Party Poopers...

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.”(Luke 5:30-32 ESV)
Levi was giving a wonderful party to share with his friends his newfound relationship with Jesus. It was well-attended and going well, when these Pharisees and scribes complained about Jesus' choice of company. They couldn't say they had not been invited, because Jesus had called on them to repent. They were upset because His being there demolished their own view of being right with God. Their self-righteousness was insulted, and they wanted everyone else to be as miserable as they were.

Party Time!!!

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.(Luke 5:27-29 ESV)
How excited are you to know Jesus? Besides giving up a cushy government job to follow Jesus, Levi, aka Matthew, went all out in throwing a big party in his honor. That surfaces some soul-searching: "How well do I follow Jesus? Am I so excitied about my relationship with Him that I want to throw a party to introduce my friends to Him? Do I look at my family and friends with an eye and a heart that says: "I need to tell them about Jesus!" Challenging, indeed.

He's got it all...

And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 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.(Luke 5:21-25 ESV)
Jesus faced questions like this often - questions of authority - Why was He allowed to heal on the sabbath? Why was He allowed to cleanse the temple? Why was He allowed to eat with sinners? Why was He allowed to tell people their sins were forgiven? Why should I listen to what He tells me to do? Because He has all authority - to heal, to forgive to tell us what to do.

Is Jesus listening??? Stay tuned...

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. And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” (Luke 5:17-20 ESV)
This is one of those occasions where we look and listen and wonder if Jesus is really paying attention to us. These men obviously brought their friend to be healed, yet Jesus chooses to give him forgiveness. Is He ignoring us? Don't we often feel that way? Yet He is obviously NOT ignoring, not not listening. He sees deeper; He has better plans for us; He knows what we need and when we need it. We need to stay tuned... and see... and hear... the rest of the story.

Priorities...

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.(Luke 5:15-16 ESV)
As Jesus spoke and people responded, He responded back - by humbly resisting the temptation to bask in the glory of popularity, and withdrawing to the presence of the Father, to stay in tune with His will. What an example for us to follow as we seek to serve Him. We also see the priority of the people - they came first of all to hear, and secondly, to be healed. They knew that what He did was based upon Who He was and what He said. Another example for our own priorities.

Consistency...

While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 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.” (Luke 5:12-14 ESV)
When this leper came to Jesus, he came convinced both that Jesus could heal him, and that He would have the heart to. Like with His other healings, Jesus did not make a spectical: He spoke, and it happened. Maybe not so apparent is how He is consistently obedient. Luke began this gospel showing how Christ was obedient to the Father and his earthly parents. Here again, He shows regard for the Old Testament law on being declared clean from leprosy. He is in every way consistent: consistently powerful, compassionate, obedient, and speaking truth and grace to all who will hear and believe.

How fish bring conviction...

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. (Luke 5:8-11 ESV)
One would think that Peter might have responded with something like: "You are mighty and powerful, unlike any other," but it goes deeper. Like Isaiah he recognizes he is in the presence of a great One, but also that he himself was needy and had failed to trust in Jesus; he is a sinner. It's more than recognizing the power of God; it is realizing that we were made to trust Him. This step of faith is demonstrated in following Him.