Year 4, Day 214: Luke 5

Theological Commentary: Click Here 

Discipleship Focus: People of Peace

• People of Peace: A person of peace is someone whom God has prepared to hear God’s message through you.  God does all the work of preparing that person for your presence in their life. Because of this preparation, these people will like you.  They will listen to you.  They will serve with you as you live out God’s calling for your life.

Let’s look at this topic two days in a row.  It only makes sense, after all.  In Luke 5 we get two classic calling stories.  We get the call of the first disciples and we get the call of Levi (Matthew).

Let’s take a look here at the calling of Peter (and the other fishermen).  Luke gives us an expanded story to that which we find in Matthew and in Mark.  Rather than just “passing by” and “telling the fishermen to follow,” we see Jesus do a little more in Luke.  Luke tells us that Jesus walks up to the boat, gets in it, and pushes off in Peter’s boat.  No doubt Peter is wondering what is going on.  But notice that Peter complies with the action!  Peter likes Jesus and he is willing to serve Jesus’ ministry.  Then we see that after the teaching is done Jesus makes the request about throwing in the nets.  Peter offers a small grumble but does as Jesus asks.  This shows us that Peter is willing to listen to Jesus in the midst of his service, too.

Now let’s look at the calling of Levi.  Jesus speaks to Levi, and he listens and follows.  This clearly demonstrates that Levi must like Jesus and he is likewise willing to listen to Jesus.  Second, notice that Levi throws a celebration at his house and invites all his friends.  Again we see that Levi is willing to serve the ministry of Jesus by putting Jesus in contact with as many friends as he could muster.

The same is true for many of the other healing stories in this chapter.  The crowd around Jesus likes Him.  They listen to Him.  And in bringing Him people to be healed they are serving Him.  Of course, I’m sure there are many in the crowd who are just looking for the spectacle.  But even those are still serving His ministry in a backwards kind of manner.

What can we learn from Luke 5?  In Luke 5 we understand the basic underpinnings of discipleship.  Disciples like their mentor.  Disciples listen to their mentor.  Disciples willingly serve the mission of their mentor.  It’s what Jesus’ disciples do to Jesus.  Why should we think that we are any different than them?

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