Luke 5:1-11; Mark 1:40-45; Matthew 8:1-4; Luke 5:12-16; Mark 2:1-12; Matthew 9:1-8; Luke 5:17-26; Mark 2:13-17; Matthew 9:9-13; Luke 5:27-32; Mark 2:18-22; Matthew 9:14-17; Luke 5:33-39
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Luke: In Luke chapter 5 verses 10 & 11 we read - "From now on you'll be fishing for people!" And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus." Can you imagine being called by Jesus like this? If you were called by Jesus to stop your "work" that you are doing now and instead work to bring people closer to God, would you do so? Can you imagine yourself today being like these disciples and leaving everything and following Jesus?
Bible.org's commentary on Luke chapter 5's readings today entitled "How to Hook a Fisherman" is at this link.
In Luke chapter 5 we read one of my favorite healings' of Jesus - where he heals the paralyzed man on the mat - in very large part because of the paralyzed man's friends who carry him to Jesus! I love that his friends did this. I pray if I was paralyzed I would have friends like these! Check out verses 18 through 20 - "Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to push through the crowd to Jesus, but they couldn't reach him. So they went up to the roof, took off some tiles, and lowered the sick man down into the crowd, still on his mat, right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, "Son, your sins are forgiven."" I am fascinated by this - "seeing their faith" - I don't know if this is a quirk of the New Living Translation or if indeed Jesus literally saw the faith of the paralyzed man's friends. My hunch is that he did. And this makes me realize that sometimes when our faith is at a low point, maybe our friends can help carry us along and bring us closer to Jesus. And maybe we should act like these friends for someone in our life who is "paralyzed" by something.... Is there someone in your life that you can help "carry the mat for" and in doing so bring them closer to Jesus? Wow. I pray I have friends like this - and I pray I can be a friend like this to others...
Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Luke chapter 5 titled "Stretcher Carriers and Sermon Critics" is at this link.
Today in Luke chapter 5 verses 31 & 32 we read this teaching from Jesus: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” How does this verse speak to you? Are you healthy or sick? Are you righteous or a sinner? Do you need Jesus? Are you heeding his call to repentance? Do you believe that Jesus is the one true Doctor who can heal you for eternity? Below is a painting of Jesus at the house of Levi by the Italian painter Paolo Veronese from the year 1573: (with of course the Pharisees looking on...)
Bible.org's commentary on Luke chapter 5's readings today titled "On Eating, Drinking, and Being Merry" is at this link.
Worship God: Luke chapter 5 reminds me of Steven Curtis Chapman's great song "For the Sake of the Call:"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sb4RrF9VxI
Will you abandon it all for the sake of the call? Click here for the Call!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: "Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him." Luke 5:10-11 NIV
Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
God bless,
Mike
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