Jesus was in fact God! 

Jesus responded to them by saying he could have just told the men their sins were forgiven, but he did the miracle to show he had the authority to do it. Dramatically when Jesus told the man to pick up his mat and walk he did. The crowds went crazy, and I'm sure the Pharisees and teachers of the law were really mad and a a little bit embarrassed. 

Jesus Calls Levi and Eats With Sinners

Next, Jesus calls a tax collector named Levi (Matthew). When he called him, like the others, Levi left his office and followed Jesus. Levi was so excited about Jesus, he held a big banquet and invited all of his fellow tax collectors over. Remember tax collectors were hated by the Jews because not only did they work for the despised Roman government, but they also lined their pockets by overcharging. They were considered the scum of the earth. 

The Pharisees didn't like this much either, but Jesus responded by saying, "It is the sick who realize they need a doctor, not men like you who don't see they have a sin problem." 

After you came to Christ, did you invite your friends over to meet him? If not, it is not too late. Evangelism is really introducing your friend Jesus, to your other friends. He is the greatest friend a man could have, why would you keep him all to yourself? 

Jesus Questioned About Fasting

The Pharisees tried to trip Jesus up by suggesting he was not a real teacher because his disciples did not fast. But Jesus tells them that there was no need for them to fast, because He was in their midst. People fast to draw closer to God, but through Jesus, God was right there. 

Jesus uses the metaphor of a wineskin to show that he is the fulfillment of the Law. Trying to fit him in the box of the law was like pouring new wine into an old wineskin.  

Jesus’ point is clear. You can’t fit His new life into the old forms. This explains why Jesus did not begin a reform movement within Judaism, working with the rabbinical schools and such. Jesus says, “I haven’t come to patch up your old practices. I come with a whole new set of clothes.”

Jesus came to introduce something new, not to patch up something old. This is what salvation is all about. In doing this, Jesus doesn’t destroy the old (the law), but He fulfills it, just as an acorn is fulfilled when it grows into an oak tree. There is a sense in which the acorn is gone, but its purpose is fulfilled in greatness. 

The key thing said here is that Jesus didn't come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. For instance, there is nothing wrong with fasting, but we do it not to earn time with God, but because he is always with us. Fasting helps us to lean into His presence.