The Context of Miracles and Spiritual Realities

The Sabbath may not be an issue for you. You might not have run into individuals who insist that you observe the Sabbath as a day of rest either for your salvation or your sanctification. But those kinds of people definitely exist. I seem to attract them wherever I go. Wherever I am pastoring, I always get phone calls or confrontations from somebody who demands that I observe the Sabbath.

You may not have understood the benefit of the biblical teaching on the Sabbath. You may never have been challenged to hold a wrong view of the Sabbath, or you may never have had the opportunity to know the real view of the Sabbath.

There are specific reasons why Luke brings up the Sabbath. He also brings up fasting, sandwiching those concepts in the middle of miracles Jesus was performing. He was healing individuals and calling his disciples, naming the 12 who would be his specific apostles. At first glance, it might seem like a random hodgepodge of topics: calling of disciples, miracles, fasting, the Sabbath, and more healings.

But there is a method to why Luke provides these examples of Jesus' history. Luke's point was to prove to Theophilus not just the historical account of Jesus, but to instruct him in the things he had learned, giving certainty specifically as to who Jesus is and what Jesus does. That's the big issue of the Gospel of Luke: that you may have certainty concerning your salvation, certainty concerning the message of Jesus Christ.

What we saw in the miracles of Jesus is that there was greater significance to those miracles. Jesus intended to show, demonstrate, and prove something greater than simply that he was a miracle worker. His miracles proved that he has the authority to forgive sins.

Luke's point in chapter 5 relates the miracles, calling of disciples, fasting, the Sabbath, and parables together. These are physical demonstrations of spiritual realities, connecting with fasting and the Sabbath.

Review of Key Miracles in Luke 5

Recall the miraculous load of fish in chapter 5, verses 1-11. Career fishermen saw Jesus give them a boatload of fish. They could have thought Jesus was good for their career, helping them find fish when there were none. But Peter's response exposed his sinfulness, confessing he was a sinful man. Jesus said, "You will be fishers of men." There was greater significance to that miracle than the miracle itself. It would be wrong to see the miracle and expect miracles; it is right to expect forgiveness from sin. When you see Jesus performing miracles, the proper response is to be aware of your own sinfulness and desperate for the forgiveness he has authority to give.

Jesus cleanses a leper in verses 12-16, unheard of in the first century. He tells the healed man, in accordance with Leviticus, to go to the temple and offer the sacrifice corresponding to healing from leprosy. This demonstrated not just physical cleanliness, but ritual and moral cleanliness. The sacrifice pointed to greater significance in what Jesus could do as the ultimate sacrifice of God.

Your sins are forgiven you.

He heals a paralyzed man in verses 17-26, emphasizing the miracles' greater significance. The only reason he healed him was to demonstrate authority to forgive sins. He saw their faith and said, "Your sins are forgiven." The scribes and Pharisees objected, asking who can forgive sins but God alone. Jesus replied that they may know the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.

In verses 27-32, Jesus calls Levi (Matthew), a tax collector, the scum of society. With two words, "Follow me," Levi leaves everything. It takes far more than two words for us, and we leave far less. The Pharisees grumbled about eating with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus said:

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.

He uses physical elements to illustrate spiritual realities. He came not for those who think they don't need a Savior, but for sinners.

Fasting: A Physical Demonstration of Loving Christ

There's a thread running through this: Jesus shows signs to some but not others. He performs miracles for those who grasp the point—not hoping for miracles, but hopeful for Christ. Those who don't get signs want benefits without Jesus, rejecting him. Fasting and the Sabbath represent the system they're rejecting him for.

It's a temptation to be excited about forgiveness without excitement for Jesus—a modern Christianity believing in forgiveness but not caring about having Jesus as Lord, requiring total change.

In verse 33, disciples of John and Pharisees fast often and pray, but Jesus' disciples eat and drink. Fasting looks more ascetic and religious. Jesus responds:

Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.

This exposes their traditional system. The point is Christ. Fasting demonstrates valuing the bridegroom over food. With the bridegroom present, no need to fast—you can show affection physically. Now that Jesus has ascended, we fast to demonstrate Jesus is more important than food.

The Pharisees fasted not for Jesus, despite his presence. If Jesus isn't more important than food—which he demonstrated in the wilderness by prioritizing our salvation—don't fast; it's Pharisaical. Jesus is more important to us than food, as he was to us more than food for 40 days.

Parables of the New Garment and New Wine

Jesus tells parables describing physical realities pointing to spiritual ones.

No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old.

Jesus is the new garment; Pharisees are the old. He doesn't mix with their understanding of how to get to God. The point isn't to fix the old garment—it's done. He's replacing false Pharisaic Judaism, in harmony with the Old Testament. Access to God is having Christ.

No one puts new wine into old wineskins... The new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, 'The old is good.'

New wine (unfermented) expands in fermentation; old skins burst. Pharisees are old wineskins; their system spoils Christ. New wine in new skins preserves joy. People prefer old wine for intoxication's numbness over Christ's refreshing satisfaction. Huge indictment: disciples don't fast because they have Christ.

Jesus: Lord of the Sabbath

Fasting and Sabbath were hijacked by Pharisees for legalism, elevating themselves. Legalism is public antinomianism hiding private sin.

On the Sabbath, disciples pluck grain in fields. Pharisees say it's unlawful. Their rules were extreme: avoiding saving a drowning man or regulating bathroom use to avoid "work."

They missed the point: the Sabbath is Jesus Christ. With Jesus, enjoy him—that's the purpose. Trusting God sees Sabbath as opportunity to spend time with him.

Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him, how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him? ... The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.

Jesus references 1 Samuel 21: David ate consecrated bread unlawfully yet was holy. Priests profane Sabbath yet are guiltless. If Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath, he commands what happens. Those with him, though guilty, are innocent—this is justification. Jesus is our Sabbath rest (Hebrews 3-4). I observe Sabbath by believing in Christ, my perpetual rest.

Healing on the Sabbath

On another Sabbath, a man has a withered hand. Pharisees watch to accuse if Jesus heals. Jesus asks:

Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?

They can't answer. He tells the man to stretch out his hand; it is restored. They rage, plotting against him.

Calling the Apostles and Continuing Ministry

Jesus prays all night, calls 12 apostles from disciples: Simon (Peter), Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas son of James, Judas Iscariot (traitor).

With a crowd from Judea, Jerusalem, Tyre, and Sidon (judged cities), people seek healing. Power came out from him and healed them all—signifying authority to forgive sins.

Closing Questions

What do you understand to be true about Jesus? Is he the center of your life, your enjoyment, satisfaction? Do you trust Luke's account for certainty that Jesus is your Savior? Or is there indifference?

If indifferent, other things are more important—temporary pleasures like Tyre and Sidon, ultimately destroyed. Only Christ grants permanent soul satisfaction: himself, bridging the gap with forgiveness.

Do you love Christ's benefits to have Christ, or the idea of Christ but care less about him?