Lesson 5327

 (Lesson 5327)(09-07-26) Luke 5:27-32 

    "And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." 

 

     In Today's quote, Jesus calls Levi, a despised tax collector, who immediately left everything to follow Him. Levi soon hosted a great feast that included all manner of "sinners". When the leaders of the Jews criticized Jesus for eating with the unclean, He explained that the healthy do not need a doctor, but the sick do. This lesson reveals the core purpose of Christ's earthly mission: he came not to affirm self-righteous people, but to seek out the spiritually needy and call them to genuine repentance. ~

Lesson 5326

 (Lesson 5326)(09-06-26) Luke 5:17-26 

    "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. 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. 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. And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? 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. And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day."   

 

     In today's quote, friends lowered a paralyzed man through a roof to reach Jesus, demonstrating the extent of their faith. Rather than confronting the man's physical paralysis first, because of his faith, Jesus declared the man's sins forgiven. When the leaders of the Jews accused him of blasphemy, Jesus healed the man on the spot to provide visible proof of His divine authority as the Son of God. This lesson reveals Jesus' true identity as God in the flesh with absolute power to justify sin and restore both body and soul for those with sufficient faith. ~ 

Lesson 5325

 (Lesson 5325)(09-05-26) Luke 5:12-16 

    " 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. And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him. 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. 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. And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed." 

 

     In today's quote, a man covered in leprosy knelt before Jesus, demonstrating his faith that Jesus, if willing, could make him clean. Jesus touched him and immediately cleared away the leprosy, again exposing His divine power over all things. By directing the healed man to show himself to the priest and offer the sacrifices required by the Mosaic law, Jesus upheld God's law while establishing a public testimony of His authority. ~ 

Lesson 5324

 (Lesson 5324)(09-04-26) Luke 5:1-11 

    " 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, And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 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. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 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. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 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. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: 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. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him." 

 

    In today's quote, Jesus instructed Simon Peter to cast nets into the deep after a fruitless night of fishing, resulting in a miraculous, boat-sinking catch. Overwhelmed by the display of divine power and convicted of his own sinfulness, Peter fell at Jesus' feet. Jesus calmed his fear and called him, along with James and John, to catch men instead of fish, causing them to leave everything behind and follow Him. ~