Advent Devotional: The Gospel of LukeSample

*Written by Reuben Hagar

The fifth chapter of Luke is a series of encounters that different residents of Galilean towns have with Jesus. Some of those who meet Jesus – a group that includes fishermen, Pharisees, tax collectors, and outcast lepers – experience miracles. Some are offended and outraged by what they hear. Some are materially or physically blessed by the Messiah. Throughout the different exchanges, though, a pattern that emerges throughout Luke 5 is the change in direction in people’s lives once they meet Jesus.

Simon (later known as Peter), James, and John are the first in Luke 5 to experience Jesus, who teaches the crowds from their boat and helps them catch an astonishing number of fish in previously empty waters. Verse 11 says that after Jesus tells them they will catch people instead of fish, the three men "left everything and followed him.” Similarly, when Levi, a tax collector, meets Jesus, his response in verse 28 is the same; he, too, immediately leaves everything and follows the Savior.

Two other men in the chapter experience Jesus' goodness differently. The man with leprosy (from verses 12-16) and the paralyzed man (from verses 17-26) have both spent a lifetime facing barriers and hindrances. Because of their physical conditions, neither have the power or control to change the direction of their lives. A moment of faith with Jesus completely alters their futures, what they are capable of, and what they can achieve.

Many of us have – in the process of coming to Beijing – made very significant changes to our lives. We left behind our families, home countries, cultures, languages, and routines, leaving the safety and the comfort of the familiar. In coming to Beijing, the direction of your life absolutely changes course. Do you remember how much thought you gave the decision to come here? Can you recall how much planning, communication, packing, praying, or worrying you may have done? It takes a substantial amount of effort to make a major change to your life path.

But for Simon, Levi, the leper, and the paralyzed man, all it took was a moment, a conversation, an afternoon with Jesus Christ to make that absolute change. The text does not tell us that they organized a final goodbye party with their fishermen friends or finished up last-minute tax collection paperwork before leaving everything to follow Jesus. There was no hesitation or deliberation as the leper and the paralyzed man were seeking out Jesus for healing. The power of Jesus to change where your life is headed is absolute, as long as you can leave everything and go with him faithfully.

Giving up your life to follow Jesus is no small thing. From the day we are born, we invest in the lives we have been given, making choices and efforts to develop ourselves and make a better future. To throw that away is difficult, especially if we give up everything for Jesus. It may seem easier to leave most things behind and follow Jesus. But hanging on to the old way of living means you are forfeiting the absolute change that Jesus can make in your life. This absolute change cannot happen without absolute faith and absolute surrender.

As we enter this season of celebrating Christ’s birth and time on earth, reflect on what may still be holding you back from leaving “everything” behind to follow Jesus. What do you fear to let go of? What is there that you are struggling to say goodbye to? Give it to Jesus; what he has to offer – healing and sharing his love – is always better. Jesus is calling; he wants absolutely all of you so you can experience all of him.

Let’s pray: Dear Jesus, thank you for taking on human flesh and coming down to us so that we can have a chance to follow you. Thank you for loving me so incredibly that you would leave heaven for me, suffer and die for me, and do anything to offer me salvation. Help me see what parts of my life I have not yet surrendered to you, the parts that stop me from completely following you with how I speak, act, think, and live. I pray that the Holy Spirit can convict me in those areas so I can leave everything and follow you. I pray that I can experience the joy and peace that comes from following you with all my heart, mind, and strength. I love you. Amen.

Reflection questions:

1. What parts of my life do I hesitate to give up to follow Jesus with all my heart? What do I hang on to?
2. In order to leave everything and follow Jesus completely, is there a conversation I need to have, a lifestyle change I need to make, a restriction I need to put on my behavior or thinking?
3. Have I contemplated and truly reflected upon the benefits of absolutely surrendering to Jesus?