Luke 5:12

Luke 5:12 says, And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.  A man with leprosy, which made him unclean and who was supposed to avoid contact with people, saw Jesus and fell on his face before Jesus.  The leper told Jesus that if He would, Jesus could make him clean.  When we first encounter Jesus, we are sinners in need of being made clean, and if we put our faith in Jesus, He not only can but will make us clean of all sin.  Verse thirteen adds, And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.  Touching a leper was supposed to make a person unclean and was avoided religiously, but Jesus did not let that stop Him.  Jesus reached out, touched the man, and told Him that it was His will that the man be cleansed, and immediately the man was cleansed.   It is Jesus's desire that we all be cleansed of sin, and He reachout to us offering us healing it we will only accept it by putting our faith in Him.  Verse fourteen continues,  And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.  Jesus told the man to go to the priest with an offering according to the law of Moses.  The man was not to tell anyone that Jesus healed him.  We have the opposite command today, and that is that once we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we are to tell everyone about it.  Verse fifteen states, But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.  Still, the news of Jesus's healing power spread and multitudes came to Him for physical healing.  Some people today still come to Jesus only for physical reasons, but He came to heal us spiritually, and it would be wonderful indeed if multitudes came to Him for spiritual healing today.  Verse sixteen adds, And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.  Jesus withdrew from the crowds going into the wilderness to pray.  We need to be careful that we don't get so caught up in the activities of the world that we forget to set aside time alone to pray.  Verse seventeen declares, And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.  While Jesus was teaching during a weekday, several religious leaders came to hear Him, not to learn from Him though.  The power of God was present as Jesus healed the sick that came to Him.  As Christians, it is not our responsibility to sit and look for reasons to judge other Christians, but to profess the gospel everyday.  Verse eighteen adds, And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.  A man with palsy was brought to be healed, but the crowds prevented his friends from getting the man to Jesus.  We may encounter obstacles in getting to Jesus or in bringing others to Him, but we should not let that stop us.  Verse nineteen continues, And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.  This man's friends found a way to get him to Jesus, letting him down through the roof.  We need that same willingness to do whatever possible to bring people to Jesus so that they may be healed spiritually once and for all time.  We must not allow the first problem we encounter to keep us from doing so.  Verse twenty concludes, And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.  When Jesus saw the faith of these men, He did not say that the man was healed, but that his sins were forgiven, which is a much greater blessing.  We may come to Jesus simply looking for physical healing, but if we put our faith in Him, we receive so much more.  Ours sins are forgiven when we acknowledge Who Jesus is and accept Him as our personal Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty-one says, And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?  The scribes and Pharisees began to question how Jesus could say the man's sins were forgiven, since only God can forgive sins.  They were right but didn't recognize it, because they did not recognize Jesus as the only begotten Son of God.  We must recognize that Jesus is truly God and not just another man in order to receive forgiveness for our sins.  Verse twenty-two adds, But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?  Jesus was aware of even the thoughts of the scribes and Pharisees and asked them what they were reasoning in their hearts.  Jesus still knows our thoughts today.  Verse twenty-three continues, Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?  Jesus asked which would have been easier, to say the man's sins were forgiven or tell him to rise up and walk.  The man walking would easily verify Jesus's power to heal, but forgiving sins wasn't as easily verifiable.  Verse twenty-four declares, But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. Jesus said to offer proof that He could forgive sins, He told the man sick with palsy to take up his couch, or bed, and walk back to his own house.  Jesus still had not said that He had physically healed the man, so his ability to get up and walk would be proof of Jesus's ability to forgive the man's sins.  We may not have any physical proof that Jesus forgives our sins, but we do have the spiritual proof as God works through us.  Verse twenty-five adds, And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.  The man immediately did as Jesus instructed him to do, and went to his house, glorifying God.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we are immediately healed of all sin or unrighteousness, and need to go on with our life, praising God as we do so.  Verse twenty-six continues, And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.  When we encounter Jesus or even come into His presence after we are saved, we should glorify God, as did those around Jesus that day.  I don't think they truly understood what had happened though, since they said they had seen strange things.  God's work today will seem strange to those who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. 

