The blessedness of JESUS’ disciple (Luke 6:20-23)

​After healing the multitudes of their infirmities, JESUS turns his attention to the disciples. A disciple is not someone who comes just to receive from their master, but someone who listens to the teaching of the master and follows him everyday to become more like him.

These were the kind of people who were JESUS’ disciples. First up someone who is poor spiritually and not materially cause the tax collectors followed HIM. The spiritually poor understood the need for the SAVIOR unlike the Pharisees who thought they were spiritually rich. JESUS calls them blessed because they are blessed with the kingdom of heaven. This is a blessing that they get to experience now unlike the other blessings which uses the word “will” which refers to a future sense. A kingdom for the poor!! Woah!! Because of CHRIST and what HE did for them these people are not poor anymore because they have GOD HIMSELF as their spiritual nourishment.

The second is someone who hungers, again not physically but spiritually, for they will be filled with the HOLY SPIRIT, after JESUS after ascends. The HOLY SPIRIT will point them to the beauty of the person of JESUS CHRIST to satisfy their hunger of righteousness, knowing well that righteousness doesn’t come from them but from the ONE who died to save them.

There will be sorrow and weeping for the disciples of JESUS CHRIST here on the earth, just as JESUS HIMSELF experienced it. But the disciples can take heart for HE has overcome the world (John 16:33) and one day JESUS HIMSELF will wipe every tear from their eye (Revelation 21:4)

The disciples of JESUS are blessed and declared righteous because when they have JESUS they have everything. And it was not because something that they did, but because CHRIST humbled HIMSELF to meet their greatest need  ie to be right with GOD, by taking their punishment on the cross, rising again from the grave and declaring those who believe in HIM as righteous and no longer to be condemned by anyone.

But will those who are made righteous by GOD have an easy life here on earth? No, since they now belong to the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of earth will call them evil and persecute them because of JESUS CHRIST. But JESUS tells them to rejoice and leap for joy when this happens for they have been counted worthy to suffer for the only true and strong and the kindest KING of the whole world who gave up everything for them and is their greatest reward!

The humble SAVIOR (Luke 6: 17-19)

​JESUS comes down with HIS disciples. JESUS would have stayed up there, but HE displays the nature of GOD here, the nature of GOD is humble, loving and righteous at the same time demanding holiness. If it had been a self righteous Pharisee they would not have come down from their highest position, and mingled with the outcast and the gentiles. It is true that GOD demanding holiness cannot mingle with unholy humans, that is why JESUS had to take on the form of a human to be with us. HE humbled HIMSELF by coming down for us. HE also set an example for HIS disciples, first by loving GOD by spending the whole night praying to HIM and second loving others by humbling HIMSELF and meeting their needs.

I just heard a sermon where the preacher said all the so called gods are needy persons requiring and demanding one thing or another from the people. But the one true GOD, humbled HIMSELF and met the needs of HIS people. The passage says that HE healed everyone who came to HIM. HE had the power to heal and freely gave it away healing sicknesses that were both physical and spiritual. How great and amazing is this GOD. HE went even to the cross to gave HIS life to make HIS people holy. HE is such a good GOD and HE alone is GOD!

Choosing the apostles (Luke 6:12-15)

​JESUS is praying, alone and for long hours.But why does HE need to pray? Because while HE was on earth HE took the form of man. HE was fully GOD and fully MAN at the same time. Man was not created to be independent of GOD. As a MAN, JESUS was dependent on GOD showing us the only way for a man to live happily. Luke says that JESUS prayed a whole night, which shows that prayer with the one true GOD isn’t boring but actually satisfying and enjoyable. In the other gospels we see that JESUS often went to mountainside like these to pray, showing us how much HE enjoyed the one true GOD.

What we do in the night is reflected in our day. JESUS’ choice of apostles wasn’t based on fleshly decisions but by the will of GOD. HE definitely would have prayed for the apostles the next day. The term “apostles” meant “to send on a mission”. The condition to be an apostle is mentioned in Acts 1:21-22, when a person was needed to replace Judas after JESUS ascended into heaven. The choice of the apostles are interesting - tax collectors, fisher men, zealot! These guys did not have anything in common and often looked down on each other in the regular world. They lacked religious trainings unlike the Pharisees. We also saw the background of Simon and Matthew (Levi), which tells us one thing they all had in common. They knew they were sinners and the love of the SAVIOR compelled them to follow HIM.

People would have thought JESUS made the wrong choice of choosing a worthless bunch, but as we read in context JESUS chose them according to the will of GOD. GOD chose these bunch!! How amazing is that! HE chose them and gave them the greatest gift of all - HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.

