Catch Them by Surprise

So far Jesus has gained a lot of respect for his ability to heal the sick and to drive out demons. Suddenly, he found himself in a position to show some professional fisherman his power to catch fish. Luckily, Simon obeyed and proved Jesus right. Though Simon has been with Jesus for sometimes, this encounter opened his eye to Jesus’ divine nature and power, and prompted him to give up everything to follow Jesus.

Read Luke 5:1-11

Reflect

1. Most people find their purpose in life in their professions, such as being an IT Professional, a lawyer, a fashion designer, a nurse, or a construction worker and so on. Through our profession, we make a living, find satisfaction, enjoy the work community, and add value to the world through our services or goods we produce. But Jesus wants to give us so much more. While today Jesus is not calling all of us to leave our fishing boats to catch people for him, he is calling us to find a greater purpose in impacting people’s life for eternity. How does your profession give you a purpose in life? What does it mean to ‘fish for people’ for Jesus? Compare the two and what do you see?

2. Simon’s faith was not the same after he saw ‘a different side’ of Jesus. What is it that he saw that humbled, or even frightened him? Do you believe that Jesus has authority even over your job? Try you imagine Jesus in your meetings, at your desk, or in the board meeting of your company. In which area of your life does Jesus have authority over, and which area does he not?

Apply

1. Take a look at the ‘playfield’ God give you through your work, hobby, and family. How can you ‘fish for people’ for Jesus in your daily life through your daily activities and contacts? 2. How do you see yourself when you come into face-to-face with Jesus? How do you think does Jesus see you?

Tips

1. Write down either the types of opportunities where you can impact people for Jesus. Write down the names of people you can bring to Jesus 2. Write down the obstacles (if any) that stops you from believing in Jesus as the divine being who has authority over everything in your life.

No. 6

Daring to Touch

In the time of Jesus leprosy was a skin disease that is contagious through touch. Many lepers lived in isolated communities. And when they came into town, they would have to avoid contact with people so as not to pass their disease to them. Imagine the suffering of a leper, not only physically (many have lost fingers and toes), but also the shame and isolation he may feel about himself from the community.

Read Luke 5: 12-13

Reflect

The man with leprosy has already heard about Jesus and believed in his ability to heal him. Yet he adds an ‘if’ statement when he asked Jesus to heal him – if you are willing. Why would this man even think that Jesus would not be willing ? What does this say about how he views himself in the presence of God? Jesus does more than healing the man. First he specifically responds that he is willing. Then he touches the leper, which he doesn’t have to in order to heal the man. Why do you think Jesus touch the man?

Apply

It is perhaps easier to give something materialistic (i.e. money, food, clothes) to someone in need. But do you also take time for the person to care for their emotional and spiritual needs? You may serve in the church where you organize events or help with setup. Do you use these opportunities to emotionally connect with others, or do you only focus on getting the job done? Or you may serve in the soup kitchen to feed the homeless. Do you just do the cooking and serving, or do you also take time to talk to people and let them know that they are not alone? How can you become more like Jesus in this regard?

Tips

Think of the charity or volunteering service you do, and the people you come in contact with, and look for opportunity to see their emotional and spiritual needs. Sometimes a smile, a touch, or just take a minute to inquire how they are doing, or to listen to their story can brighten up their souls.

No. 7

Sickness and Suffering

A paralyzed man was brought to Jesus for healing in the full view of many. Sicknesses, as it was believed then, were often associated with sins or punishment. Hence Jesus could sense the judgmental thoughts in the audience: what sins has this man committed that brought him such misfortune? Or worse, why should he deserve to be healed?

Read Luke 5:17-26

Reflect

Jesus doesn’t just restore the paralytic man to physical health so that he can live an independent and pain free live, he also gives him back his spiritual freedom: freedom from sins and guilt, by forgiving the man’s sins, hence declaring him innocent in the sight of men and of God. What does Jesus see in this paralytic man that others don’t? Others see sins and punishments, Jesus sees his desperate need for forgiveness and freedom. How is it that Jesus is able to see the inner struggles that other don’t? And why in this case, does Jesus heal the man spiritually first, then his sicknesses? (This is not true in all cases. You may need to help from online research.) What does this tell you about what Jesus values, or his priorities?

Apply

The world around us is full of suffering: whether it is someone close to us who is battling with cancer or struggling with the loss of a loved one, or someone far away who are victims of wars or crime. We offer our compassion and aids to help ease their pain. While today we do not necessarily associate sufferings with punishment, we also tend to overlook the inner suffering that cannot be made whole by medicine or financial aid. How can you become more like Jesus in his awareness of people’s spiritual needs, which are often times masked by their physical pain?