Luke 5:1

Luke 5:1 says, And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,  People were crowding around Jesus, but, but mostly for the wrong reason.  They were there for physical healing or to see what miracle He would perform.  Still, they were where they could hear Jesus, and that is the best place to be.  Of course, once we know Who Jesus truly is, we need to accept Him as our Savior and Lord.  Verse two adds, And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.  There were two empty fising boats there.  Verse three continues, And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.  Jesus got on one of the boats that belonged to Simon Peter and asked him to move the boat a little off shore, and from there Jesus taught the people.  Wouldn't it be nice to have that many people coming to hear Jesus today?  Verse four states, Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.  After Jesus finished teaching, He told Simon Peter to launch out, let down his nets, and be prepared to receive a draught of fish.  Simon Peter had to obey Jesus if he was going to be successful, and so must we today.  Verse five adds, And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.  Simon Peter told Jesus that they had worked all night fishing and had caught nothing, even though they were fishermen.   Still, he said he would let down his net at Jesus's word.  If we have been working hard for God's kingdom and haven't been having good results, then we may need to make sure that we are doing what God tells us to do.  Verse six continues, And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.  When they did as Jesus said do, they caught so many fish that the net broke.  Simon Peter and the others had worked hard doing what they had always done and had been unsuccessful, but when they followed the instructions of Jesus they were very successful.  We may not be having results as the church today because we are relying on doing what we have always done more than we are relying on following Jesus's directions.  Verse seven says, And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.  Simon Peter and those with him called for their partners on the other ship to come and help, and the catch was so great that it nearly sank both ships.  They were willing to share their bountiful catch with others, just as we should share the good news of salvation with others.  We also need to work together with our fellow Christians and not worry about who has the most blessings from God.  Everything we do should be for His honor and glory.   Verse eight adds, When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.  When Simon Peter saw what had happened, he fell down at Jesus's knees and asked Him to leave because he was a sinful man.  We can only come to Jesus as sinful people, but we should ask Him to come into our heart as our Savior and Lord and should never want Him to leave.  Verse nine continues, For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:  Simon Peter and all those with him were astonished at the number of fish they had caught.  We should be ready to astonished when we are following God's direction and doing what He calls on us to do today.   Verse ten says, And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.  James and John were partners with Simon Peter in the fishing business, and Jesus told them not to fear, because He was going to make them fishers of men.  This is what we are called on to be today as well, no matter what our daily job may be.  Verse eleven adds, And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.  They had just had a great catch, but they left everything to follow Jesus.  No matter how successful we may be in life, we must be willing to leave everything to follow Jesus if we are to be spiritually successful. 

Luke 4:38

Luke 4:38 says, And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.  Jesus left the synagogue and went to Simon's, or Peter's, house.  Simon Peter's mother-in-law was sick with a great fever.  Even those closest to Jesus are not exempt from illness and trouble in life.  We are told that they besought Jesus, so it would seem that those who lived there must have all felt that Jesus could help her.  Anytime we have illness or any trouble in life as followers of Christ we must come to God in prayer seeking His help.  Verse thirty-nine adds, And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.  Jesus stood over her and rebuked the fever.  Jesus has it within His power to heal anyone instantly, but He doesn't always do so.  I cannot say why some are instantly healed physically and others aren't, but I can say that we are all healed spiritually forever if we put our faith in Jesus Christ, and that is all that matters.  She immediately started serving them.  When Jesus heals us, we are healed to serve.  Verse forty states, Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.  News of Jesus's healing power spread, and many sick people were brought to Him to be healed.  As Christians, we know of the spiritual healing power of Jesus, and we need to be bringing people to Him for salvation. Verse forty-one adds, And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.  Devils also came out of people  acknowledging Jesus as Christ the Son of God, but He rebuked them and wouldn't allow them to talk.  Matthew Henry says Jesus didn't let them talk because they might have claimed that He had made a pact with them instead of simply being all powerful over them.  The Devil knows Who Jesus is today, and he and all of his followers are still trying to discredit Jesus.  Verse forty-two says, And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them.  The next day, Jesus went into the desert and the people followed Him and stayed with Him.  They then tried to keep Him from leaving them.  They wanted to keep Jesus there for the wrong reason.  Sometimes today people want Jesus for physical reasons, but are still unwilling to acknowledge Him for Who He really is.  Verse forty-three adds, And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.  Jesus said He must preach in other cities, since that was the reason He came.  We cannot attempt to keep Jesus for ourselves, but must share the gospel with everyone we can, since that is the reason Jesus came.  Verse forty-four continues, And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.  Jesus continued to preach in many synagogues in Galilee.  Jesus should be preached anywhere His people gather today.

Luke 4:33

Luke 4:33 says, And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,  Verse thirty-four adds, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.  In the synagogue where Jesus was teaching, there was a man filled with an unclean devil.  Not all people in the synagogue were really there to worship, and not all people in church are there to worship today.  The devil in the the man recognized Who Jesus was, the Son of God, and asked what Jesus had to do with them.  Verse thirty-five declares, And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.  Jesus told the devil to hold his peace and come out of the man, and he did.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, He casts out all our demons as long as we continue to put our faith in Him.  Verse thirty-six adds, And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.  The people in the synagogue asked where Jesus got His power, because they, unlike the unclean devil, did not recognize Jesus for Who He is, the Son of God.  Those who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord are still often amazed when He performs a miraculous work today, but the Devil never is.  Verse thirty-seven states, And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.  Jesus's fame spread, and we are to spread His name as the only Savior today.  .

