Following Jesus: Miracles, New Life, and a New Way (Luke 5:1–39)
In Luke chapter 5, we see some amazing moments from the early ministry of Jesus. He performs miracles, calls His first disciples, heals the sick, and challenges old traditions. Through it all, we learn that following Jesus means stepping into something new and life-changing.
A Boat, a Big Catch, and a Big Call (Luke 5:1–11)
Jesus was teaching near a lake, and the crowd was so large that He got into a boat to speak to them. The boat belonged to a fisherman named Simon (later known as Peter). After speaking, Jesus told Simon to go out deeper and cast his net again—even though Simon had been fishing all night and caught nothing.
Simon obeyed, and suddenly, the nets were overflowing with fish! It was a miracle. Simon was amazed and humbled. But Jesus told him not to be afraid. Instead, He invited Simon and his partners, James and John, to follow Him. They left everything behind—their boats, nets, and fish—to follow Jesus.
Healing the Man with Leprosy (Luke 5:12–16)
Later, a man with leprosy, a serious skin disease, came to Jesus and asked to be healed. Jesus didn’t just speak to him—He touched him, which no one else would dare do. The man was instantly healed.
This showed not only Jesus’ power, but also His kindness and love for those who were outcasts. As more people heard about Jesus, crowds came to Him—but He often slipped away to pray in quiet places.
The Paralyzed Man and the Faith of Friends (Luke 5:17–26)
One day, while Jesus was teaching in a crowded house, four men brought their paralyzed friend to Him. But they couldn’t get through the door, so they climbed up on the roof, made an opening, and lowered their friend down in front of Jesus!
Seeing their faith, Jesus forgave the man’s sins and then healed him. The man stood up and walked home! Everyone was amazed and praised God. But some religious leaders were upset that Jesus claimed the power to forgive sins.
Jesus Calls Levi, the Tax Collector (Luke 5:27–32)
Jesus then met a man named Levi (also known as Matthew), a tax collector. Tax collectors were often disliked because they were seen as dishonest and worked for the Romans. But Jesus simply said, “Follow Me,” and Levi got up and left everything to follow Him.
Levi even threw a big dinner party for Jesus, inviting his fellow tax collectors and others. Some religious people complained that Jesus was spending time with sinners. But Jesus answered, “I didn’t come to call people who think they’re good. I came to call sinners to change their hearts.”
A Question About Fasting (Luke 5:33–39)
Some people asked why Jesus’ followers didn’t fast like other religious groups did. Jesus replied with simple examples. He said you don’t patch old clothes with new fabric, and you don’t put new wine into old wineskins.
The point? Jesus was bringing something new—a fresh start, a new way of life. The old ways couldn’t hold it.
Conclusion: Jesus Brings Change
Luke 5 shows that following Jesus is more than just listening to Him—it’s about letting go of the old and stepping into something new. Whether it’s leaving behind a fishing boat, finding healing, being forgiven, or letting go of old traditions, Jesus invites everyone into a life filled with purpose, love, and transformation.
Are you ready to say “yes” to that invitation?
Luke 5:1-39 (WEB)
5:1 Now while the multitude pressed on him and heard the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. 2 He saw two boats standing by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 He entered into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”5 Simon answered him, “Master, we worked all night and caught nothing; but at your word I will let down the net.” 6 When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 They beckoned to their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. They came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.” 9 For he was amazed, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had caught; 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will be catching people alive.”11 When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything, and followed him.12 While he was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man full of leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.”13 He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.”Immediately the leprosy left him. 14 He commanded him to tell no one, “But go your way and show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing according to what Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.”15 But the report concerning him spread much more, and great multitudes came together to hear and to be healed by him of their infirmities. 16 But he withdrew himself into the desert and prayed.17 On one of those days, he was teaching; and there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by who had come out of every village of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was with him to heal them. 18 Behold, men brought a paralyzed man on a cot, and they sought to bring him in to lay before Jesus. 19 Not finding a way to bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop and let him down through the tiles with his cot into the middle before Jesus. 20 Seeing their faith, he said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”21 The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”22 But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, answered them, “Why are you reasoning so in your hearts? 23 Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, arise, take up your cot, and go to your house.”25 Immediately he rose up before them, and took up that which he was laying on, and departed to his house, glorifying God. 26 Amazement took hold on all, and they glorified God. They were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today.”27 After these things he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and said to him, “Follow me!”28 He left everything, and rose up and followed him. 29 Levi made a great feast for him in his house. There was a great crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining with them. 30 Their scribes and the Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?”31 Jesus answered them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”33 They said to him, “Why do John’s disciples often fast and pray, likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink?”34 He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them. Then they will fast in those days.”36 He also told a parable to them. “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old garment, or else he will tear the new, and also the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 No one puts new wine into old wineskins, or else the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled and the skins will be destroyed. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved. 39 No man having drunk old wine immediately desires new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’ ”