Book Of Luke
--Lesson 12
Read Luke 5:1-26
Introduction: In this lesson we find Jesus standing by the lake of Gennesaret teaching the word (v.1). And He entered Simon’s ship and spoke (vs. 2-3). He told Simon to launch into the deed and thrush down for a big catch. Peter was discourages and told Him that they had been out all night and had failed to catch any. He followed Jesus’ advise, however, and was very successful (Vs. 4-11). Peter was astonished at the catch, and responded by falling down before Jesus and confessing that he was a "sinful man." He and all that were with him were so impressed that they had caught so many fish. Upon this matter and in light of their observation and impression, Jesus told them to "fear not." He promised to make them to be able and use them to "catch men." (V. 10). When they had brought their ships to land "they forsook all, and followed him." We might say these people changed occupations at this time, moving up to a higher calling!
Jesus healed a man with leprosy (vs. 12-15), by putting "forth his hand and touched him, saying, I will be thou clean." Immediately the leprosy left him. That is divine healing! Even though Jesus told him to tell no man, but rather go show himself to the priest, as the Law required, His fame spread far and wide. Great multitudes can and were healed by Him!
He withdrew Himself into a wilderness and prayed ( v. 16). We find Jesus taking Himself away from the busy crowds and spoke to His Father in pray. He leaves us an example which we’d do well to follow.
He healed great many but the "Pharisees and doctors of the law" came and watched and began to criticize Him (vs. 17-26). A man was brought in on a bed having palsy, seeking to get to Jesus and they had to go up on the "house top" and let him down so Jesus could get to him. When Jesus saw "their faith," He spoke to the man that his "sins are forgiven" (vs. 18-20). That caused the Pharisees to "reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgiven sins, but God?" (Vs. 20-21).
Jesus points to the fact that it is "easier to say, Thy sins be forgiven" than to say rise and walk! He could have healed the man with the palsy, (and would do so shortly) but He wanted the people to know something even more important: "that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon the earth to forgive sins" (Vs. 22-23). Then, He told the man to pick up his bed and go and Immediately he was able and did that (vs. 24-26) and the people were amazed and "glorified God" as well as being filled with fear. We need to see the significance of the fact that He came for a higher purpose than to do physical healing!
QUESTIONS:
1. Where was Jesus at the beginning of today’s lesson ( Lk. 5:1)?
2. How many ships were standing by and where were the fisherman (Lk. 5:2)?
3. Into whose ship did Jesus enter and "prayed" him to do what ( Lk. 5:3)?4. What was Peter’s view about launching out again (vs 4-5)?
5. What was Peter’s reaction to the experience/results of following Jesus’ advise (vs. 6-8)? ?
6. How did the "partners with Simon" feel about the catch (Vs.9-10)?
7. When they had finished getting their ships to shore, what did these fishermen do (v. 11)?
8. What did Jesus do for the man who was "full of leprosy (vs. 12-15)? 9. Who were sitting by as Jesus healed people and when did they object (vs. 16-21)?10. What was it Jesus wanted people to "know" (vs. 22-26)
11. Having spoken of forgiving sins, then enabling the man to walk immediately, what did that prove?