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So, after Jesus healed a bunch of demon possessed and diseased people, Luke now takes us to another place – recorded in Luke chapter 5 verses 1-16.
Let’s read;
Luke 5.1-16
July 7th 2019
Meat
Luke 5:1 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,
2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
3 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.
4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
5 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.
6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
7 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.
8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
10 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.
11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
12 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.
13 And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
14 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.
15 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.
16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
Alright, back to verse 1
1 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,
Last week we had a question from Ray about Jesus telling people he healed not to tell anyone and he wondered about the reason why.
Here we may have an answer as Jesus has just come from healing all sorts of people in Capernaum, and headed out to the desert because he was troubled (according to Mark)
Now in chapter five Luke tells us that “the people pressed upon him.” Multitudes came to hear the Word of God. And it sounds – SOUNDS – like Jesus was pressed to the edge of a Lake that was called Gennesaret.
Just to set the record straight this Lake is also called the Sea of Galilee and the Sea of Tiberias and/or Chinnereth– so four different names for the same lake/sea.
Apparently, “Gennesaret” was the most ancient name of the lake, taken from a small territory or plain of that name on its western borders. (We know this from Numbers 34:11).
There is a plain lying between Capernaum and Tiberias that is about thirty furlongs long and twenty furlongs wide. Josephus describes it as fertile.
So it seems, amidst the pressing crowds, that Jesus decided on a plan of action (verse 2)
2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
What the King James calls ships were probably small fishing boats that could be easily drawn up onto the shore by hand and due to the small size of the lake they were by no means what we would call ships. We also know that they were small by the fact that a large haul of fish had the capacity to sink them.
Our historian Josephus says there were 230 of them on the lake that were manned by four or five men each.
So, seeing these ships standing by the lake (drawn up on shore – at least partly, I’m sure – verse 3)
3 And he entered into one of the boats, 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.
So the boat belonged to Simon himself and was not just some random vessel Jesus hijacked.
And he asked Simon to thrust out from the land a ways – which Simon Peter obviously did and Jesus sat down and taught the people out of the ship which was the most common way teachers would teach from – sitting – in that day.
We might have an issue understanding the ability to speak to people standing on the sand from a boat in the water but growing up by the sea I can conceive of this readily and believe that if there was no wind, and calm water, and especially if the people were standing in a cove surrounded by walls, this could have served as an amphitheater and his voice could have easily carried.
In fact, on calm water and weather, it is amazing how far a voice can carry while out on the sea.
What did he say? Matthew has him teaching the parable of the sower here in this setting – which is really interesting – because Luke has him teaching this in chapter eight but mentions nothing about the Sea setting.
Anyway, we are in Luke and all he writes is:
4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
It appears from the content of this story that Peter was there and had been fishing, which was his occupation. Perhaps he was one of those who was washing his nets. It seems that this is when Jesus is going to call Peter to be one of his apostles.
The gospel accounts are not totally harmonious on the calling of these men when we just read what they say.
In Mark, Jesus saw Peter and his brother Andrew together fishing, and called them to follow him. James and John, sons of Zebedee, were the next disciples to be chosen. Then in Mark chapter 3 has Jesus formally chooses the twelve from those who followed him.
In Matthew, Jesus (as he does in Mark) saw Peter and his brother Andrew together fishing, and called them to follow him. James and John, sons of Zebedee, were the next disciples to be chosen.
In Luke, Jesus met Simon Peter in his mother’s house, which we read about last week, but he did not call him at that time.
It was here that James and John, sons of Zebedee, and Simon Peter appear to be invited – which we will read about in a minute. It was some time later that Jesus actually chose the remainder of his disciples, including Andrew, brother of Peter, but not necessarily in any order.
Then in John’s Gospel, Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist. And John told him and another disciple to follow Jesus. Later, Andrew fetched his brother Simon, who joined the other disciples.
John does not mention all the disciples and provides least amount of information probably because he believed the story had sufficient coverage in the synoptic accounts.
So anyway, Jesus asked Peter to push out into the deep and then to let down their nets for a draught or a catch. (verse 5)
5 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.
Most of the other writers call Jesus Rabbi or Lord and this is the first time that the word EPI-STAT-ACE (translated “Master) her occurs in the New Testament.
It means teacher or guide and like is the only one who uses it.
And he says, in my words, “I don’t want to complain here, Teacher, but we have worked all night long trying to catch fish and have taken NOTHING.
But then Peter adds his faithful self back into the picture saying:
“nevertheless, at your word I will let down the net.”
In Peter’s mind it seemed improbable that they would take anything (especially after having labored all night in vain), yet he was willing to trust the word of Jesus and make the trial. It is one of the remarkable features of faith that Peter possessed especially when we consider that fact that he knew very little of Jesus at the time.
However, he had seen him heal his mother in law and perhaps this allowed him to exercise this faith at this time.
I love the symbolism of the story too. On their own, Peter and the other worked all night and caught nothing – even though this was their profession.
