5th December – Luke 5: “His Powerful Presence”
Hey friends, welcome to Day 5! It’s December 5th, and we’re diving into Luke chapter 5. We’ll read it at the end together, and by the way, David Skinner will be reading the chapter for us tomorrow, and if you’d like to read a chapter of Luke for the video podcast this month, send us an audio recording of you reading and we’ll edit the KJV words into the video. But today is chapter 5 —
And the whole chapter is built around one blazing truth: wherever Jesus goes, His power shows up; and it demands a response. If yesterday was Jesus throwing the first punches and in His victorious battle with the devil, today is Him walking through Galilee and leaving everyone stunned by the sheer power of His presence.
Luke gives us five rapid-fire scenes, five different locations, and in every single one the power of the Lord is present to heal, to save, and to change everything.
- Christ’s Power by the Lake (vv. 1-11) The crowd is pressing on Jesus by Lake Gennesaret just “to hear the word of God” (v. 1). He climbs into Peter’s boat, teaches, then tells these exhausted fishermen, “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught” (v. 4). Peter says, “Master, we’ve toiled all night and took nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net” (v. 5). One net later, both boats are sinking with fish. Peter falls down at Jesus’ knees: “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (v. 8). Jesus answers, “Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men” (v. 10). Result? They forsook all and followed Him, right there by the lake.
- Christ’s Power in the City (vv. 12-16) Next we see Him in a city, and a man full of leprosy falls at His feet: “Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean” (v. 12). Jesus touches the untouchable and says, “I will: be thou clean” (v. 13). Immediate healing. The news explodes so much that great multitudes come “to hear him, and to be healed of their infirmities” (v. 15).
- Christ’s Power in a House (vv. 17-26) Now Jesus is teaching in a packed house. Pharisees and doctors of the law are there from every village. Verse 17 says, “And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.” Four friends rip open the roof and lower a paralysed man right in front of Jesus. Jesus looks at him and declares, “Man, thy sins are forgiven thee” (v. 20). The critics mutter, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Jesus answers, “That ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins… Arise, take up thy couch, and go” (v. 24). The man leaps up, whole.
- Christ’s Power on the Street (vv. 27-28) Jesus walks down a street, sees Levi (Matthew) at the tax booth, and says two words: “Follow me” (v. 27). Levi “left all, rose up, and followed him” (v. 28). Boom. Life changed on an ordinary street.
- Christ’s Power at a Table (vv. 29-39) That night Levi throws a huge feast for Jesus, full of tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees sneer, “Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?” Jesus answers, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (v. 31-32). Then He gives them the parables of the new garment and new wine: My kingdom doesn’t patch up the old system; it’s explosive, joyful, brand-new life.
Five different locations. Five displays of undeniable power. And every time, people have to decide what they’ll do with Jesus.
- By the lake, fishermen fall at His feet and follow.
- In the city, a leper is made clean.
- In the house, a paralytic walks out forgiven.
- On the street, a tax collector leaves everything.
- At the table, religious experts walk away grumbling.
Same Jesus. Same power. Totally different responses.
Friends, the power of the Lord is still present today. It is present to help, present to forgive, present to call you out of whatever boat, city, house, street, or table you’re stuck at.
So here’s the question Luke 5 is asking every one of us:
When Christ’s powerful presence shows up in your life today, what will your response be?
I pray it’s the one Peter gave: “At Thy word, Lord… I’m all in.”
See you tomorrow for Luke 6. Grace and peace! 🙏
