King James Version, with Nii Okai's journal notes · 14 notes
1And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
2And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
3And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
4Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
5And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
6And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
7And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
8When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
9For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
10And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
This verse explains why they left all and followed after him.
In the other accounts, Matthew and Mark, Jesus calls them to follow him, and they forsook all and did.
But here in Luke we see that the miracle of multiplied fishes and overwhelming success in business made them know that he was no man, and they were secured in him.
So they followed him to become fishers of men.
11And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
12And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
13And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
14And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
15But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.
16And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
In the midst of the crowd and ministry success, so called, he kept the main thing the main thing, i.e. his relationship with the Father.
17And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judæa, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
An eerie replay of when he was 12 years old and was surrounded by the teachers of the law and doctors.
Now he himself was of full age and the same continued.
They had heard of a new and great prophet, a man rumoured to be possibly the Christ.
And they, being self-appointed custodians of the laws of God in a sense, came to watch for themselves.
18And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
19And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
Jesus had such mastery of the spirit... In the midst of skeptics and doubters he still performed miracles.
Some would usually say people's doubts poison the atmosphere.
20And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
21And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
Not really, Jesus could forgive sins... Indeed, later his disciples could forgive men their sins — a power given them by Christ.
22But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
23Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
24But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins,( he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.
Refer to earlier notes... The proof that Jesus had power to forgive was that he got results.
25And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
26And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.
27And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.
28And he left all, rose up, and followed him.
This was the common response of the apostles to Jesus... They forsook all, rose 🌹 up and followed him.
I am interested in knowing the conversion story of Levi — what miracle compelled him to follow the master.
29And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.
Levi was a man of substance. To have thrown such a great feast.
I'm sure he wanted to impress his friends, that guess who my special guest is for today.
None other than Jesus, the acclaimed Messiah and miracle worker 👷.
And he left all and followed Jesus.
What am I leaving to follow Jesus?
30But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
These were there to keep the status quo, so they kept a close eye on Jesus and killed him eventually.
And Jesus knew it, yet indulged them.
31And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
32I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
It is said that bad company corrupts good character, but then how did Jesus protect himself from being corrupted...
Indeed, he ended up affecting them positively.
Reason being:
1. One, he did not keep them as company.
2. He was completely and full in himself. He did not need to impress anyone for someone else to influence him... Was it their riches etc. that he desired?? No, he had no such intentions.
Jesus was larger than life itself... How can the creator be influenced by the creation?
33And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?
34And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?
Jesus the bridegroom 🤵, adorned in beautiful apparel and splendor. The church ⛪ his beautiful bride 👰.
Such were the descriptions Jesus gave of himself.
Though simple-looking and with simple associations, he was full of grace and truth.
35But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
The physical presence of Jesus was such strong cover for the disciples. They were protected by him.
But when he left, Jesus sent down another cover in the person of the Spirit, but he worked and had to be related in a different fashion than the physical Jesus, since he was Spirit.
The disciples fasted often after Christ left.
36And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.
37And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.
38But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
39No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.