Gospel of Luke Study – Chapter 5 - Vicar Peter M. Horn, Seminary Intern

As Jesus continues with his ministry, we see more interaction on a personal level, moving out of the synagogues and into the countryside. We learn of Jesus’ disciples, their call stories, who they were, and how that relates to their new vocations. Two groups of people begin to surface. The first we see is the “outsiders.” These people respond to Jesus with openness and willingness to serve. The fishermen and the other sinners to follow are the objects of God’s grace and whom Jesus heals and dwells with in his ministry. The second group is the “insiders.” These are religious officials respond to Jesus with suspicion and hostility.

Luke 5:1-11 – Jesus Calls the First Disciples
Again, we see the appropriate response to the ministry of Jesus. Simon (Peter) is the example we are to follow while we are on this earthly journey. His obedience is a response similar to that of Mary in the earlier chapters of Luke, as well as the other players in the story around the births of John and Jesus. Here Luke adds more than just a song to the mix, but an action as well to give us an example. Simon, James, and John “left everything and followed.” Just as simple as that, the gospel does not add anything more. They left their boats, their nets, their family, and the boats full of fish!

Jesus is also being followed by a large crowd and shows the amazement of what Jesus is saying and what he is doing and he does not even have disciples yet! This chapter begins with a wide view of what is going on. This shows us the popularity of Jesus’ words. The use of the first word in the chapter, “once,” implies that this was a typical scene in Jesus’ ministry. Jesus uses the boats on the shore to address the crowd, which sets the stage for the interaction between Simon, who we have already encountered, and Jesus.

The vision of the story narrows in verse 4 from the crowd to Peter’s conversation with Jesus. Jesus’ instructions to Peter are out of the ordinary. The nets being used were only good at night when the fish could not see them, so fishing with them in day light would produce no fish. Even so, Peter obeys and casts the nets. This obedience, along with Peter referring to Jesus as “master,” shows Peter’s recognition of Jesus’ power and the change in leadership and authority roles. This leads Peter to his profession of faith. “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” This contrasts the story of the people of Nazareth who wanted Jesus for their own. Instead, Peter feels unworthy. Yet, Peter later becomes one of the leaders of the early church, as well as John and James. This confession of Peter being a sinful man begins Jesus’ ministry of forgiveness and his reputation of a “friend of sinners.”

Jesus uses the famous words of discipleship “from now on you will be catching people.” This word “catching” can also be translated as “capture alive” or “spare life.” Here we see the nuance of catching fish to die to sell at a market to that of catching people to free them from the bonds of sin and death. Peter, James, and John will no longer be fishermen; they leave their vocation and their socioeconomic status behind.

“Do not be afraid.” We have seen these words before from the Angelic Proclamation of Jesus’ birth to Mary and later to the Shepherds. Something special has happened here. God has been revealed to Peter, James, and John in catching of fish and the change in vocation. When the world seemed to be turning on its head, God’s words of comfort come again…“do not be afraid.”

Luke 5:12-16 – Jesus Cleanses a Leper
Again, this section begins with the word “once.” This shows us that healing, similar to what took place in chapter 4, is a common theme in Jesus’ ministry. There are many hands on ministry opportunities occurring in the first few chapters of Jesus’ ministry and there is more to come.

We have seen much of the healing and cleansing ministry already in chapters 4 and 5 and Luke presents the events in a similar fashion. Using similar words or phrases, we can see how the events connect with each other. The use of the words “once,” “one of the cities,” bowed, “Lord,” stretched out his hand/touched, a disease or demon “departs,” growing reputation, combination of word and deed, and wilderness. With this format, Jesus is reminding us of his reading while in Nazareth and compares himself to Elisha (4:27). This shows us that Jesus’ mission is proceeding as promised and we see the characteristics of Jesus’ mission as these patterns are repeated.

After the leprosy left the man, Jesus gives his usual command to not tell anyone. Just as Jesus silenced the demons in the last chapter, here again Jesus is keeping his identity secret. Action was not stopped, however, as Jesus tells the man to go to the priest and give an offering and a testimony. We are not told that the man talked about his experience of healing but we are told that the word about Jesus spread abroad and more people and more diseased people came to him.

Again, Jesus, instead of staying, takes time for himself. There are many people coming to see Jesus but he takes time away to be apart and to pray. This is the first occasion that we are told about him retreating to pray. The next comes in 6:12, when he leaves the crowd again for rest but also for the decision of naming the twelve disciples. The third one is in 9:28, just before the transfiguration when Jesus shows himself to be the Son of God to Peter, James, and John. Prayer in secluded places is a pattern for Jesus, just as healing is. Taking time for himself where he is strengthened for his divine service.