Session 3: The Call

Session Overview

Creedal Statement

Coming soon.

Key Elements

• Key Passage - Luke 5:1–32
• Scripture Memory - Give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the nations. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wonders. Psalm 105:1–2
• Catechism - Q: Who is responsible for gospel witness? A: Called.

Introduction

But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus—the ministry of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Live more with Christ, catch more of His Spirit; for the spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions. The nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missionary we become.

Through his healing and redeeming work, Jesus transforms the lives of those who put their trust in him. The simple faith of a genuine disciple results in a completely new life. Jesus brings healing to the sick, cleansing to the impure, forgiveness to the sinful, restoration to the estranged, and dignity to the ashamed. For those who recognize the hopelessness of their sinful condition and subsequently turn to Jesus in faith, God promises that he will lift the despairing from their seemingly impossible circumstances and establish them firmly in a hopeful and joyful existence—a new life in Christ. When it comes to the power and authority of Christ, no disease is incurable, no problem is unfixable, no wrongdoing is irreparable, no shame is permanent, and no person can remain the same. For Christians, Jesus makes all the difference in the world!

One major difference that Jesus brings to the lives of his followers is a change of vocation. Having tasted the incomparable goodness of Christ and his lavish grace to sinners, believers are energized with an inner compulsion to tell others about Jesus. Although those who have experienced Jesus’ forgiveness are evangelistically propelled in their witness, sharing the gospel is also a duty and calling for all followers of Christ. The call to gospel witness is not limited to a select few. All those who follow Christ are called to represent him to the surrounding world, sharing how their own journey of faith in Christ resulted in their redemption. The Scriptures amply demonstrate this twin calling of discipleship and mission.

The narrative in Luke 5:1–32 depicts Jesus calling people to discipleship and mission. Said simply, the call to Christian discipleship is a call to Christian mission. Opening this story, Jesus performed a miracle for a group of fishermen. At this crucial phase of his earthly ministry, Jesus called Simon Peter (and some other fishermen) to join his mission. Following Jesus, these new disciples would have a change of vocation: a change from catching fish to catching people. Following this call to discipleship, Jesus performed two miracles: he cleansed a leper, and he healed a paralytic man. These healings show both Jesus’ healing power and the way in which personal healing results in evangelistic witness. Concluding this narrative, Jesus called a tax collector named Levi to follow him. This new disciple of Jesus hosted a great feast of morally questionable people in order to introduce them to Jesus.

This narrative instructs us as it relates to Christian witness. It will challenge those who have separated the invitation to follow Christ and the duty to speak about Christ to others. With Jesus at the narrative center, this story will inspire us to make Jesus the center of our conversation, work, piety, and friendships. For all, it will assure us that our work of gospel witness will be activated by the person and work of Jesus. Truly, this story teaches us that our greatest witness comes from a transforming encounter with Christ. The invitation to follow Jesus is a call to tell others about him. May our hearts be tuned, our ears be opened, and our voices be ready to respond to Jesus’ call of discipleship and witness in our own lives and churches.

Biblical Interpretation: Hearing the Word

Study the Text: The Bible is God’s inspired word to his people. Christian disciples mature in the faith when they are grounded in God’s word. In this movement, you will study the basic details of the biblical text.

Observation Questions

Read (or listen to) the whole passage of Scripture. Discuss the questions below for each section of the story. Pay attention to the details of the text to recall what the passage is saying. Use the focus verses to guide your conversation.

Storycraft

Retell the story in your own words, recounting the overall flow of the narrative, the main segments of the story, and the major developments that take place.

Narrative Elements

Story Retell

Theological Dialogue: Discussing the Plot

Explore the Text: God’s word is his trustworthy and sufficient revelation to his people. We grow as Christ’s disciples by rooting our lives in God’s unchanging truth. In this movement, you will explore vital teachings of this biblical passage.

Discussion Questions

Summarize the biblical story. As a community, discuss the following questions. Be attentive to the truths taught in this text. Use the commentary on the next pages to uncover core principles this passage teaches about the Christian faith.

Biblical Commentary

Use this commentary to help you understand the meaning of the text. Refer to the infographic on the next page to think through how narratives work.

Passage Introduction

Key Idea

The invitation to follow Jesus is a commission to represent him to the surrounding world: the call to discipleship is a call to mission.

Passage Overview

When Jesus calls people to follow him, they receive a new vocation along with new life. Intrinsic to the life of a disciple is a call to bear witness to Jesus. When Simon Peter and some other fishermen received Jesus’ call, they became fishers of people. After the leper was miraculously cleansed, Jesus sent him to give a testimony to the priest. After the paralyzed man was powerfully healed, he (and others) praised God, announcing his glory and power. Leaving everything to follow Jesus, and at great personal expense, Levi hosted a great feast in order to introduce others to Christ. The scenes in this narrative exemplify how the call to discipleship is an invitation to mission. Although each person has unique circumstances and relationships in their life, the common call of gospel witness is shared among all believers. Carefully read the following commentary to help you further understand this biblical narrative and explore how to apply the teaching of this passage to your own life and evangelistic witness.

