Luke 5

In a way, I don't like to harp on something, but look at the first part of chapter 5 again. What are the people (including Jesus) doing? STANDING and LISTENING TO THE WORD OF GOD. After that, Jesus got in a boat and SAT DOWN to teach the people. I really think there's a whole new level of respect and awe for the Text of God's Word that I'm not sure we have captured.... Anyway, fishermen--remember that this is significant because of Jeremiah 16:16, where the LORD declares that He will send for many fishermen and they will catch them [His people]. Now this (in Jeremiah) is a broader reference to coming judgment, but Jesus reapplies it here to call His disciples. Look at the wording Jesus uses in Luke 5:10. Very similar. Think about the claim that Jesus is making here--in Jeremiah, it isn't simply God's messenger or emissary that calls the fishermen, it is GOD HIMSELF doing the calling!

Look at 5:13. This poor fellow has leprosy bad. According to the Torah, he can't touch anyone nor can anyone touch him without becoming unclean. That's how a world in chaos works--the unclean makes the clean unclean (read that again if you have to). The amazing thing here is not merely that Jesus heals the man, but that Jesus heals the man BY TOUCHING HIM! Because in the Messianic era, this is how the world is supposed to work--the clean makes the unclean clean. Remember our lesson on the riverbed? Jesus doesn't just offer to pray real hard for him, He enters into his chaos and offers him shalom.

(5:17-26) I'm not sure I have a whole lot to add to this story, but a number of reminders come to mind...the effort of the paralytic's friends to go through the roof..."When Jesus saw their faith..." Tommy, Jonathan, and Luke getting banged up going through our roof...
I would like to point out verse 26 again... EVERYONE was amazed and gave praise to God (even those who were skeptical at the beginning).

"The old wine is better." My NIV study Bible says that "Jesus was indicating the reluctance of some people to change from their traditional religious ways and try the gospel." I'm not sure that I quite agree with this take on this passage, but right now I haven't got anything a whole lot better, so maybe I should look into it more.