Luke 5 | Emmanuel Has Come
Today’s reading made me giggle.
I can just picture Simon and the others struggling in the boats when they caught all that fish. Simon was so astounded at the miraculous catch that he dropped to his knees in humble awareness of the One who stood before Him: this was no ordinary man.
But casually, or at least that’s how it struck me today, Jesus says— no worries, Simon. You’ll be catching more than just fish from now on! And just like that, Simon, James, and John leave everything and follow Him, suddenly no longer fishermen but fishers-of-men. Jesus the ultimate fisher-of men, of course. He, Himself just made a nice catch!
But Jesus isn’t just a people-catcher. He’s a life-changer, in all the best ways.
Besides the disciples’ shift in life goals, consider the leper. The life of a leper was solitary, bleak, and painful. But Jesus made him clean, whole, and fit for society.
Levi, the tax-collector (and therefore most likely an outcast), happily found himself with a new start and a house full of other would-be outcasts as he hosted a great feast together with this One who called Him.
And the paralytic? He came to Jesus on a stretcher, but left on the strength of His own two legs.
Yet, there’s more to it than just healing people’s infirmities and changing up their professions for the fun of it. Jesus came for a bigger, deeper purpose. He came to call people to repentance; leaving their old ways and walking in new ones.
But who on earth can forgive sins except God alone?
No one. No one at all. Which is what makes all of this so astounding, and confirms Peter’s earlier revelation: this was no ordinary man at all.
This was Emmanuel— God with us.
The Savior of the world was here at last, in the flesh, doing what He came to do.
He’s changed my life. Has He changed yours? This Christmas, let’s “go tell it on the mountain”— Jesus Christ is born!
“‘She will bear a son, and you shall call his name, Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’” Matthew 1:21
“…’Who can forgive sins, but God alone?’ When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, ‘Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, “Your sins are forgiven you,” or to say, “Rise and walk"? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’ — he said to the man who was paralyzed—‘I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.'” Luke 5:22-24