Passage Outline

Coming and Going

For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.

Nature teaches us that every believer should be a soul-winner. It is an essential part of the new nature. We see it in every child who loves to tell of his happiness and to bring others to share his joys.

Introduction

Many people are interested in discovering their purpose in life. Commonly, people strive to discern their life purpose through educational training, personal reflection, or mentoring advice. Even if they do not use the language of “calling,” people intrinsically desire to be invited into something significant and meaningful. People want to be called—that is, invited—into a grand purpose. Some try to fulfill this desire for purpose in their families, occupations, or leisure activities. Certainly, faithfulness in all areas of life is a means to honor God and find fulfillment. But, in and of itself, no relationship, no job, or no hobby can truly satisfy the inner human longing. Only Jesus can infuse in our lives a deep sense of purpose and meaning. As part of an invitation to follow him as his disciples, Jesus calls his followers to bear witness to him in the surrounding world. The life of Christian discipleship and gospel mission involves a life of faith and purpose centered on the person of Christ.

Luke 5:1–32 narrates basic Christian discipleship. In this narrative, Jesus made a miraculous provision of fish for a group of fishermen, calling his first disciples to follow him and join him in his mission as fishers of people. After this, Jesus performed two miracles—cleansing a leper and healing a paralyzed man—highlighting his power to heal and forgive. This narrative highlights this truth: gospel witness is a natural expression of a transformed life. Concluding the story, Jesus called Levi to a life of discipleship. Levi answered Jesus’ call to discipleship and hosted a great feast with morally questionable people. Jesus clarified to Jewish religious leaders that this was the intent of his ministry: as a good physician, he needed to fellowship with the sick and sinners in order to call them to repentance.

While this narrative records spectacular historical events, it also provides a grid by which ordinary Christ followers can accurately understand their call to discipleship. As the narrative unfolds, we will see how each scene provides a helpful instruction for our lives. Like Simon Peter, we all can embrace a new vocation in our Christian life. Like the leper, we can bear testimony to Christ’s transforming work. Like the paralytic, we can glorify God for his work of healing and forgiveness in our lives. Like Levi, we can leverage our sphere of relationship influence to introduce others to Christ. Reflective of Christ’s power and authority, may this narrative mobilize your walk with the Lord Jesus to bear witness to the Lord Jesus!

From Now On: Leaving All to Follow Jesus

Biblical Narrative (Luke 5:1–11)

At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, he called people to follow him. Early on in his ministry, Jesus had large crowds that followed him due to his miracles and teaching. One time Jesus was “standing by the Lake of Gennesaret” while a crowd of people was “pressing in on Him to hear the word of God” (5:1). By the lake, Jesus “saw two boats at the edge of the lake” (5:2). At this time, the fishermen were not in the boat, but were “washing their nets” (5:2). The crowd of people made the space on the shoreline limited. Therefore, Jesus got into one of the empty boats which belonged to Simon (later called “Simon Peter” [5:8]) and “asked him to put out a little from shore” (5:3). Then, Jesus sat down and “taught the people from the boat” (5:3).

After Jesus finished teaching the crowd, he talked with Simon. Specifically, Jesus told Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch” (5:4). Even though Simon addressed Jesus as “Master,” he had some reservations about this instruction. Simon exclaimed that he and the other fishermen “worked hard all night without catching anything” (5:5). Nevertheless, in a profession of both emerging trust, sincere respect, and obedient submission, Simon told Jesus that he would comply. Simon countered his reservation by telling Jesus that he would let down his nets “because You say so” (5:5).

Simon and the other fishermen did what Jesus commanded. When they went out to the deep and let down their nets, “they caught such a large number of fish” (5:6). They caught such a large quantity that “their nets began to tear” (5:6). In fact, their catch was so great that Simon and the other fishermen on the boat “signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them” (5:7). The other boat came to their aid. The catch was extraordinary. When they brought in the catch of fish, they “filled both boats so full that they began to sink” (5:7). Simon and the others likely did not expect to catch any fish, let alone such a massive quantity. Truly, this was a miraculous provision.

Peter rightly credited this amazing feat to Jesus. In humble response, Peter “fell at Jesus’ knees” (5:8). Although Peter was kneeling before Jesus, he requested that Jesus leave his presence. Peter asked Jesus, “Go away from me” (5:8). The reason for Peter’s request was that he confessed he was “a sinful man” (5:8), unworthy to be in the presence of a great miracle worker. Concluding his confession, Peter acknowledged Jesus as “Lord” (5:8). Not only was Simon Peter astonished by this miracle, but all the other fishermen were “astonished at the catch of fish they had taken” (5:9). Some of these were the sons of Zebedee—James and John—who “were his partners” (5:10).