Luke 4:22

Luke 4:22 says, And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?  The people bore witness to the glorious teaching of Jesus, but then asked if He were not Joseph's son.  They only saw Jesus in His earthly status, and that is still all some people see today.  Verse twenty-three adds, And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.  Jesus said the people of His home area would certainly ask why He was not healing people there as He did in Capernaum.  Jesus did not come as a physical Physician, but as a spiritual one.  Those that Jesus healed physically still died at some point, but those that He heals spiritually will live forever with Him.  Verse twenty-four declares, And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.  In there own country, prophets were often without honor, because the people could only see the person that they thought they knew.  We profess to be a Christian nation, but too often people here fail to see Jesus for Who He really is.  Verse twenty-five adds, But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;  Jesus gave a Biblical example of the widows during the famine in Elijah's day.  When we teach or preach about God, it must be based on what the Bible says. There were many widows in Isreal at that time.  Verse twenty-six continues, But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.  Jesus reminded the people of Nazareth that Elijah was not sent to any of the widows of Israel, but to Sarepta, a widow of Sidon.  We do not need to feel jealous nor neglected if God works through those that we might not choose.  Verse twenty-seven states, And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.  Likewise, in the days of Elisha there were many lepers in Israel, but Elisha healed Naaman, a leper from Syria.  Jesus did not come to offer salvation to just a select few, but to everyone.  Verse twenty-eight says, And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,  People in the synagogue in Nazareth were filled with wrath when they heard what Jesus said, even though it was based on Scripture.  Sometimes today people get angry, even those the closest to us, if we share God's word with them, especially if they see us only in earthly terms.  Verse twenty-nine adds, And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.  The people who were supposed to be God's people were so angry at what Jesus was teaching in the synagogue that they took Him outside the city and were going to throw Him headfirst off a high hill.  Many people today are upset by the truth of God ans wish to destroy it and those who profess it.  Verse thirty states, But he passing through the midst of them went his way,  While the people were trying to kill Him, Jesus simply walked away.  We better pray that there never comes a day when Jesus walks away from us as sinners because we refuse to believe Who He is.  Verse thirty-one adds, And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.  Jesus went to Capernaum and taught in the synagogues there.  Verse thirty-two continues, And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.  The people of Capernaum were astonished at the teaching of Jesus.  When we are gathered in God's name today as followers of Christ, we should be no less astonished at His teachings. 

Luke 4:14

Luke 4:14 says, And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.  Jesus was led by the Spirit back to Galilee, and His fame spread throughout the region.  We need to spread the truth of Jesus Christ throughout the area where we are, and to be led by the Holy Spirit as we do so today.  Verse fifteen adds, And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.  Jesus taught in the synagogues and was glorified by all.  The people in this small area were willing to hear and even admire Jesus as a teacher.  Some people today still see Jesus as only a good teacher and even admire His teachings, but believe that is all He was.  Verse sixteen states, And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.  Jesus then returned to His hometown of Galilee, still led by the Holy Spirit.  Jesus did not return there for their praise, but to teach them in the synagogue as well.  He was not back as the carpenter's son, but as God's Son.  When we become a Christian, we can never return to where we grew up as the same person, since we should have grown in our relationship with God.  Verse seventeen adds, And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,  Jesus was given the book of Isaiah to teach from.  We need to make sure that our teaching is based on God's word, not only when we gather together to worship, but in all of life.   Verse eighteen says, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,  Verse nineteen adds, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.  This passage is from Isaiah 61: 1-2.  Jesus referred to God's word there in the synagogue, and so must we in the church today.  Verse twenty continues, And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.   Everyone had their eyes focused on Jesus,  and so must we today as Christians.  After reading the scripture, Jesus closed the book and returned it to the minister.  Jesus did not really need the actual book to know what it said, and we as followers of Christ today should know at least the basics of what God's word says, and ministers of God's word should always make sure that what they preach and teach is grounded in God's word.  Verse twenty-one concludes, And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.  This passage in Isaiah referred to the coming Messiah, and Jesus said it was fulfilled that day.  Jesus is the Messiah that they looked for then and the Messiah that we look back to now.  When Jesus came, He fulfilled all the scripture concerning the Messiah. 

Easter

Today is Easter Sunday.  I will pause from the study of Luke to take the day to celebrate Easter.  It is hard to imagine all the feelings on the part of the disciples from Friday to Sunday.  They were discouraged and afraid we know.  You may find yourself discouraged and defeated today, but as with the disciples that doesn't have to be the end of it.  The women were concerned about the body, and went to look for Jesus in the tomb that had been sealed.  We need not be concerned about the tomb, because Jesus is not there.  The women received the good news from the angel that Jesus was not there but He had risen.  This is the good news of Easter, and everyday, today.  The women went to share the good news with the disciples, and we need to be sharing it as well.  Peter and John went to check out what the women told them, and we need to personally come to Jesus to understand the significance of the empty tomb that the women and disciples found that first Easter, and that is that Jesus was not there, but He has risen.  As we celebrate Easter today, we need to tell the world that Jesus is not here, but He has risen, defeating sin and death forever.