I mean if anyone knew that lake and the fish and best way to catch them it would have been Peter and the others, but when they included Jesus in the mix, things opened up.
I am not a miracle-minded man in the sense I do not often see miracles in every day events.
But I do believe without any hesitation that for those who are God’s by faith and walk and daughters and sons in this life, do much better having Him give the directions on the affairs of this life than trusting in our own arm of the flesh.
So I recommend to all who will hear including God in whatever you do to make a living, include him in your hobbies, your art, your volunteerism, your leisure time – include Him – as I have found that He will bring things together that you might not have ever anticipated or been able to bring together on your own. In our story at hand, Jesus is bringing together a giant catch of fish and the nets of these fishermen.
6 And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
The better Greek is that their net began to break or was about to break. If the net broke, as it reads in the King James then the fish would have escaped – which would have made the miracle sort of a futile exercise, right?
But Jesus does not stop there – and this added emphasis is so fitting to what He is calling His disciples forth to do with their lives here. He shows that the harvest is really really big, that his kingdom is to be one that is increasing eternally, and this is evidenced in what happens next (verse 7)
7 And they (Peter and the others) 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.
Of course, a catch of fish like this was fantastic to a fisherman, and I doubt Peter or the others EVER saw such a catch before – not even close – which probably added to the magnificence of it.
But there was so much behind the catch. Peter had a home, he had a wife, he had a mother-in-law. And he provided for them by being a fisherman. Jesus was about to call Peter to leave all of that behind and to go out and be a fisher of men.
But built into this event of the catch was the implicit promise that Peter and his family would be provided for – and this was proven again later when taxes were due and Jesus sent Peter (again) to go to the sea and drop in a line and a fish with gold in its mouth was caught.
“Trust me, Jesus is telling the man, look to me and all of your cares will be met.”
That is how I see this event in Peter’s life. In any case, when the weathered fisherman Peter witnessed this, it was a life-changer (verse 8)
8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
And we discover Peter, in the presence of God at work, do what others before him have done when being confronted with Deity – he fell down and admitted the contents of his soul, saying:
“Depart from me for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
This was a status of fear, which I believe is the most natural response when mortal men and women come face to face with Deity.
We are carnal – God is holy. The marked difference automatically causes mortal men to fear.
When Isaiah first encountered an experience with God he said:
Isaiah 6:5 Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
So here Peter fell down at Jesus’ knees. Without a doubt now he knew of the power and authority in Jesus.
He had seen his mother in law healed – that was probably impressive but perhaps he was still critical – after all, our minds can rationalize things away, can’t they?
But this event was right in the grill of Peter and his life – he KNEW fishing and he KNEW that lake, and after laboring all night and catching nothing, this brought the man to his proper place before the Lord – a posture of total supplication.
And then he requested that Jesus depart from him – which was an expression of great humility evidencing an awareness of his unworthiness and sin before the Lord.
Peter was truly overwhelmed at this moment, with the Lord before Him – His holiness, His power, His authority.
I think its remarkable that Peter calls himself a sinful man. Aren’t we all? And it is even more remarkable that Jesus makes Peter his chief apostle. Luke tells us the reason behind Peter’s reactions and words in verses 9-10 saying:
9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
10 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.
So, we can see that Peter was frightened, and Jesus calmed his fears and gave him an immediate call upon his life:
From this point forward you will catch men.
The Greek for catch here is DZOG-UR-REAO and among other things like catch and trap it means “to take as a prisoner of war.”
Isn’t that interesting?
Peter and the others called were from that point forward to catch, trap, win, bring men into the Kingdom of God. He was once a fisherman, but now Jesus has caused him to catch men.
It’s an interesting turn of words in light of the Calvinist idea that all men who are His have been pre-destined to become his and there is nothing they can do to escape the call of God upon their lives, but Jesus here describes Peter’s job and those who were with him, to be a fisher of men, a title that implies a bit of gaming, and outwitting the prey, a title that suggests that the human fish have the capacity to escape the Gospel nets.
11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
We can’t be sure if Luke means that they forsook all the boats and nets and gear or if they forsook EVERYTHING to follow him.
The question is, Did he leave his wife? And the answers are all conjecture. On the one hand, divorce was anathematic to Jesus, and God is said to hate it, so we have that.
On the other hand, we recall the following conversation Peter had with Jesus after Jesus stated that it is easier for a camel to enter the Kingdom of Heaven than for a rich man.
And then Peter says (in Mark 10:28):
“Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.”
And Jesus reply is:
“Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.”
So, we are left to wonder. Add in that Jesus said that “marriage was a practiced for the children of this world,” (and I remind you that he said that relative to that age and time and what was coming their way) and could it be that Peter left his life to follow Jesus and then be a disciple?
Of perhaps, his wife left him for following Jesus OR perhaps she joined the disciples and traveled with them, OR maybe Peter would go out on the road and make return visits to their home.
We don’t know – but I thought it was important enough to address at this juncture. (verse 12)
12 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.
