Five Lessons from Luke 5 - part 2

Luke 5 is sectioned off in most bibles into 5 glimpses into the life and ministry of Jesus. Its a "day in the life of Christ" as it were. But as I read through Luke 5 recently, I realized that each section has a punch all its own and that reality can get lost if we (or at least I) don't slow down and at least reflect for a moment on what the Holy Spirit is trying to communicate.

(To read about the lessons 1-2 go here)

(To read about the lesson 5 go here)

Lk 5:17-26 is probably the most familiar section of this chapter. It is the account of the paralytic whose friends bring him to Jesus and lower him through the roof. Jesus responds to their collective faith (v20), first forgiving the man's sins and second healing his physical issue. Much could (and should) be said about Jesus' priority on the man's spiritual condition over his physical one. And yet what strikes me (and sometimes haunts me) is the question about Jesus' authority. Both the forgiveness and the healing are simply there at Jesus' command. No ritual, no sacrifice, no pleading or promising. No walking an isle, praying a prayer or raising a hand. It is simply Jesus with the power and authority to forgive and to heal. It reminds me of the Centurion who said to Jesus "Just say the word and my servant would be healed" That, my friends, is the Jesus we worship and follow and upon whom we depend.

Lk 5:27-32 contains the calling of Levi (aka Matthew). Like all the other accounts of specific disciples being called, Levi simply accepts his call and starts his new life. When Levi throws a party to honor Jesus (v29) and invites his tax collecting and less than religious friends, the Pharisees get upset with Jesus. Jesus' well known and often quoted response is in vv 31-32 'And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” ' Most of the commentary I have seen on this passage focuses on self righteousness vs Christ's righteousness and rightly so. If we consider ourselves spiritually healthy, we will not pursue the cure that only Jesus can provide. Additionally, I think we need to consider the Pharisee's response on the selfish level. In one sense they were asking "how can you take the gospel to them?" "how could God possibly love and show grace to some one like that?" Two sides to the same coin? Perhaps. But I often think we may more easily identify our own need for Jesus' redeeming love and yet begrudge it to someone we deem "unworthy".

(My time and my words got away from me, again. Lord willing, I will post the final lesson tomorrow. Feel free to read through Luke 5 and allow the Spirit to do his work.)

To God Alone Be The Glory

Have mercy on me, O God.

Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!

For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
O God of my salvation,
    and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;
build up the walls of Jerusalem;
    then will you delight in right sacrifices,
  in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Psalm 51

To God Alone be the Glory

The Answer to the Biggest Blunder

"The cross is the answer to the biggest blunder in human history, and it is more than sufficient for any blunders we can make. In fact, the Redeemer of sinners loves to redeem the mistakes forgiven sinners make. He loves to remind us we’re not God. And he wants to teach us from the mistakes we make so we don’t continually break important things that don’t need to be broken."

found on Desiring God blog by Dave Harvey

To God Alone be the Glory

Is Forgiveness Possible?

I found this clip referenced on a blog by Denny Burk, but the original source was on a blog by Trevin Wax. It is a great illustration that true guilt and true questions can only be addressed by true, solid answers. I only wish the clip had the answer -- Jesus.



To God Alone be the Glory