As we read before in Luke, JESUS came for the sick, not the righteous. HE chose them and gave the sick the greatest medicine - HIS life, our righteousness. And that weakest bunch was later send out to carry the strongest good news that changed the world. JESUS took on the form of MAN and humbled HIMSELF for the weak to be made strong in HIM.

Judas who betrayed JESUS was also part of GOD’s will. All for HIS glory and our good!!

Spiritual inability (Luke 6: 6-11)

​When Dr.Luke writes about a physical disease he also points us how in parallel JESUS relates it to a spiritual disease. JESUS on a Sabbath was once again faithfully proclaiming the good news. The Scripture focuses our attention on two people here. The man whose right hand was withered and the scribes and Pharisees. The man with a withered right hand was probably termed as “useless”, because without his dominant hand he wouldn’t have found a job to do or support himself in any way. But by GOD’S grace he was able to do one thing and that is to listen to the good news preached in the synagogue. On the other hand the scribes and the Pharisees weren’t listening but were “watching” closely in order to accuse JESUS. The man with the withered hand heard, believed and did what JESUS told him to do because for one, he knew he was a man with a withered hand, two, he believed that JESUS would heal him. He listened and trusted in the message that would set him free. The Pharisees failed to listen no matter how many times HE preached about man’s spiritual inability to be right with GOD because of sin. They did not listen to the message because of their self righteousness (thinking they are spiritually healthy apart from JESUS) which was their inability. Had they recognised their spiritual inability they definitely would have seen the need for their Saviour who was right in front of them.

Are you termed “useless” because of your spiritual inability? Listen your SAVIOUR has the good news. HE has paid the debt of your sins on the cross and rose again to bestow you HIS righteousness. Come ye who are unable to be right with GOD, there is a SAVIOR who heals you!!

The LORD of Sabbath (Luke 6:1-5)

​Another day, another sabbath. JESUS is walking through a grain field with HIS disciples who are plucking and eating the heads of the grains. The Pharisees were quick to jump in on the action to say that what they were doing is unlawful. But is it really? Let’s look back to the book of Exodus where the command of Sabbath is mentioned. 

““Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/59/exo.20.8-10.ESV

The law clearly explains that we should not work on Sabbath. The term “work” here in Hebrew is “Melakhah”  meaning occupation. This clearly states that the disciples were not sinning in any way but Pharisees added their own traditions and valued it above GOD’s WORD. JESUS quickly turns their attention to scripture where HE points them to David who received GOD’s mercy when he ate the showbread that was reserved only for the priests. JESUS showed them that they were quick to condemn people based on their man-made traditions, than to extend mercy by walking according to the Scripture like JESUS who HIMSELF is ultimately the LORD of the Sabbath.

When we look closely, JESUS HIMSELF would have quickly corrected the actions of the disciples if they were doing something unlawful before the Pharisees even said a word, which implies that the disciples were not sinning at that moment. But JESUS convicted the Pharisees of their nature of condemnation based on man-made traditions and ignorance of the scriptures. The only PERSON who had all the right to condemn in that scene was JESUS yet HE did not, HE extended mercy by dwelling amongst them, dying for them and giving them HIS righteousness through HIS resurrection.

If we sin, the HOLY SPIRIT would convict us of our sin according to Scripture, and would warn us of its danger and ultimately point us to the hope that we have in the LORD of sabbath WHO extended mercy to us in our time of need by giving us eternal rest in HIM.

The covenant with the BRIDEGROOM (Luke 5:36-39)

​The Pharisees are trying their best to show off their righteousness. But sadly they have failed to understand the truth that no man in this world is righteous except JESUS CHRIST who took the form of man (Psalm 14:1-3). JESUS explains this in a parable. The Old covenant is represented by the old cloth and the old wine skin in this parable. The Old covenant required us to keep everything in the Mosaic law to be righteous and breaking even one law would make us unrighteous. And unrighteousness would ultimately lead us to hell. And that is a sad reality for humans. But we need not lose heart, cause our dear BRIDEGRROM comes with a new covenant. The new covenant here is represented by the new clothing and new wine skin. Here, JESUS fulfils every thing in the Mosaic law, lives a righteous life and HE doesn’t stop there. HE goes to the cross to pay the debt for our unrighteousness, thus exchanging HIS righteous life for ours. HE rises up 3 days claiming that death has no hold on HIM. So those who believe in JESUS CHRIST would be bestowed with HIS righteousness as a gracious gift to make them right before GOD and when we are clothed with the righteousness of JESUS, that gives us the grace to live a pleasing life before GOD.

Now, how do become a part of this new covenant? Do we have to meet a certain level of righteousness to be a part of it? No, not at all! All that you have to do is to admit that you are a sinner as Simon admitted and repent of it, and JESUS CHRIST will gladly exchange HIS life for yours, making you right with GOD. And when you are made right with GOD, the righteousness of CHRIST will help you live a pleasing life before GOD as Levi did. Before he followed CHRIST he selfishly made money for himself, but after he left his old way of life, he reflected the selfless love of CHRIST to the other tax collectors and sinners around him by introducing them to JESUS.

