Written ~ 03-07-2024
Read Luke Chapter Five
Luke 5
In our chapter for today we see Jesus choosing His first few disciples. Think about it, all it took for them to follow Jesus was a large catch of fish. Sure the number of fish was astounding, there was no getting around the fact that Jesus had something incredible and supernatural. So the first men to follow Jesus are Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John. They saw an amazing thing happen right before their eyes and without hesitation they dropped everything to follow Jesus. What would it take for you to drop everything and follow Jesus? Could it be you are waiting for something supernatural to happen? Or will you follow Jesus, even before seeing something miraculous, because you know and accept the truth of who Jesus is… the Son of God, the Messiah.
As the men traveled through a few small villages Jesus healed a man of leprosy, then on another day He healed a paralyzed man. A short time later He called Matthew, a hated tax collector, to follow Him.
One of the most profound statements Jesus gave when the Pharisees and other teachers of religious law were questioning Him about the people He hung around with is found in verses 5:31-32,
31 Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. 32 I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”
That right there is a knee slapper! “Healthy people don’t need a doctor – sick people do.” Have you ever thought that your life is good enough the way it is, that you don’t need a Savior? Have you ever thought that needing a Savior somehow makes you a weaker person? Well, let the words of Jesus sink into your heart, mind and soul. We are sinners, but we can be forgiven and washed clean by the blood of Jesus, that’s why He came! To heal us all of the sin, guilt, and shame that we carry with us… Why not humble yourself and give your whole life, your broken heart to Jesus, let Him heal you…
Verses 5:33-35
33 One day some people said to Jesus, “John the Baptist’s disciples fast and pray regularly, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees. Why are your disciples always eating and drinking?”
34 Jesus responded, “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. 35 But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.”
So, here’s the question brought to Jesus… verse 5:33,
“John the Baptist’s disciples fast and pray regularly, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees. Why are your disciples always eating and drinking?”
If you are not familiar with fasting, let’s go over it for just a moment. When we read about fasting in the Scriptures it is always done together with prayer. When your heart is in need of an answer to prayer, or you feel a distance between yourself and the Father in heaven, or maybe you feel your faith, your trust in the Lord needs to be deepened, fasting is the prescribed method. In the Old Testament fasting is shown as a deep reverence to God, as you refrain from any kind of food for a period of time while your humbled heart is bowed in solemn prayer. It’s a time for seeking the will of God in whatever situation has you increasingly troubled. In the New Testament, fasting is shown again as a tool used with prayer before making a huge decision. In the Book of Acts we see the Apostles fasting and praying for those they were sending out to deliver the Gospel Message or to find out who they were to appoint for a special work for the Lord.
The reason Jesus is being questioned about fasting now, is because the Pharisees, the religious leaders and teachers of religious law had come up with their own customs and traditions when it came to fasting. It wasn’t done in reverence, it wasn’t done with sincere prayer. They did it for show, they purposely made themselves look miserable so those around them would know they were fasting.
In Matthew 6:16-18 Jesus said,
16 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. 17 But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. 18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”
So, what is the answer to this kind of questioning, well, this is the response Jesus gave…
Verses 5:34-35,
34 Jesus responded, “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. 35 But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.”
There wasn’t the need for the disciples to fast at that time, Jesus, the Lord and Savior, the Messiah was walking among them, teaching them, guiding them, instilling in them the truth. But soon, as Jesus hinted here, the “groom” would be taken away. Jesus knew His time was short, He knew death was in His future and He also knew that after He ascended back to Heaven, it would come time again for His followers to fast and pray.
So ask yourself this question…
Have you ever gone through something difficult, but you tried everything to get through it all on your own?
What if next time, as life experience shows, we will always have trials pop up unexpectedly, but what if we humble our hearts in prayer and fasting and ask God to help us through life’s difficulties? When we are coming to the Lord in truth, our worship of Him is pure, our hearts yearn for His help, why not seek the guidance we can only find through Him. Fasting might be the only way to truly sacrifice what your physical body thinks it needs for you to have a spiritual breakthrough. Jesus is waiting for the heart that is willing to come in a completely humbled state. When we deprive our bodies of subsistence, and create a time in reverent prayer, laying all our requests before the Father in that state it will bring the Peace of God in overwhelming abundance.
Jesus is near, He is reaching out His hand. Knowing His presence may take a bit of sacrifice on your part. Seek the Lord in all you do. He will make Himself known.
~AMEN~