In response to the fishermen’s amazement, Jesus provided a word of comfort and commission. Accepting Peter’s humble response but not wanting their amazement to turn to dread, Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid” (5:10). Then, Jesus explained how their life and vocation would change. Jesus told these fishermen, “From now on you will catch men” (5:10). After this, the fishermen brought their boats to shore. In a profound statement of loyalty and newfound commitment, the fishermen “left everything and followed Him” (5:11).

Biblical Principles

Jesus as Center. Throughout this story, we see Jesus meet people at their point of need. Making abundant provision, Jesus demonstrated his power, authority, and compassion toward needy and broken people. Through an invitation to discipleship, Jesus transformed people, calling them to a new life of discipleship and a new vocation of Christ-centered mission. To a needy crowd eager to hear from Jesus, Jesus taught them from the unconventional stage of a boat (5:1–3). To the exhausted and unsuccessful fishermen, Jesus provided an abundance of fish (5:4–7). To the astonished and contrite Simon, Jesus offered a calming word that there was no need for fear (5:10). Each encounter showed that Jesus was someone worth following. Through unexpected and extraordinary means, Jesus meets people in the ordinary circumstances of their lives. Although every person’s encounter with Jesus will be unique, Jesus is the common center that brings life transformation to many. It is his provision, his teaching, his instruction, his comfort, his call, and his very presence that make all the difference.

In this first scene, it is important to note that Jesus’ provision served as the foundation for his call to discipleship. The detailed description of the miraculous catch—the large quantity of fish, the breaking of the nets, the assistance of their partners to bring in the fish, the filling of both boats, the near sinking of the boats (5:6–7)—all emphasize the abundance and plenty of Jesus’ provision. This bounty, an overwhelming and divine supply of fish, prompted Peter’s recognition of his own unworthiness and Jesus’ true identity (5:8). Importantly, the focus of discipleship is Christ. Jesus calls people to trust him and his sufficiency before inviting them to work for his global purposes. When leaders, ministers, and disciples lose focus on this sequence and start to find their identity and significance in their work for Jesus, the spiritual life can atrophy, and gospel proclamation can wane. Jesus’ invitation to the needy to trust, Jesus’ bounty and provision as Lord, and Jesus’ calming comfort to our fears are what energize missional service. Said shortly, satisfaction in Jesus’ provision is the fuel of gospel witness.

Discipleship and God’s Word. Jesus ministered to crowds (5:1–3) and individuals (5:4–11). Jesus did not ignore the crowds for the sake of individuals, and he did not focus on individuals to the neglect of the crowds. To crowds and to individuals, the truth of God’s word is central to the work of ministry and the life of discipleship. Like Simon Peter, who responded to Jesus’ instructions with a submissive “because You say so” (5:5), so does each disciple live a life of faith by trusting in the divine word. Jesus teaching the crowds “the word of God” (5:1; cf. 5:3), giving fishing instructions to Simon (5:4), and pronouncing a word of simultaneous comfort and vocation (5:10) all highlight the importance of God’s word as authoritative and binding in the life of a disciple. Disciples not only trust in God’s word, but they also become proclaimers of God’s word to the surrounding world. In this way, the life of discipleship is a call to obedient trust in God’s word as a foundation for the Christian life and witness.

Full Devotion. Further, the life of a disciple involves full commitment to Christ. Initially, Jesus called Peter to do something that most fishermen would object to based on their experience. To go out fishing after a night of not catching any fish and to try to do so in the daytime (the night was usually the best time to fish) would both be questioned by most fishermen (5:4). Profoundly, Peter’s submissive response showed his trust and commitment to Jesus (5:5). After the miracle, Peter knelt before Jesus, demonstrating his devotion, humility, and affirmation of Jesus’ identity (5:8). Moreover, Peter and some other fishermen “left everything and followed Him” (5:11) as a sign of full commitment to Christ. These details of the narrative highlight the very important fact that disciples are called to complete devotion to Christ. Notably, Peter’s change from calling Jesus “Master” (5:5) to confessing him as “Lord” (5:8) highlights Peter’s discovery that Jesus is more than a mere teacher or leader; he is a divinely appointed authority over life and faith. As such, Jesus is worthy of full and complete surrender. Such is the call to the life of discipleship.

Change in Vocation. A profound detail in the opening scene of this biblical narrative is the vocational change that Jesus brought to Peter and his fishing compatriots. Jesus not only addressed Peter’s astonishment (5:9) with the words “do not be afraid” (5:10), but he also reoriented Peter’s vocation (5:2–5) with a new life purpose. Jesus captured this change in vocation by these words: “From now on you will catch men” (5:10). While it may be that Peter fished subsequent to this story, the point of this announcement is that Peter’s primary work would be “catching people” for Jesus rather than catching fish for food or income. Peter’s primary vocation would not be focused on his own survival, but on the advance of the gospel. Peter’s call to discipleship was a call to a new vocation, recalibrating his life to God’s purposes in the world.

