Luke 5:1-32

What do you think of when you hear the word holiness? Maybe it’s a monk maybe it is the pope maybe it is an angel maybe it’s a nun maybe you think about Jesus?

What is holiness particularly as it relates to God?

1. completely separate from his creation

2. pure and utterly incorruptible nature.

When you think about holiness You probably don’t think about fishing trips, infectious skin diseases, involuntary skylight installation, and hanging out with thieves drunkard’s and traitors

But welcome to Luke chapter 5

We are going to look at how being exposed to the holiness of Jesus affects people, and hopefully learn how exposure should affect you

1. Jesus’ Holiness shows us who we really are and how we need to change

Luke 5:1–11 (ESV)

On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.

Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

Fishing explanation:

This is not Jesus first interaction with Peter, We have already seen jesus heal his mother in law so Peter was aware of him and had even seen him do miracles.

Jesus, a carpenter, and traveling preacher tells a lifetime pro-fishermen what to do.

And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

So Peter sees Jesus as Fully separate and different from him. His eyes are opened to the holiness of Jesus and his holiness humbles and motivates him to act in obedience.

Take note : Jesus does not tell peter it’s ok. He says Don’t be afraid, here’s your new job.

It is beautiful that God uses sinners to reach sinners

reverse fishing - instead of dragging fish to their death it is showing spiritually dead humans the way to life

Peters example:

Acknowledging the authority of Jesus. Not full understanding, or FULL faith but he actively obeys .

humility

sacrifice, willingness to give up everything

So

We move from that miracle to another, and another outworking of the holiness of Jesus.

II. Jesus’ holiness reaches us in the mess and cleanses us.

Luke 5:12–16 (ESV)

While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy.

a word on leprosy

“infectious skin disease”

Lev 13:45-46

45 “The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ 46 He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp. 

We dont know exactly what it was

God’s law was to protect the people

as with almost everything The jewish people had taken God’s good protective law and used it as a reason to look down on them AND equated their illness with sinfulness

And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”

He believes Jesus can heal him but struggles to believe that he is worth healing

That is a whole sermon right there. So many people I encounter see themselves as too far gone, or not worth saving.

Look at Jesus response.

And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him.

And he charged him to tell no one, but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

If we are holy like Jesus. Our holiness should not be scared of messy people and messy situations but we should be willing to enter those situations and show the transforming love of Jesus

III. Jesus’ holiness does not tell us our sin is no big deal but it addresses sin and makes forgiveness possible

Luke 5:17–26 (ESV)

On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal.

And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus.

Ancient architecture

And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

only god can fully and completely forgive

A human can only forgive in part. They can say “it’s ok” but eternally speaking it not ok.

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.”

And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”

Jesus is outright displaying that he is God.

I forgive

I do what only God can do.

Forgiveness can not be visually seen so he uses the miracle to validate the message.

IV. Jesus’ holiness calls a sinner to action: flee (fear and hostility) or repent.

Luke 5:27–32 ESV

After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything, he rose and followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. 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.”

What he’s not saying “You guys are righteous and do not need a savior”

What he IS saying “why would i spend my time hanging around you people who think you are doing pretty good and feel like you don’t need me?”

Jesus didn’t come to hang out!

Jesus didn't come to chill with the proud and tell them what they wanted to hear

Because he is holy and perfect loving holiness can not tolerate sin HE CAME TO CALL SINNERS TO REPENTANCE.

If encountering Jesus makes you feel comfortable in your sin, you are not encountering the real Jesus

If encountering Jesus makes you feel good about yourself compared to other people, you are not encountering the real Jesus

If encountering Jesus does not force you to act, you are not encountering the real Jesus

The real Jesus came to this earth lived a HOLY life, announced and showed that he was God, and announced and showed that sin was a BIG problem but he was a big solution.

So What?

So as you encounter Jesus’ Holiness, What are you going to do?

Do you see your sin and need to deal with it?

Repent and believe, you will be forgiven.

Are you following Peters example?

Acknowledging the authority of Jesus. Not full understanding, or FULL faith but he actively obeys .

Humility

sacrifice, willingness to give up everything