Luke Chapter 5.

Luke Chapter 5.

The First Disciples.  5:1-11.   The Lord attached much importance to the calling and training of the apostolic group.  Their training was an important feature of his ministry.   The draught of fishes holds many lessons for Evangelism.  A good fisherman must cultivate certain qualities, such as:

              *   Enthusiasm for fishing.

              *   Capacity for hard toil.

              *   Perseverance through frequent failures.

              *   Courage to face peril and danger.

              *   Tact and skill in fishing.

              *   Knowledge of the habits of fish.

              *   Methodical in the care of equipment.

              *   Ability to work together.

              *   Obedience to orders.

              *   Willing to take advice.

           

The Lord Commissions Peter for special service.

*   Peter discovers the Lord's ability to give success where he expected failure.  As the time was unfavourable, for the glittering sun makes fishing impossible.   Added to this, the labourers were wearied and exhausted.  Plus the deep was the wrong place to fish.  The fish were usually found near the shores and not beyond the shelf surrounding the deep.

*   Peter discovers the overwhelming Majesty of the Lord.  His supernatural knowledge, and His authority over the sea (nature).  In a future day Peter would realize that the sea was a symbol of the nations. 

*   Peter discovers the Lord's Holiness.  He suddenly becomes aware that he is in the presence of Deity and, for a moment, the Lord's presence becomes intolerable to him, a sinful man.  In chapter 5:8, "Lord" expresses the Divine Majesty of Jesus. (see Isa.6:5).

*   Peter discovers the nature of the task that Jesus calls him to do.  He must catch men.  Zogree, "I capture alive or capture for life."   This word occurs again in 2nd.Tim.2:26. The task required obedience.  He must fish where and when he was reluctant to fish, for the nations must hear the Gospel.  Only the Lord could give success.  He must learn that the Lord is all-sufficient to guide, to give success, and His word gives fresh encouragement when overcome by a sense of failure, and that the Lord would supply all their need.

           

The Leper.  5:12-16.

 *   His condemnation.  The Law condemned him as religiously unclean:  An outcast with no right to approach God.  "Full of leprosy" - hopeless - a living death.

*   His cry.  His humility - fell on his face before the Lord.  His need made him humble, his along with a believing petition, and out of his desperate need, faith is born.

*   His cleansing.  Jesus touches the man, graciously identifying himself with the man's  burden.  The mercy and healing power of Jesus are greater than the ceremonial statute which would forbid Him touch the man.  His touch overwhelms all uncleanness.  He was sure Jesus was able to cleanse, if only He was willing.  That Jesus touched him, risking contagion, demonstrated how willing he was to cleanse.  He pronounced the man "clean."  He directs the man to offer as a testimony the Law, and does that which the Law is helpless to do.

           

The Paralytic.  5:17-27. `Paralumenos', one who has become loosened, (unstrung).  One whose power of movement has gone, paralysed.  It was a medical term, but the more cellequial was `paralutikos'.

*   The man's need.  He was weak and helpless.  (see Rom.5:6).

 *  The problem of approach.  The difficulty of coming to Jesus was overcome by faith which breaks down every barrier.  The faith of the helpers was required to bring him to Jesus, for it was difficult to come near to Christ.  Today, no such difficulty exists, for the resurrection has bestowed on Jesus a new approachableness, and by faith all may freely come.  (see Rom.10:8-10).

*  Who is this?  Jesus authenticates His authority to forgive sins by healing the man.  None but God could give this authority.  Here is the proof that He is the Son of Man. The designation, the 'Son of Man' signifies more than a man, it means 'the man'.  It may not have been a currant Messianic title, and this may be the reason that Jesus used it.  For though we must understand it as a Messianic title, yet, it had a certain veil of obscurity which faith alone could pierce.

           

In the Synoptics Jesus veils His Messiahship.  The people were not generally ready to receive Him as the Christ, neither to grasp the true nature of His Messiahship.  Therefore, by the use of the title of the 'Son of Man', Jesus both asserts and obscures His Messiahship, for the title 'Son of Man' was such as to provoke the hearts of men and eventually lead them to a better understanding of His Christhood, as constituting Him as the Saviour of men.  They must discover the kind of Messiah He is, as the 'Son of Man' destined to suffer that all may be saved, and He is not merely a political leader of Jewish aspirations.

           

The call of Levi. 5:27-32. i.e. Matthew.

The work of Christ was to bring men to repent and enter the Kingdom of God.  He came especially to save the despised, sinful and outcast.  Those who were chosen to be leaders of the new movement, were drawn chiefly from the ranks of men disposed as sinners.  Levi showed the genuineness of his repentance by a complete renunciation by following Jesus.  He is an excellent example of complete renunciation to follow Christ.

           

Fasting.  5:33-39.   Jewish weddings were occasions of great rejoicing and no one fasted at such times.  His disciples could not fast as long as He was with them.  His presence was a foretaste of the joys of the Kingdom, when as the Bridegroom, He shall possess the Bride.

           

The coming of the Kingdom was a new beginning and it could not be confined within the limits of the old order.  But a new thing has always to meet the opposition of human prejudices.  It is argued that no wine is fit to drink until it is old.  He that drinks old wine does not compare it with the new; he is content not to try the new.  So those who hold to tradition and custom will have nothing to do with the new movement.