Go and Show: Bearing Testimony to Jesus’ Healing

Biblical Narrative (Luke 5:12–16)

After calling Peter (and some of the other fishermen) to a life of discipleship and ministry, Jesus ministered to people in the area. Jesus’ ministry and miracles were not limited to those with sustainable vocations. One day, Jesus was “in one of the towns” (5:12), and he met a social and religious outcast, " a man … who was covered with leprosy" (5:12). When the leper saw Jesus, the marginalized man “fell facedown” (5:12) as a sign of desperation, humility, and distress. Responding to Jesus similarly to Simon Peter (cf. 5:8), this man presented himself before Jesus with great lowliness and admission of his troubled condition. Making a request that epitomized both his own need and his confidence in Christ, the leper “begged” Jesus to heal him. Specifically, the diseased man said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean” (5:12).

Indeed, Jesus was willing to cleanse the man. In response to this distraught plea, Jesus “reached out His hand and touched” the sick man (5:13). As Jesus did this, he also told the man, “I am willing … Be clean” (5:13). At that moment, a miracle happened: “Immediately the leprosy left him” (5:13). Jesus gave instructions to the newly healed man. Speaking to the healed leper, Jesus told him to “not tell anyone” (5:14). This command could have been directed at limiting Jesus’ increased fame in a way that would draw untimely attention to his ministry and perhaps speed up his crucifixion. Or, it could have focused the man on validating his healing before the priests, before he would be allowed to speak to others. Either way, the command to silence is not complete silence because Jesus commanded the healed man to “go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing” (5:14). This act was to be “as a testimony to them” (5:14) to verify the legitimacy of his healing, and therefore, validate the legitimacy of Jesus’ authority and power.

Even though Jesus charged the healed leper to silence, “the news about Jesus spread all the more” (5:15). This spreading report caused a lot of people to seek after Jesus. As a result, “great crowds came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses” (5:15). In a display of power and mercy, Jesus responded to the needs of many. However, Jesus did not spend all of his time performing miracles of healing. Often, Jesus “withdrew to the wilderness to pray” (5:16). In this way, Jesus demonstrated compassion to people while he maintained communion with God.

Biblical Principles

Neediness. In this second scene, we again see Jesus meet the needs of a man in desperate straits. As in the earlier scene, an encounter with Jesus dramatically transformed this man’s existence (and future prospects). This man had a severe skin disease and requested that Jesus make him clean. The man’s case of uncleanness was severe, as he was “covered with leprosy” (5:12). Plagued by an unclean condition, this man had a skin condition that marginalized him religiously, economically, and socially. As Jesus provided abundantly for the frustrated fishermen, he now provided miraculous cleansing for an unclean man. Through Jesus’ commanding word, he liberated the man from his hopeless condition. The healing of this unclean leper teaches us about Jesus’ power to cleanse those who place their faith in him. This is a fundamental principle of Christian discipleship: disciples follow Jesus, the one who has cleansed them from their unclean condition.

Importantly, the leper’s response to Jesus mirrors some of Peter’s actions in the earlier scene. The leper fell on his face before Jesus (5:12) while Peter fell at Jesus’ knees (5:8). Both addressed Jesus as Lord (5:8, 12). These responses were prompted by seeing Jesus (5:12) or seeing his miraculous work (5:8). Again, Jesus was the center of each man’s transformation. In the healing of the leper, the whole episode revolved around a man who “came” to Jesus through a desperate plea for help (5:12). His encounter with Jesus resulted in life transformation. In humility, the man “fell on his face” (5:12). In desperation, he “begged” Jesus to help him (5:12). In faith, he asked Jesus to make him clean (5:12). In surrender, he submitted himself to Jesus’ will (5:12). Disciples approach Jesus with lowliness, neediness, trust, and submission. The life of a disciple is not a statement of one’s personal spiritual strength; it is rather an affirmation of one’s weakness and desperate need for Christ.

Cleansed. In response to a humble spirit of faith, Jesus acted on behalf of the leper. In this narrative, Jesus demonstrated his compassion for the man, his willingness to help, and his authority to heal (5:13). By stretching out his hand to touch the man, Jesus identified himself with the man’s suffering. By expressing his willingness to heal the man, Jesus showed his compassion toward the man’s condition. By speaking a word of cleansing on the man, Jesus demonstrated his power to cleanse this suffering man. The Jews of the day would have thought that touching a leper would defile a person. With Jesus, the opposite took place. Jesus’ compassionate touch and authoritative word removed this man’s uncleanness. Inasmuch as followers of Christ recognize their desperate condition and plead for Jesus’ mercy, disciples also receive Jesus’ cleansing in their lives.