The Pharisees tried to bring their own righteousness to please GOD by trying to keep up with the law and their traditions, but JESUS invites them to leave behind their self righteousness and to be made right with HIM through the new covenant for which HE paid a huge price for us. JESUS also warns them of the danger of being satisfied in self righteousness, in v.39 HE says that no one drunk with the old one will desire for the new one. So beware of being satisfied with your self righteousness that leads you to miss out on the true righteousness.

Your self righteousness and CHRIST’s righteousness do not go hand in hand.

Are you seeking the BRIDEGROOM? (Luke 5:33-35)

​Seems like the Pharisees didn’t get the point yet. They were still trying to prove that they were more righteous. They bring up the topic of fasting and praying, stating that is more righteous than eating and drinking. But Jesus, invites them to see the missing point. What is the reason behind fasting and praying? It was to get closer to GOD and to seek HIM more. When GOD HIMSELF was present with them physically, they couldn’t see it because their fasting were merely rituals and public acts, it did not lead them to seek GOD. JESUS does not condemn fasting, but the way they did it. HE tells them that HIS disciples will fast to seek HIM when HE is taken away from them (ie after the ascension).

Why we do things matter. It may seem religious on the outside, but is it actually helping us to seek GOD?, should be the question. We may do all the religious acts and actually miss out enjoying GOD. The friends of the bridegroom were actually able to find HIM quickly because they knew it was HIM they were looking for, someone who would welcome the poor, the needy, the rejected and the brokenhearted, while the Pharisees were seeking more of themselves in the name of seeking GOD.

Come, be joined!!(Luke 5:27-32)

​After a huge miracle, JESUS is not absorbed by the glory of men but goes out and continues what HE came to do for the glory of GOD. This time, JESUS sees a tax collector sitting in his tax booth named Levi (who is also known as Matthew), someone who is treated as an outcast and despised by the people because he was serving the Romans. He was in a society, where instead of pointing their fellow brothers towards GOD and repentance they despised sinners. Levi should have heard about JESUS and never in his lifetime would he have thought that JESUS would ask him to follow HIM. Levi was without hope, when people despised and rejected him it made him find more comfort in what he was doing (tax collecting). But when HOPE called him, he no longer sat at his booth but rose up, left everything behind and did not just talk with JESUS for an hour but followed HIM for the rest of his life.

The result of following JESUS, made Levi unselfish like JESUS. He could have followed JESUS for himself, but no! He invites his other outcast friend to come and eat and drink with JESUS. The presence of JESUS in his life made him leave behind his sinful nature which includes selfishness.He is filled with so much joy that he makes, as Luke puts it - a grand feast for JESUS. On the other hand, we find the Pharisees murmuring of JESUS’ association with the people. Probably they were unhappy with the fact that the outcast has found true joy than them! JESUS tells them the secret - that the physician has come only for the sick not for those who think are healthy. Real joy comes only from knowing the truth, that we are sinners who are in ultimate need of a SAVIOR.

Yes, it cost Levi everything to follow JESUS, but it cost JESUS more to make Levi his own!

The true BRIDEGROOM ultimately paid the price for Levi (which means joined) to join him with HIMSELF.!

HE is still calling for sinners, come be joined with the greatest bridegroom ever!!

Spiritual paralysis (Luke 5:17-26)

​There were 2 types of people here. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law, who thought they had everything to be able to reach GOD and the paralytic man who couldn’t reach JESUS because of the crowd, his limited ability and recognised his sinfulness. But the paralytic through faith reached at the feet of JESUS while the Pharisees couldn’t. The paralytic and his friends didn’t let the multitudes or his inability to turn back from JESUS. They knew if they just get to JESUS, HE would take care of everything. JESUS saw their faith and the first thing that HE did was to forgive his sin which came with a cost for JESUS and then he heals him of his physically. JESUS could also see what the Pharisees were thinking as HE was GOD and MAN at the same time. HE responds to their thoughts with the question, “which is easier to say?”. The answer to this would be that it is easier to say all these but doing all these is hard and comes at a cost for the SON of MAN. Seeing and hearing this should have changes the Pharisees hearts but it didn’t because of their pride. 

What is stopping you from coming to JESUS today? HE has come in search of you and has paid your price, come lay at HIS feet leaving behind your pride so that you will be freed from your spiritual paralysis resulting in the glory of GOD!!

