Luke 4-5

Editorial Note: Before we begin, I apologize for the mistake made yesterday.  It should have been Luke 3-4 and today’s passage is Luke 5.  However, since we missed out Chapter 4 yesterday, we will read it today.

Jesus? Jesus… Jesus. Jesus!

How do you call upon the name of Jesus?

As we read about Him more and more, we’ll discover more and more heartfelt ways to call His name: in admiration, in awe, joyfully, pleadingly, with gratitude, with remorse, on an overflow of love, on our knees.

Let’s read our passage for today and discover for ourselves how we can call upon the name of our Sovereign Saviour, Lord and King.

Bible Passage:  Luke 4-5

Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. (Heb 2:17-18)

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Heb 4:15)

Do we call out to Jesus when we are being tempted? Do we realise what the author of Hebrews was trying to tell us when he wrote the two verses above?

The devil, at the time when Jesus was the weakest after eating nothing for forty days, attacked Him with his full arsenal. You’ll realise these were the same tricks he pulled on Eve and you’ll also realise the devil has gotten craftier in twisting the Word of God to suit his purpose.

However, Jesus was prepared and not surprisingly, did not fall for any of the wiles of the devil.

Was He hungry?

Definitely, the Bible said so.

Was He tired?

Most probably. Logic tells us if He was fully human as to feel hungry, it would also make sense that He would be tired after being tempted for forty days. Besides, the record of this incident in Matthew and Mark both stated that angels came and ministered to Him; most probably to strengthen Him after His gruelling encounter.

Jesus also did not have a sudden epiphany whereby the Words of the Scripture rushed into His brain. Earlier in Luke 2, we are told He grew in wisdom and stature. In other words, He had to put in the effort to learn, remember and consider the Scripture.

In other words, there was no special protection or shortcuts that Jesus made use of.

So, does He understand the difficulties we go through and the troubles we face?

Absolutely.

More importantly, His understanding is also accompanied with a compassionate heart and a loving hand; willing to accept sinners and cleanse the leper.

In these two chapters alone, we see how He

• healed Simon’s mother-in-law (Mark tells us He took her by the hand and lifted her up)
• laid hands on every one of those who came to Him with various diseases and healed them
• told Simon not to be afraid and accepted him as a disciple
• put out His hand and touched a leper to heal him
• healed a paralytic by forgiving him of his sins

Isn’t He simply awesome?

Today, when you kneel down to pray and say, ‘In the Name of Jesus I pray’, remember the amazing and compassionate High Priest whose name you’re calling upon.