Report. After Jesus cleansed the man, he told him not to speak about this to others. Instead, he instructed the man to “go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing” (5:14). This command was an invitation for this cured man to follow the instructions of the Law (cf. Leviticus 14:2–32). While obedience to God’s commands is not the origin of discipleship (people only become believers by faith in Christ), those who genuinely trust in Jesus will live a life of obedience. Another reason Jesus gave this instruction was to offer a “testimony” (i.e., literally a witness or proof) to the priests. So, Jesus’ command for the man to be silent about his cleansing was not a complete command for silence. Importantly, even though Jesus commanded this man to only go to the priest, reports about Jesus “spread all the more” (5:15). Large crowds of people sought after Jesus. People wanted to experience Jesus’ healing power and hear his authoritative word. After experiencing the cleansing of Jesus, disciples are called to bear testimony (i.e., proof) of their healing to others. The life and testimony of each disciple is part of an ongoing and ever-broadening witness of Christ, the one who cleanses and the one who heals.

Filled with Awe: Glorifying God for Jesus’ Forgiveness

Biblical Narrative (Luke 5:17–26)

On another day, when Jesus was teaching a group of people, some Jewish leaders—“Pharisees and teachers of the law” (5:17)—were listening to Jesus. These Jewish leaders had come “from Jerusalem and from every village of Galilee and Judea” to hear Jesus teach (5:17). In addition to his ministry of teaching, “the power of the Lord was present for [Jesus] to heal the sick” (5:17). People were coming to Jesus to hear his teaching and to be healed from their diseases.

While Jesus was teaching, “some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat” (5:18). Believing that Jesus had the power to heal this man of his unfortunate condition, these men wanted to bring the disabled man to Jesus. The gathered crowd made their access to Jesus difficult. The caring friends of this paralyzed man “could not find a way through the crowd” (5:19). Persistent in their efforts, the men “went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd” (5:19). In an act of great ingenuity and love, the men lowered the paralyzed man “right in front of Jesus” (5:19). Jesus took notice of this act of creativity, commitment, and courage. Jesus “saw their faith” and told the man that his “sins are forgiven” (5:20).

The Jewish leaders were uncertain about Jesus’ words. The scribes and Pharisees questioned Jesus’ claim to forgive sin. Considering his claim a religious offense, they thought Jesus spoke blasphemy. They knew that “God alone” can forgive sin (5:21). Here, Jesus offered a paralyzed man forgiveness in front of a watching crowd. Jesus knew what the religious leaders were thinking. He was fully aware of their reluctant and resistant heart (5:22). Jesus confronted their skepticism and proposed a test that would validate his claim of deity and ability to forgive sin. Jesus asked them whether it was easier to offer forgiveness for a person’s sins or to cause a paralyzed person to walk (5:23). Obviously, the claim to forgive sins was a claim of deity, but the ability to heal a paralyzed man would be unavoidably obvious. As a result, Jesus spoke to the paralyzed man and commanded him, “Get up, pick up your mat, and go home” (5:24). Jesus said this so that the people would know that Jesus, the Son of Man, has “authority on the earth to forgive sins” (5:24). Jesus’ words had an immediate effect on the paralyzed man. At that very moment, the paralyzed man stood up, picked up his mat, and went home (5:25). After the man experienced Jesus’ healing word and as the man obeyed Jesus’ authoritative word, he went home “glorifying God” (5:25). The people who witnessed this event were “taken with amazement and glorified God” (5:26), and they were “filled with awe” (5:26). The testimony of the watching crowd was a witness to Jesus’ power, authority, and identity. On that day, they had “seen remarkable things” (5:26).

Biblical Principles

Healing and Forgiveness. The third scene in this narrative shows Christian witness as an outgrowth of Jesus’ ministry of healing and forgiveness. So great was the condition of this paralyzed man that he relied upon his friends to carry him around (5:18). No doctor could resolve his predicament. His paralytic condition confined him to a life as a beggar. For this man, life was full of barriers, obstacles, and impediments. As the story unfolds, the popularity of Christ made entrance into the house a great challenge (5:19). Disenfranchised and marginalized, the man faced a literal barrier of people between himself and Jesus. Nevertheless, with faith and creativity, his friends finally found a way to get the man before Jesus. When this happened, Jesus first forgave the man’s sins (5:20) and then healed the man of his condition (5:24). The priority was clear: Jesus was first concerned about the man’s heart. Jesus used the miracle to show that “the power of the Lord was present for [Jesus] to heal the sick” (5:17) and that “the Son of Man has authority on the earth to forgive sins” (5:24).

Inasmuch as disciples are recipients of Jesus’ provision (cf. 5:4–7) and cleansing (cf. 5:13), so disciples are recipients of Jesus’ healing (5:24–25; cf. 5:17) and forgiveness (5:20–21, 23–24). Upon receiving Jesus’ merciful pardon and powerful healing, disciples embrace Jesus as Savior and Redeemer. Whether or not people receive a miraculous healing like the paralyzed man, all who come to Jesus can have their sins forgiven. And this forgiveness remains a distinctive mark for all disciples of Christ.