Prioritising GOD (Luke 12-16)

​When Luke states “full of leprosy”, he tells us about the seriousness of the disease. No one would even go beside him or try be in contact with such a person, not even his family. Such was the condition of this man. When he begs JESUS to heal him, JESUS’ response melts my heart, he willingly touches him and makes him clean. Then JESUS commands this man two things: offer the sacrifice as per the law of Moses and not to tell anyone about this. Unfortunately the man doesn’t obey, he goes and reports this to everyone which in turn becomes a hindrance for JESUS’ ministry as we read in Mark 1:40-45. The sacrifice alone would have been a good public testimony of what GOD has done in his life. We can never think that we are smarter than JESUS, instead we are called to obey HIM as all HIS ways are true and just. Though multitudes came flocking to HIM, JESUS sets HIS priorities straight, HE prioritised HIS relationship with HIS FATHER first out of which HIS love flowed to serve others. Unlike the man with leprosy, JESUS teaches us that it is better to be right with GOD than be driven by excitement.

The GROOM comes for the bride (Luke 5:1-11)

​The multitudes flocked behind JESUS wanting to hear HIS WORD by the lake. Also on the side there were hard working fishermen who had fished all night and they were washing their nets. One of them was Simon, and JESUS asked him to put out his boat a little so that HE could sit on it and teach as teachers would usually sit and teach. After teaching JESUS turns HIS attention to Simon, HE asks him to put out his net to fish which is a crazy thing to do because these fishes in the lake can only be caught during the night time. But Simon’s faith is amazing, he recognises JESUS as an amazing teacher and obeys him immediately not grumbling that he has just washed his nets. To his amazement he catches so many fish that he now needs another boat, and both boats are now incredibly full. Simon now realises that JESUS isn’t just an ordinary teacher, and that he is a sinful man who doesn’t deserve JESUS. But JESUS humbly invites these poor sinners to follow HIM and tells them that HE is gonna make them catch people alive. That invite changed these fishermen’s life, this miracle could have helped them understand in the future that winning souls for CHRIST doesn’t rest on them but on the TRIUNE GOD. These men would have just declined the invite and have been satisfied with the money that the made with the fish but they didn’t cuz they couldn’t be satisfied since the most amazing GOD has called them, they left everything to be satisfied only in HIM.

As a bride leaves everything to be joined with her groom who she values above all, the disciples left everything to be with their GROOM JESUS who came in search of these unworthy men.

The Amazing Savior (Luke 4:31-44)

​JESUS did not stop teaching though HE was rejected at Nazareth. HE did not focus on what people did to HIM but rather on what GOD had for HIM. HE went up and preached in the synagogue of Capernaum, the people were astonished at HIS authority. In the synagogue there was a man with an unclean spirit. The demon knew who JESUS was, but how stupid of the demon to challenge the SON OF GOD! JESUS doesn’t converse with the demon but HE rebukes the demon and HE immediately gets out. People are astonished by the power of GOD that when they witness it, they in turn carry this good news to others.

Simon here is Peter the disciple of JESUS. His mother in law is very sick as Luke the doctor mentions that she has great fever, they beg JESUS to heal her cuz they knew HE could do it. JESUS heals her completely and she in turn starts serving JESUS and others. The setting of the sun indicates that the Sabbath is over, and people with sickness and demons come to JESUS to be healed of them. Notice how JESUS takes time to heal every one of them. That is just so amazing. We can also see that JESUS rebukes the demons from talking cuz they twist the truth and are up to no good. We can also stop the thoughts from demons through the WORD of GOD cuz that is the only weapon we can use to fight against him.

V.42 suggests it was day, which indicates that JESUS has been working the whole night caring for the people selflessly. The multitudes still held on to HIM. It is not wrong to hold on to JESUS, but they held on to HIM selfishly. JESUS had a mission to preach the good news to other cities as well and not just stay back comfortably. The Saviour gave HIS life up selflessly for selfish people like us breaking the power of sin and death making us more like HIM.

The actual FOMO (Luke 4:20-30)

​JESUS had just read about the good news to the people who watched HIM grow up and more amazingly he reveals to the people that HE is the one who will fulfill it. But the people were not ready to accept it because they thought that HE was just a carpenter’s son. The WORD of GOD and testimony from the surrounding regions confirms what JESUS said is true. But their familiarity with HIM in a limited way hindered them from believing in HIM.  JESUS addresses their unbelief by warning them through the stories of the widow who helped Elijah and Naman, though they were Gentiles they were able to experience GOD through their faith. The people got angry and decided to murder HIM, but JESUS escapes as it not yet time for HIM to depart from the world.

Imagine the horror of missing out GOD when HE was on your midst the whole time and to the point of throwing HIM out of our lives just because we try to measure HIM with our limited understanding and not by HIS WORD. May we rely upon HIS WORD to know HIM more and not be content with familiarity.