‘In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. “Lord,” he said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. Then Jesus instructed him not to tell anyone what had happened. He said, “Go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy.#5:14 See Lev 14:2-32. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.” But despite Jesus’ instructions, the report of his power spread even faster, and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases. ‘ Luke 5:12-15(NLT)
‘One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.” But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!”’ Luke 5:17-26(NLT)
‘But Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I.” So the Jewish leaders tried all the harder to find a way to kill him. For he not only broke the Sabbath, he called God his Father, thereby making himself equal with God. So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished. For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants. In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge, so that everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent him.’ John 5:17-23(NLT)
QUIET MOMENT
Jesus went on from town to town. The fully human and fully divine one, Immanuel, God with us, the light of the world was manifesting God and His glory. Jesus is still fully alive. He is still being glorified! What have you witnessed Jesus doing in the lives of those around you even in the past few weeks?
GOING DEEPER
Our Lord listened to His Father’s voice, not the voice of the world around Him. He did not work according to the culture of the times but according to the leading of His Father alone. In doing so, He showed forth the light of God’s truth. It shone in Him, as it does in us when we serve Him. For His glory, we are His light bearers as we submit to Him and His authority.
Continue reading Luke 5:17-26.
1. What is it that Jesus is most impressed with in the paralytic man and his friends?
2. What do you think true faith is? When do you find it most difficult to walk by faith?
As Christians we are so often inclined to be rule followers and good people but lose sight of who Jesus is and of worshipping Him. We don’t see the light. Until we see Him, we won’t be able to serve Him. If we don’t honor Jesus, we cannot honor God. And we cannot honor Jesus and bear His light without knowing Him. Read John 5:17-23.
REFLECTION AND PRAYER
Go on your face before the Lord Jesus and cry out that you need Him to help you know Him, to know Him as a person, to know Him as your Savior, and, even more importantly, to know Him as God!
TAKING THE TRUTH TO HEART AND BRINGING IT TO LIFE
Choose one truth from today and apply it to your heart. Take it with you throughout the day.
from Jesus, I Need You Part 5