Bearing Witness by Glorifying God. Out of the overflow of their transformed lives, disciples bear witness by praising God for the good and amazing things he has done in their lives. Fundamentally, evangelistic testimony is an act of praise. After the miraculous healing, the healed man went home “glorifying God” (5:25). Not only did the man express his praise to God, but the people were “taken with amazement,” “glorified God,” and “were filled with awe” (5:26). The healing of the paralytic was not only an act of compassion for the paralyzed man (5:25) and a sign of power to the watching crowd (5:26) but also a pointed response to Jesus’ critics (5:21–24). Just as Christian witness can lead others to the mercy of a gracious God, so too can the witness of Christ’s extraordinary deeds challenge those who oppose the faith. As an act of worship, Christian witness is an expulsive announcement of the “remarkable things” (5:26) that we have witnessed and experienced God perform in our lives and in the world. Essentially, worship is a form of witness. The call to worship God as disciples of Christ is a call to bear witness to God’s power, mercy, and extraordinary deeds to the watching world.

Bringing People to Jesus. Not to be neglected in this story are the men who brought the paralyzed man to Jesus. These friends of the paralyzed man also exemplify witness. An act of intentionality, determination, and conviction, the friends of the paralyzed man “tried to bring him inside to set him before Jesus” (5:18). When they encountered the impassable crowd (5:19), they did not abandon hope. They persevered in the work and found a creative solution to bring their friend before Jesus (5:19). As Jesus interpreted it, all of the friends’ work was an act of faith (5:20). They believed that Jesus was able to heal their friend. Such a childlike and earnest faith motivates gospel witness. One’s personal faith cannot “count” for the faith of another, but genuine faith can lead to the genuine transformation (healing and forgiveness) of another because of its compulsion to “lay people before Jesus.” Christians who genuinely trust in Jesus will express their faith by introducing others to Jesus. This is not an easy task. Many obstacles hinder it. Nevertheless, with endurance, commitment, and fortitude, Christ followers persist in bringing others into proximity with Jesus in hopes that they will experience his healing and forgiving power.

Follow Me: Sinners Calling Sinners to Follow Jesus

Biblical Narrative (Luke 5:27–32)

After miraculously healing the paralytic, Jesus “saw a tax collector named Levi” (5:27). At this time, Levi was “sitting at the tax booth” (5:27). Giving him an invitation to be one of Jesus’ disciples, Jesus told Levi, “Follow me” (5:27). Much like Peter and the other fishermen (cf. 5:11), Levi responded in obedience to this command: “Levi got up, left everything, and followed Him” (5:28). Having accepted the invitation to follow Jesus, Levi leveraged his sphere of influence to introduce others to Jesus. In order to do this, “Levi hosted a great banquet for Jesus at his house” (5:29). Many people attended this feast, with Jesus being among the guests. Socially, Levi seemed to be a well-connected man. In particular, he hosted “a large crowd of tax collectors” and “others” at the meal (5:29). The Jewish religious leaders did not respond favorably to Levi’s choice of guests. Many associated tax collectors with an immoral lifestyle and an opportunistic vocation. Therefore, the religious leaders—the Pharisees and scribes—“complained to Jesus’ disciples” (5:30). Considering themselves models of religious purity, this Jewish elite asked, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” (5:30).

Jesus responded to their criticism in a way that validated Levi’s feast and upheld it as a means of gospel ministry. Speaking a proverb of spiritual insight, Jesus told the Jewish leaders, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick” (5:31). In essence, Jesus asserted that a doctor’s fitting place is among the sick, not those who are healthy (or perceive themselves to be healthy). In saying this, Jesus affirmed the call of Christians (and Jesus himself) to be around the spiritually sick. In addition to this validation of a ministry ethos, Jesus was also criticizing those who erroneously view themselves as righteous. Clarifying his mission to the world, Jesus asserted that he had “not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (5:32). Being at a feast with sinners is an opportunity to share the message of salvation and repentance.

Biblical Principles

Discipleship and Following. This final scene about Levi is a powerful depiction of Christian discipleship and an explicit call to evangelistic work. As with the other scenes of this story, Jesus met people in the context of their lives. He met Peter the fisherman on the shoreline, a leper in the city streets, a paralyzed man on a mat, and Levi “sitting at the tax booth” (5:27). Jesus gave a short and pointed invitation for Levi to follow him. In response, Levi left everything and followed Jesus (5:28). This expression of complete and total commitment to Jesus parallels the earlier response of Simon Peter and the other fishermen (cf. 5:11). Importantly, the act of following Jesus involved leaving certain things behind. While this story did not provide the specific detail of what “leaving everything” meant, the comprehensive nature of this statement is distinctly instructive for the Christian life and work. In essence, when disciples enter into a relationship with Jesus, they embrace Jesus as their ultimate source of life. As a matter of faith, disciples fully identify themselves with Christ and break ties with the older ways they used to find identity, security, and meaning.

Company with Sinners. As a disciple, keeping company with Jesus radically changes the way we keep company with others. Levi is an exemplar of this transformation. As “a tax collector” (5:27), Levi’s vocation would have made him a social outcast. Moreover, he would have likely associated with people who lived morally questionable lives. After becoming a follower of Christ, Levi hosted “a great banquet for Jesus at his house” (5:29). Bringing together “a large crowd” of his friends—“tax collectors” and “others”—Levi tapped into his relational sphere of influence to bring others to Jesus. Just like the faith-filled friends of the paralyzed man made a great effort to bring their friend to Jesus (cf. 5:18–20), so Levi assembled a great feast to introduce his friends to his new Lord and Master.

