[:en]SCRIPTURE: LUKE 5
Bible Verse:
“While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy.[ When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. (Luke 5:12-13)
“Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:31-32)
THE CALLING OF THE FIRST DISCIPLES (vs. 1-11)
While Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, he saw Simon and said: “Put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch” (v. 4). Simon did what Jesus said and he was able to catch a large number of fish. Simon and his companions were astonished because they spent the whole night but hadn’t catch anything. Then Jesus said to Simon: “Don’t be afraid from now on, you will catch men” (v. 10)
THE MAN WITH LEPROSY (vs. 12-16)
A man with leprosy approached Jesus and asked him to make him clean. Jesus touched him and delivered the leper from his disease.
JESUS HEALS A PARALYTIC (vs. 17-26)
Some men were carrying a paralytic to take him to Jesus. But they could not do it because of the crowd. So, they went up on the roof and lowered him in front of Jesus. Jesus healed him saying: “Friend, your sins are forgiven” (v. 20). In claiming to forgive sins, Jesus was claiming to be God. His critics accused him of blasphemy.
THE CALLING OF LEVI (vs. 27-32)
Levi was a tax collector. When Jesus told him “Follow me”, he immediately got up, left everything and followed Jesus. Then he held a great banquet for Jesus at his house and invited a large crowd of tax collectors. When the Pharisees and teachers of the law criticize him. Jesus defended himself by giving this illustration: He compared himself to a physician who came to meet the needs of the sick. Jesus considers lost sinners as sick patients who need healing, not enemies to be condemned.
JESUS QUESTIONED ABOUT FASTING (vs. 33-39)
The Pharisees were accusing Jesus of go on eating and drinking when John’s disciples often fast and pray. But Jesus compared himself to a joyful bridegroom who invited hungry and unhappy people to his feast.
Jesus spoke of a parable concerning the old and the new. An old garment cannot patch with a new cloth because the cloth will shrink when washed and torn the new garment. New wine cannot be poured into the old wineskins. The fermenting liquid will cause the skin to burst.
Jesus did not come to mix the old and the new nor did he come to patch people’s lives. He comes to bring new life to all who trust in Him.
LESSONS:
- Jesus called Peter, James, Andrew and John to catch men. When a living fish is caught, it dies. When a sinner is caught, he becomes alive.
- Lepers are not allowed to approach people but Jesus touched and cured him. All sinners are like lepers. We need the touch of Jesus to make us whole.
- Jesus compared himself to a physician who comes to meet the needs of the sick. We should also treat lost sinners with God’s love to lead them to Christ.
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