(Click here to read Luke 5)
Luke 5:30-32
"And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying,
'Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?' And Jesus
answered them, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but
those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.'"
(ESV)
Jesus demonstrated and taught a way of life entirely contrary from the
patterns of power and control that emerge from a society dependent upon
them. In Luke 5:33-39, he calls this the "new wine" and the "new
wineskin". Jesus says that both must be replaced. He came to change the
hearts and minds of individuals, yes. But he also came to change the
corrupt systems and patterns that keep those persons bound.
Romans 12:2 says this about living according to the gospel of Jesus' Kingdom:
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of
your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and acceptable and perfect."
(ESV)
The powers of this present age cannot conceive of the radical nature of
this departure from the world's patterns. Our world teaches us to seek
to strive upward, to gain more wealth, power, and control. But Jesus
lives a downwardly mobile life. God's son came as an impoverished baby
to an occupied and internally displaced people, yet he gains a
reputation for seeking out and spending time with people even less
privileged than himself. What possible benefit could be had from
identifying with traitors and rebels, the world would wonder. But Jesus
gives his life for the benefit of others, contrary to all common sense
regarding the values of this world's systems.
The religious elite would not understand why any respected Rabbi would
risk their own orthodox reputation by claiming to forgive a powerless
paralytic (vv17-26). Yet Jesus opposes these religious authorities
publicly, calling a powerless man forgiven, and then healing him by the
power of the Holy Spirit (v17). The religious leaders make a show of
protecting orthodoxy, but they're really only protecting their power and
position. Jesus makes himself of no position, and gives power to the
powerless.
The law of Moses in which Jesus was raised forbids a good Jew from even
touching someone with leprosy. But when a leper humbly submits his
request that Jesus should heal him, Luke makes sure to mention that it
is by touching the leper that Jesus makes him well. The law says that
this would make Jesus unclean. But Jesus touch makes the leper clean.
This is a new wine and a new wineskin. Jesus touches the untouchables.
Against all odds, this backwoods rural working-class man has become a
popular Rabbi (teacher), the rockstars of his day (vv1-3). Children were
raised to memorize the Torah until they were ten years old. Only the
best would be chosen to continue their education and memorize all of the
Hebrew scriptures. The rest would join their fathers in the family
trade. Only the very best would go on to become the disciple of a Rabbi.
The rest, though better educated, would return to their father and
learn the family trade.
Not all trades were equally respected. Carpentry was honest and valuable
work. Jesus was fortunate. But shepherds and fishers were a despised
lot, working odd shifts, and smelling terrible most of the time.
Though the custom was for the most elite and successful of intellectuals
to approach a Rabbi to be their disciple, Jesus breaks from tradition
to ask Peter, James, and John, fishers who presumably had already been
passed over and passed on to their family trade, to be his disciples
(Luke 5:4-11) It is no surprise that they so quickly accepted the call
to leave their undesirable trade to become the disciple of the town's
most popular Rabbi.
And Jesus goes even deeper under the mainstream to call his next
disciple, Levi (vv27-32). As a tax collector, Levi was one of the most
despised and hated of his society. The reputation of tax collectors was
that they were thieves and traitors, working for the very empire that
oppressed their own family and neighbours. Yet, Jesus called one of them
to be among his closest company.
Not only this, but Jesus did not shy away from Levi and his associates.
Upon asking Levi into his inner circle, he joins him at a house party
with a high enough profile to gain the attention of the proper religious
mainstream.
Jesus gained a reputation for keeping company with partying sinners. He
gave power to the powerless. He touched the untouchable. He taught the
rejects.
His way is contrary to the patterns of this world. His new Kingdom changes everything, inside and out.
+
v3
– He just hopped in? That’s funny.
vv8-11
– In Luke, people recognize him, obey, and follow after he does
miracles.
v28
– Levi followed without a miraculous sign.
vv36-39
– The New Covenant.
v3
– He just hopped in? That’s funny.
vv8-11
– In Luke, people recognize him, obey, and follow after he does
miracles.
v28
– Levi followed without a miraculous sign.
vv36-39
– The New Covenant.