The work of evangelism is highly relational. Importantly, Levi’s feast was a time of table fellowship. Especially in that culture and time, the people one ate with suggested one had a close relationship with them. People were very particular about those with whom they ate (and, in some cases, particular about what food they ate), since this represented an inner sphere of relationships. Jesus not only affirmed Levi’s feast but also embraced the characterization of his own ministry as one that keeps company with “tax collectors and sinners” (5:30). The call to follow Jesus and renounce one’s old life does not mean isolating oneself from one’s relationships. Rather than celebrating fellowship with sin, disciples keep company with the ungodly in order to introduce them to the Savior. Disciples fellowship with the sick to help them meet Jesus as their healer and physician. Disciples maintain relationships with sinners to lead them to repentance. Disciples spend time with those far from God in order to bring them into a restored relationship with God through Jesus. As an example to us, Levi exemplified “catching men” (cf. 5:10) as he played host to sinners and tax collectors.

Great and Large. This highly relational approach to ministry can lead to a great impact. Noteworthy in this scene is the “great banquet” with a “large crowd” (5:29). In the earlier parts of this narrative, we witness Jesus provide a “large number of fish” (5:6) for struggling fishermen. After healing the leper, “great crowds” (5:15) followed Jesus. Additionally, people responded with awe over the “remarkable things” (5:26) Jesus had done when he healed the paralyzed man and forgave his sins. In short, Jesus makes a great difference in the lives of his followers. His healing, forgiveness, and summons to discipleship are life-transforming. Jesus calls his followers to use their relational spheres to introduce people to Jesus. Amazingly, upon Jesus making a great difference in our own lives, he invites us to a gospel ministry that can make a great difference in the lives of others. The work is difficult and not without critique (cf. 5:21, 30), but it is deeply rewarding for all who have experienced transformation in their own lives.

Come and Go Summary. Another theme in this story relates to the direction people come and go from Jesus. Demonstrating the connection between the call of discipleship and evangelism, people came to Jesus as his followers and were sent from him as witnesses. Peter, some other fishermen, and Levi followed Jesus (5:11, 27–28). The leper came to Jesus and fell on his face when he saw Jesus (5:12). Some men brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus (5:18–19). Creating a constant flow of visitors, crowds gathered around Jesus (5:15–16) to the point where some traveled great distances to see Jesus (5:17). While some came as skeptics, others came to Jesus in genuine faith. Those with genuine faith recognized the need to leave old ways behind to follow Christ (cf. 5:11, 28). Truly coming to Jesus involves seriously leaving one’s old life (5:32). Responding to Jesus with a simple trust, believers begin their life of discipleship by a faith response of coming to and following after Christ.

In this narrative, Jesus also sent people away from him. Jesus sent the cleansed leper to give testimony to the priest (5:14). When Jesus healed the paralyzed man, he sent him home, which resulted in the man praising God (i.e., bearing witness) as he went home (5:25). Following Jesus involved going out to bear witness to him to the surrounding world. The four scenes in this biblical narrative provide a balanced depiction of discipleship and witness. Those who come to Christ and experience his transforming provision, cleansing, healing, and forgiveness have a calling to speak about their transformation to others.

Although this narrative depicts Christian discipleship as coming to Jesus and Christian witness as being sent out into the world, the entire call to discipleship begins with Jesus’ own coming. Quite clearly in this narrative, Jesus came to Simon and the other fishermen (5:2). Jesus initiated the conversation with Simon (5:4) and the paralyzed man (5:20). Additionally, Jesus “went out and saw a tax collector” with whom he gave an invitation of discipleship (5:27). Summarizing the purpose of his ministry, Jesus said that his mission on earth was to call sinners to repentance (5:32). Jesus came to earth on a mission (5:32) and pursued individual people. As followers of Christ, Jesus’ mission defines our own evangelistic witness. As Jesus initiated interactions with others, so should we proactively initiate conversations with others about Jesus. Certainly, coming to Jesus in faith also involves our deployment to gospel proclamation. But this double call also highlights the importance of our proactive presence among sinners, keeping company with the lost, the sick, and the sinful as we call to them to faith in Christ and repentance from sin.

Conclusion

Each scene in this story highlights the call to follow Christ as an invitation to gospel witness. Encountering Christ as Lord, Simon Peter (and some other fishermen) followed Jesus into a new vocation of catching people. A healed leper was commanded to give his testimony to the priest. This not only fulfilled the process of the law, but it also provided an opportunity to share about Jesus’ healing power. As Jesus performed an extraordinary work of healing and forgiveness for a paralytic man, many (including the healed man) announced God’s praise. Levi’s call to discipleship prompted him to host a great feast to introduce others to Christ. Every disciple is invited to this kind of life.

