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By Michael David
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Luke 5:1-3 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.
I was glad that someone told me in the past that one reason Jesus launched out a bit on the water was because that besides being protected from being swamped by the crowd, it also afforded greater sound acoustics for His Voice to carry more.
4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."
God is very fair. He would not insist on borrowing Simon Peter's boat without honoring him for it and this was like money to Simon. This was also symbolic of the power of God's Word!
5 But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net." 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"
Obviously these men were in partnership for their livelihoods and knew how to work together. Suddenly though, Simon Peter realized that another Force was at work, and he was stunned by it, as many are, when the power and Presence of God shows up. It can be more than just something personally soothing.
They Would Catch Men Like Fish
9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish, which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men." 11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.
They would catch men like fish! There was a new commission for their life, and God had been preparing them through their work, but there was still much more to learn.
12 And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."
This is very significant. This leper was completely helpless, but still alive and still had needs that would lead him to town. Most people shunned lepers and labeled them negatively. Sin can be contagious just as a sickness can be. There is not always a willful or purposed invitation to it. Some can be in areas where problems are, or raised without the correct knowledge and understanding for it, and even be without the knowledge of God and basic understanding of right and wrong. (It's still true today that some have never even heard about Him!)
13 Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately the leprosy left him.
Oh what precious words! "I Am willing!" It is God's will for us to get healed; we just have to recognize Him as the Healer.
14 And He charged him to tell no one, "But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded."
God has a structure and a plan and a basic order and Israel knew that God healed. That is why Jesus said this. Healing was part of the Covenant, not just a sensation. Healing had a reputation for them in their past. They just had not seen it that much in their lifetimes. God wants healing to be normal, so that we can know we can go to Him in times of need.
A Move of God was Happening
15 However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.
A Move of God was happening! People were not only wanting that, but needing that.
16 So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
Jesus Himself had to be led by the Spirit of God for His ministry. To seek God, He had to separate Himself from the clangings and strong petitions of the people who would "tell Him" how it needed to be done. Many think they can get "a power" and don't think they have to be Spirit led for it to work. But even more was going on...
17 Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem.
The words and works that Jesus was doing was catching the attention from all over, even from the leaders of their day. God was setting up an atmosphere.
And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
This is a verse that we need to meditate on. It sounds to me like God has a say in all this! The power was present, signifying that it is not always present on our demand, but God is willing to heal. But even more was going on.
18 Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. 19 And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.
Obviously this paralyzed man had good friends! For this man, it may have been a recent injury. It could have been a play injurty (like one would get in a football game) or a work injury. Obviously these people were close. They wanted their friend healed, and they had the faith for it! Why not me?, right?
20 When He saw their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."
Now this was a ministry that the leaders were not doing too well with. Jesus was politely but seriously confronting them on this.
21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
Now before you jump on the scribes and Pharisees right here, they were just doing their job in leading the people of Israel spiritually. Jesus didn't heal the man right away, and He addressed the sin situation. It may or may not have been the cause of this man's particular problem. Probably not, since he didn't just jump up right away at these words. But Jesus was addressing the clergy because the prophetic atmosphere was there to address the whole atmosphere of these people. The least to the greatest was in attendance.
22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk?'"
This is a strong indication that He was addressing the ministry (or ministers).
24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins." He said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."
Jesus wanted them to know that love and loving forgiveness is connected to healing. A minister ministers. They do not "own" God.
25 Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things today!"
Fix the Roof
Now I hope these friends came back and fixed the roof they messed up. I am sure that if they were Godly, they did. Jesus is not a "divine right" for us to mess up other people's goods and lives at the expense for ourselves. If they didn't fix it, then I am sure His disciples did. God is equitable in His ministry.
27 After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." 28 So he left all, rose up, and followed Him.
Now, this is hard to understand if you have never been "arrested" by the Presence of God. When you get a true calling to faith, you will have a profound experience, even if it is "just" a major understanding you can and will testify to. It's an anchor to you. We need much more of this and in this setting presented, God was doing a lot of anchoring. Read on!
29 Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them.
Okay, obviously Levi was not a poor man. He gave Jesus a big feast and honored Him. Obviously he saw something with this man Jesus, that not only arrested his heart, but it had substance among the people there. Many were willing to come; the Presence and power of God was there!
30 And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, "Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"
We can see that the disciples were also at this party, mingling among the guests. This a noteworthy citywide event going on.
31 Jesus answered and said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."
Now this is a very important line. Jesus - as the Lord and leader over Israel - was exampling the Kingdom of God to them, something that these leaders were called to do as their vocation. Jesus was carrying the Presence of God; He was not looking for enemies, but to break this open to them.
33 Then they said to Him, "Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?"
It was a fair question!
34 And He said to them, "Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days."
Visitation Time
This is another indication that this was a Visitation time, and they needed to know what to do in a time like that. Some things you learn from being taught, and some things you learn as you god. But when it is a God thing, God needs to be first and leading it. The Spirit is connecting with the people. It is why Jesus prayed, too!
These next verses are really about our season of time, too.
36 Then He spoke a parable to them: "No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old."
In these last verses, He is speaking about a Move of God. We live from generation to generation.
This last generation of ours (in the USA) has really not seen war like the previous generations have in a more global way. And while there have been some violence to deal with, we have really not seen much in American like some nations have with very active wars going on in front of them as a daily life. I believe that has been a blessing of God to you, and we need to soberly remember that.
Parents age out and children are raised up. That is the way life has gone for thousands of years, with notable things happening in each generation. Every person knows and understands their generation because they have lived it.
37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. 38 But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved.
Carrying Your Mantle
Let this be words of wisdom to you for both the coming and leaving generations. There is the generation that has lived and served its day, even doing much to bless and prosper the current younger generation. They have taken their portion and worked it. They made it palatable to them and their children and faced their devils, in order to love and bless them. Smart ones could even see that it would benefit them in their aging season.
Each generation has to carry their mantle, and will be judged for their generational times.
Generations can be very colorful, or very sober, or have strong demands put upon them. It's sad when they cannot live out what they could have and should have. We need a Savior to redeem us, but Jesus wants us to know the things that make for life. Thus we live a lot right here and now.
39 And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, "The old is better."
When a generation has served its time, it knows what it has employed and invested in. Then when a fresh Wave comes, it naturally guards what it has served.
The young are full of energy and not as much wisdom yet, but have taken a portion from the elders to build with and are eager for their generation, as they should be. But all generations are connected in the time stream of Life.
When the generations blend, it is great for everyone. War between them is not ideal and can be quite destructive for both. Jesus is saying here in this parable to respect each other and give each other room! More good things can come!
Let the Move of God come in each and don't forget what it is all about. He is telling His Story!
Pam Clark
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