Primary Text: Luke 5:1-26
Memory Verse: And so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him. Luke 5:10-11
Introduction:
During this phase of Jesus’ ministry, His authority is revealed. In this week’s readings we see that Jesus has authority over evil spirits, illness and people’s responses. Jesus said that He had all authority given to Him, both in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18), and He not only said it, He proved it. He healed the sick, drove out demons and forgave sins. Jesus had a divine calling, a divine purpose and a divine anointing from God. It was clear that this authority made Him unique. He wasn’t just another prophet–He was the Son of God.
Why did Jesus do these miracles? On the surface, we could say that He did them out of compassion. When He entered Peter’s home and discovered that Peter’s mother-in-law was ill, He had compassion on her, touched her and healed her. Matthew 14:14 says that when Jesus saw the crowds of people “He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.” But there is a greater motivation as to why Jesus did these miracles. In John 5:19, Jesus told us that He is able to do these great works because of His Father. “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves,” He said to Philip in John 14:11. The miracles are signs of Jesus’ deity.
When Jesus healed the paralytic man, He showed He has the power and authority to forgive sins. Matthew 8:17 directly related the miracles of healing the sick and casting out demons to the fulfillment of Isaiah 53, which points to the Messiah. Jesus used the miracles to prove that He is the Messiah prophesied about in the Old Testament and to declare to the principalities and powers of this world that the King had come to set all things right.
Studying the Word
Lesson Study
- What does it mean to be a fisher of men? Matthew 4:19; Mark 1:17; Luke 5:11; Jeremiah 16:16-17; 2 Timothy 2:2
- Why did Peter react as he did when he experienced Jesus’ fishing miracle? Luke 5:8; 7:7; Matthew 10:37-38
- What do the following references say is needed in order to be committed to the call of Jesus? Philippians 3:12-14; Hebrews 5:11-6:1; Hebrews 12:1-3
- What do even demons recognize about Jesus? Mark 1:24; Luke 4:34; Matthew 8:29; James 2:19
- What authority did Jesus show He had? Mark 1:25; Luke 4:35; Matthew 17:18; Luke 13:32
- How was Jesus’ ministry a fulfillment of prophecy? Isaiah 35:5-6; Malachi 4:2; Matthew 4:23; Mark 1:41-42; Luke 5:13
- What did Jesus say was key to the healing of the paralytic? Matthew 9:2; Mark 2:5; Luke 5:20