GOSPEL OF LUKE Chapter 5: Early Ministry

Luke 5:10-11

 Luke 5:10-11  Call of Disciples

 Jesus said to Simon, “There is nothing to fear. From now on you’ll be fishing for men and women.” They pulled their boats up on the beach, left them, nets and all, and followed him.   (MSG)

Luke 5: 12-13  Healing the Leper

Jesus was in one of the towns where there was also a man covered with a skin disease. When he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged, “Lord, if you want, you can make me clean.”

 Jesus reached out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do want to. Be clean.”Instantly, the skin disease left him.  (MSG)

     The question from the leper was not one of faith...he KNEW Jesus could heal.  But WOULD Jesus choose to do so, to touch and to heal?  In the Biblical world, leprosy, a high contagious skin disease, was considered a consequence of sin.   Lepers were 'untouchables'.  By healing the leper, by reaching out and actually TOUCHING this man, Jesus demonstrated his desire to be present for ALL - the marginalized, the untouchables, the sinner.  How willing are we today to reach out and touch AIDS patients, to get our hands dirty among the street poor, to mingle with sinners of any kind?  It is our call as Christians.  It is a hard call to answer, but we've been shown how and given the power. The choice is ours.    

Luke 5: 17-26  Through the Roof

...Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a bed, and they tried to carry him into the house and put him in front of Jesus.  Because of the crowd, however, they could find no way to take him in. So they carried him up on the roof, made an opening in the tiles, and let him down on his bed into the middle of the group in front of Jesus.  When Jesus saw how much faith they had, he said to the man, “Your sins are forgiven, my friend.”

   The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who speaks such blasphemy! God is the only one who can forgive sins!” .... (GNT)

   These moments when Jesus seems to merge sin and disease are sometimes hard to understand.  It goes back to concepts like "he has cancer because he has been a sinner", like the cancer is God's punishment.  It doesn't fit with our God of Grace theology.  But in this instance, Jesus is more concerned with establishing his God-granted authority over BOTH sin and disease.  The religious leaders don't like it - it puts Jesus on the same par as God and they
aren't willing to accept that.  (Perhaps they have already elevated themselves to that level!)
    I wonder what the paralyzed man felt.  He has friends that go to great lengths because they believe this Jesus can cure him.  He listens to disagreement between Jesus and the religious leaders, all the while experiencing the healing of his body.  What a myriad of emotions must have been coursing through him!  He goes home praising God!  Of course he does!!  All were amazed.   

Luke 5: 27-32  Jesus Calls Levi

....Levi gave a large dinner at his home for Jesus. Everybody was there, tax men and other disreputable characters as guests at the dinner. The Pharisees and their religion scholars came to his disciples greatly offended. “What is he doing eating and drinking with crooks and ‘sinners’?”

 Jesus heard about it and spoke up, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting outsiders, not insiders—an invitation to a changed life, changed inside and out.” (MSG)

    Where in the world in the past two thousand years have Christian gotten the idea that salvation is only for those 'good people' who go to church on Sunday, etc.?  We have become the accusing Pharisees with judgement against all those who don't measure up. That seems to make the hypocrites just as sinful as those they condemn!  Point being....the insides of the church shouldn't look any different than outside - all sinners alike.  The only difference is that those within have acknowledged their need for a doctor.

     How much like a Pharisee do I live my life?  Does my circle of friends extend beyond a clique of church and school?  Do I invite 'outsiders' into my home and life to share the good news of God?  I keep saying I will take action on this, but so far, my Pharisee roots hold forth.  Help me, God.  I think I need the doctor.

Luke 5: 33-39  Wineskins

They asked him, “John’s disciples are well-known for keeping fasts and saying prayers. Also the Pharisees. But you seem to spend most of your time at parties. Why?”......“No one cuts up a fine silk scarf to patch old work clothes; you want fabrics that match. And you don’t put wine in old, cracked bottles; you get strong, clean bottles for your fresh vintage wine. And no one who has ever tasted fine aged wine prefers unaged wine.”  (MSG)

    I understand the difference between fasting and partying.  But at first this passage with talk of fabrics and wines confused me.  What is Jesus trying to say?  The metaphors are too deep here!  Commentary time!  
    Blending the old and the new religions was dangerous, like patching old fabrics.  The new garment will not hold true.  Wine is the same.  If Judaism is the old wineskin, pouring the message of salvation into it won't work.  Christ is calling us to something totally NEW - new bottles for new wine.  This NEW calls for changed character on both the outside and the inside.  A change of heart as well as change of practice.  
    Is my faith caught in an old wineskin?  Do I age my faith with spiritual discipline and prayer?  Am I wearing patched Judaism or the new clothing of Christ? 
  I still not sure how this relates to fasting and parties, but Jesus knew he had limited time to get his message across.   

NOTE:  'On the Road Again' starting tomorrow...limited access to internet this trip.  But I'll keep writing and drawing....it will probably be a week before I finish Luke, Chapter 6!!   See you then!