Tips

Write down the people on whom you have compassion – either specific names or types of suffering – and write down the things you do to help relieve their pains. Write down the spiritual suffering that may come with their outward pain – and how Jesus might be able to heal them. How can you pray for them, and/or bring them to Jesus for healing? If you find this exercise hard, simply start asking the Holy Spirit to show you and to open your eyes to see what Jesus sees.

No. 8

Choose My Team

Israel was part of the Roman empire where the tax system allows the tax collectors to extorted more than what is owed. Because they are protected by the Roman authority, people had no choice but to comply. Tax collectors were hated for their greed and dishonesty. Like Simon Peter the fisherman, Levi was at work when Jesus called him to follow. He left his job and everything – except his tax collector friends – to follow Jesus.

Read Luke 5: 27 – 31

Reflect

Jesus is in the beginning of his ministry where he is building a team of disciples who will follow his footsteps all the way to Calgary, and thereafter. Jesus has a short amount of time on earth to teach them everything, so that they can continue his mission after he departs. What sort of person would best qualify such an important task? Jesus doesn’t choose the most educated, the most influential, or the most popular people. This sounds like a risky strategy. Or is it? Why then does he choose Levi, someone who is unpopular and not trusted by the people (whom he will have to win over for Jesus)? And imagine adding him to the team – some disciples may even have been extorted by him! What would a team building exercise look like at Jesus’ camp? Leaving his sinful life behind, Levi hosts a party and invites all of his friends – the greedy and the dishonest – to meet Jesus. Do you think Jesus might have some reservation about his own reputation ? What is at stake for his ministry when he openly hangs with the group of socially repulsive people? Not only does Jesus not seem to worry, he even justifies his action. Why?

Apply

How do you choose when you need someone on your team who will learn from you and work with you to accomplish your mission? What qualities are most important to you? And what do you need to do to overcome their ‘deficit’? Jesus chose Levi not because education, popularity, or influence is not important. But there one factor that is the most important, and that is motivation. It is easier to train an average person who is eager to learn than a very smart person who doesn’t care.

Tips

If you are leading a team, write down the quality of people you look for when you put a team together (or when you select your trainees). Which of the qualities in your team mate works out well and which qualities that you thought were a strength that turns to be a liability. Why? What can you learn from your experience and from Jesus?

No. 9

Love Above Law

By this time in Jesus’ ministry, he has gained a powerful reputation as a teacher and a healer. This irritated the law abiding spiritual leaders of his time, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. They began to find a way to discredit him. On a Sabbath day when working, including the act of healing, was considered by the religious leaders law breaking, Jesus faced a choice. He should either obey the law and do nothing for the sick man then, or he could heal the man and hence further defies the religious institution’s tradition.

Read Luke 6: 6 – 10

Reflect

Religious institution in all its piety has a way of hijacking our faith. Faith is a personal belief about God that leads to an intimate relationship with Him. King David wrote beautiful psalms to express his faith in God and love for Him. Yet with customs, rules and traditions taking roots in our churches, believers are expected to conform, and we judge each other by the outward compliance. The very essence of our faith – personal knowledge and experience of God’s love in our daily life – gradually fades to the background and we learned to value our public performance at church more than our private relationship with God. How does Jesus’ understanding of the applications of God’s commandments different from his peers? What does Jesus know about God that the religious leaders (and we) miss? How is Jesus able to uphold love above law when it comes to practicing his faith?

Application

If you grew up in the Christian community, how much is your faith defined by your outward compliance (i.e. attending church regularly, upholding certain moral standards etc.), and how much is it defined by your personal relationship with God? Go deeper to reflect on what motivates you to obey the Bible – do you do it out of fear, compliance, or out of your love for God? Is it duty or joy? It is one thing to know about God, quite another to know God, and to be known by God. A key expression in our relationship with God is how we love others, because God is love and he calls us to love others. How does your personal relationship with God help you to love others, even when it is hard or inconvenient, as we see Jesus does here for the man with a shriveled hand.

Tips

Write down specific situations where you may feel your religious rituals become more important than your personal relationship with God. For example, you may serve a lot in your church and end up not having 1:1 time with God because you are just too busy serving. Or maybe you are more concerned about keeping up the appearance as a good Christian that you don’t spend time immersing yourself in God’s love. Write down how you want to change the way you practice your faith

No. 10