Luke 5:10-11, 27-28

Luke 5:10-11, 27-28

“… And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. (11-12)

After this, he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything, he rose and followed him” ‭(27‬-‭28‬).

In this chapter, we see the Lord call Peter, James, John, and Levi [Matthew]. And we see them respond by abandoning everything to follow him.

At that moment, they released their grips on the things of this world and followed. Jesus was assembling a team to turn the world upside down with the news of his coming. In this chapter, we see that he is drawing together people from different backgrounds. These guys are fishermen and a tax collector.

We should not overlook others who encounter the Lord and are changed in ways that cause them to herald the news. For example, we see the leper that Jesus healed. I love that story, particularly as it relates to the team Jesus is building. “And he charged him to tell no one, but go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities” (5‬:‭14‬-‭15‬). Even though Jesus told him to tell no one, the news spread.

We also see the lame man who was brought to Jesus by his friends. To demonstrate his own authority to forgive sins, Jesus told the lame man to “rise, pick up your bed and go home.” At that moment, the formerly lame man became a member of Team Jesus. Notice how he responded to Jesus’ command. “And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God.” (‭‭5‬:‭25‬) Not only did he obediently pick up his bed and go, thus physically proclaiming Jesus power, he also glorified Jesus. I imagine that He told everyone he encountered, “Look at what Jesus did!”

In this chapter, we see Jesus assembling a family of followers. Some of them were called to leave everything behind and literally walk with him day by day. Others were touched by Jesus and left in their daily life and environments. Both groups were (and are) useful for the Lord’s purposes.

Father, help me to embrace the place and task you have assigned me. Please help me be faithful in glorifying you wherever I am. Amen.