Luke here writes that the man was full of leprosy (meaning his body was full of sores) but Mark and Matthew merely identify him as a leper.
Leprosy is a disease prominent in the Biblical text which in Hebrew means a “smiting,” or a “stroke” (as in a stroke or blow) and therefore it was believed to be a direct infliction from God himself.)
The Greek language called the disease lepra, which means scaliness which is a description of the disease at certain stages.
If you want to have a fascinating study read about leprosy in Leviticus 13, 14 and Number 12 but in summary of it there are six different biblical ways where leprosy would appear (which are all described in Leviticus 13):
(1) without any apparent cause
(2) through a reappearance
(3) from an inflammation
(4) on the head or chin
(5) through white polished spots
(6) or at the back or in the front of the head
According to Numbers, lepers were required to live outside the camp or city as the disease was regarded as an awful punishment from the Lord (2nd Kings 5:7 and 2nd Chronicles 26:20) as several people were afflicted with it after doing something shady.
The disease “begins with specks on the eyelids and on the palms, gradually spreading over the body, bleaching the hair white wherever they appear, crusting over with white scales, and causing terrible sores and swelling.
From the skin the disease travels inward toward the bones, rotting the whole body.
Part of the process of decay includes desensitization (due to nerve damage) and therefore lepers are known to just have pieces of their bodies fall off.
What happens is they injure the little finger arm, let’s say, it gets infected, they don’t feel the pain, and before they know it the finger gets so putrefied by infection it falls off.
As a result the disease is a type for unresolved or practiced sin in the life of an individual who, after time, becomes so corrupted and desensitized by its effects they don’t realize how sick with sin they have really become.
Says one commentator of old who witnessed leprosy at work:
Leprosy was “the outward and visible sign of the innermost spiritual corruption; a meet emblem in its small beginnings, its gradual spread, its internal disfigurement, its dissolution little by little of the whole body, of that which corrupts, degrades, and defiles man’s inner nature, and renders him unmeet to enter the presence of a pure and holy God.”
In Jesus day no leper could live in a walled town, though he might in an open village. But wherever he was he would be required to have his outer garment rent as a sign of deep grief, to go bareheaded, and to cover his beard with his coat, as if in lamentation at his own virtual death.
He also had to warn passers-by to keep away from him, by calling out, ‘Unclean! unclean!’ Additionally, the infected could not speak or receive anyone since in the east a salutation included an embrace. And touching was forbidden.
Jesus cured lepers which to me, again, was emblematic of his ability to cleanse all people from the stain of sin on their souls.
Here in this situation all three of the synoptic gospels are identical in the language of both the leper and the words of Jesus. And all three mention that it was the touch of Jesus that introduced the cure – which is our next verse.
13 And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
I think it is highly symbolic that in the case of the woman who was deemed unclean by the masses touched the hem of Jesus garments and in the case of the leper here, who was considered unclean and anathema to society, Jesus touched him as a means to heal him.
That the LORD would see fit to touch the unholy thing as a means to bring them back into holiness. I love that.
14 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.
Among those people in that day and time it was important for Jesus to comply with the demands of the Law and for a leper cleansed it was part of their duty to go to the priest as Moses commanded and as it is written in Leviticus.
15 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.
Mark tells us that this fame spread was a result of the leper disobeying the Lords charge to keep silent but Luke omits this.
The imperfect sense of the Greek tells us that Jesus popularity just kept on going.
And the more the news spread the more the crowds pushed in to him for teachings and healings.
16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
The Greek better means that as the crowds were growing he was literally
“withdrawing in the desert places and praying.”
In other words, the more the crowds came as a result of the leper’s story, the more Jesus turned away from them to the desert regions and prayed with the Father.
To me it sounds as if the growth of the crowds and their response to Him healing was getting ahead of his true purpose in coming to earth – to bring the Good News and for them to receive Him as the Promised Messiah.
Perhaps the fervor of the masses, sort of like those who followed him for food, was overwhelming the real meaning of His presence – for them to repent and turn from their sin, and prepare themselves for the end of the age?
And as a result of this the best rendering of the passage makes sense, the more the masses gathered and grew the MORE Jesus withdrew from them into desert places and the more prayers he offered to His Father.
We have a little time so let’s read out into our text for next week – verses 17-26:
17 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.
18 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.
19 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.
20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
24 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.
25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.
So, let’s set the stage for next week and cover verse 17:
17 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.
Luke does not include some information we find in the other synoptics. For example, in telling this story, Matthew writes:
“And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
The setting of this report tells us that Jesus listened to the request of the people of Gadara, re-crossed over the lake of Gennesareth, and returned to his own city which was now, Capernaum.
And this brings us to the description that Luke provides here, saying:
17 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.
So, apparently, his popularity had grown to the extent that he was now being watched by some religious leaders who had traveled from distant cities to see for themselves what and who this Jesus of Nazareth was all about.
And we will leave off here and take up the story next week.
Questions/Comments/Prayer
Kensie Raddon
Nancy Bartosiewitz
