Dig In:
Passage: Luke 5
Dig Deeper:
Chapter Summary
v1-11 - Put yourself in the shoes of these fishermen. They've been up all night fishing (not just for relaxation), and now they're just finishing the hard work of washing their nets and gear, when an itinerant preacher asks to use their boat as a floating pulpit. Jesus finishes speaking to the assembled crowd (Luke mercifully doesn't record the sermon length), and Jesus asks these guys to start their whole workday over again: go out and let the nets out again. When Jesus' prediction of a large catch comes true, Peter could have reacted in one of two ways. He could have recognized the commercial viability of Jesus' ability to find fish. But instead, Peter realizes Jesus' power and authority compared to his own sinfulness and asks Jesus to leave. Rather than leaving, Jesus simply tells these guys that they'll be fishing for men from here on out, and remarkably, these guys walk away from their investment and livelihood to follow Jesus. Would you do that?
v12-15 - Jesus heals a leper, and knowing the frenzy that will occur when the public hears about the healing, tells the healed leper to keep it quiet. Of course, he doesn't, and the news spreads about Jesus swelling the crowds.
v16 - One constant in Jesus' life is His need to separate Himself from the crowds to spend time in silence and solitude praying. This has become one of the most overlooked of Christian Spiritual Disciplines. Make sure you follow Jesus' lead on this often.
v17-26 - This is the famous story of the man let through the roof of the crowded house for Jesus to heal his paralysis, but Jesus surprisingly first asserts His authority to solve a greater problem: forgiving the man's sin.
v27-32 - Jesus continues to build His disciples corp, this time with the ever unpopular and dishonest tax collectors, who receive Jesus with open arms to the dismay of their rivals, the Pharisees. Like the fishermen disciples, the tax collectors 'left everything' to follow Jesus (v28).
v33-39 - Jesus uses an analogy that doesn't make much sense to us about new wineskins. Essentially, people can't try and piece Jesus' teachings into their old lifestyles. Accepting Jesus means accepting a whole new way of life.
Old Testament Reference -
Isaiah 6:1-14 - In this famous passage, Isaiah has a very similar reaction to the holiness of God that Peter has in v8. Look at how Isaiah's restoration points forward to what Christ would do for Peter and His people.
Discuss:
Use the comment box below to discuss one or more of these questions.
Just based on this chapter, how would you describe what it means to be a disciple of Jesus?
Follow the AAA Prayer Pattern:
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father in heaven, who has authority over all things
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray for the faith and courage to follow Jesus wherever He calls you despite the cost
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
Communion Preparation for Good Friday:
Those who come to the Lord's Table must be conversion-minded. As we prepare for Friday, we'll be reminded what this means from Lord's Day 32-33 of the Heidelberg Catechism:
MONDAY: Can un-converted people who do not turn to God from their ungrateful and impenitent ways be saved?
By no means. Scripture tells us that no unchaste person, no idolater, adulterer, thief, no covetous person, no drunkard, slanderer, robber, or the like will inherit the kingdom of God.