The call to follow Christ is a come-and-go invitation. Offering forgiveness, redemption, and healing, Jesus invites people to place their faith in him, leaving everything to come and follow him as Lord and Savior. Upon entering into the life of a disciple, Jesus calls each disciple to bear witness to Jesus. He sends us out to go and share the gospel with others. Like the people in this biblical story, our witness is fueled by the transforming work of Christ in our lives. We witness about Jesus and what he has actually and powerfully done in our lives. With the call of discipleship and witness as one and the same, we embrace our calling to speak about Jesus as a means of faithfully following him.

Session Synopsis

SESSION 3 SYNOPSIS
Missional Call of Discipleship	In this passage, we learn about the missional nature of discipleship. Jesus called his first disciples after he performed a fishing miracle for them. After this, Jesus cleansed a leper of his unclean condition. Jesus commanded him to attest to the priest that he was healed. News of Jesus spread far and wide. Jesus healed a paralytic man and forgave his sins, evoking responses of amazement and worship. Jesus called a tax collector named Levi to follow him. This new disciple hosted Jesus at a meal with other tax collectors and sinners. Jesus explained to the Jewish leaders who criticized him that he came for the sick who needed healing. This narrative highlights the interconnectedness of following Christ and bearing witness to Christ. A summary of this story’s principles is outlined below.
Call to Discipleship	The call to discipleship is a call to follow Jesus (5:11, 27). To follow Jesus involves a full commitment to Jesus as Master (5:5) and Lord (5:8), even leaving behind our old ways of life and old commitments (5:11, 28).
Following Jesus in Humble Faith	Jesus meets people in their moment of need (5:3–5, 12, 18–20). Jesus not only came for physical needs but, more importantly, for the spiritual needs of the forgiveness of sins (5:31–32). To follow Jesus is an act of humble faith (5:20). Jesus miraculously brings provision (5:1–11), cleansing (5:12–14), healing (5:15–17, 24–25, 31), and forgiveness (5:18–24) in the lives of those who come to him in childlike trust.
Great Impact and Critique	Jesus makes a great impact and transformation in the lives of people. The reference to large crowds (5:15, 29), large provision (5:6), great response (5:9, 25–26), and a great banquet (5:29) highlight the importance and impact of Jesus in the lives of people. Following Jesus and serving Jesus will bring critique and skepticism (5:21, 30).
Discipleship as a Call to Mission	Following Jesus involves a change in life purpose and vocation (5:10, 28). The call to discipleship is a call to mission, witness, and outreach (5:10–11, 27–29). The call to discipleship and mission begins with Jesus’ initiative (5:2, 4, 20, 27, 32). Jesus calls people to follow him (5:11–12, 15–19, 27–28, 32) and commissions them into the world to serve him (5:10, 14).
Ministry and Spheres of Influence	Jesus ministered to large crowds (5:1–3) and individual people (5:4–11). Jesus’ disciples used their sphere of influence to introduce others to Jesus (5:27–29). Jesus did not share in sin, but he spent time with sinners, outcasts, and unclean people who needed his healing and forgiveness (5:13, 30–32).
Natural Spreading of News	People who experience the life transformation that Jesus brings want to bring other people to Jesus (5:18–19). During Jesus’ ministry, the word about him naturally spread as people were healed, cleansed, forgiven, and transformed (5:15).
Worship and Witness	Bearing witness to Jesus is an act of worship. Telling others about Jesus is a natural work of bearing testimony (5:14), spreading news (5:15), and inviting friends (5:29). Witness is an act of amazement (5:9, 26) and worship (5:25–26) of the remarkable things God has done.

Personal Reflection: Entering the Story

Apply the Text: The word of God is binding and authoritative, the only reliable guide for faith and godliness. True disciples submit themselves to God’s word. In this movement, you will apply God’s word to your lives.

Reflection Questions

Encourage one person to share a testimony about how this story has impacted them so far. Use the reflection questions to examine your life in light of this biblical passage.

Spiritual Practice

Gospel Gathering

Think through the relational spheres in which God has placed you. Plan a meal or feast where you can invite people you know with the deliberate purpose of introducing them to Jesus. Consider doing this as a family or as a church.

Ministry Practice: Rehearsing the Script

Minister the Text: God’s word is living and active. Through God’s word, the Christian community is edified. In this movement, you will utilize the biblical passage to minister to other believers and build them up in their faith.

Application Questions

Look at the infographic below. Use the questions to think about how to minister this text to other believers.

Missional Outreach: Publicizing the Truth

Witness the Text: The Bible is a message of God’s gracious salvation to the world. In word and deed, God’s people proclaim the good news of the gospel. In this movement, you will use this biblical passage to reach out to unbelievers.

Strategy Questions

Reflect on the infographic below. Consider how you can use this passage to witness to the surrounding world. Use the suggested ideas to prime your imagination. Then, put together a plan to share this passage with unbelievers, Afterward, reflect on this mission experience.