Peter’s response to his miraculous catch of fish is interesting. He falls to his knees before Jesus who worked this miracle and exclaims: “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” But Jesus had not come to cast sinners away; he had come to draw them to himself. He wanted to extend grace to Peter and through him to show grace to others so that he would ‘catch them’ for God. What follows are three accounts of what this ministry of grace entails. The story of the leper (leprosy was associated with moral impurity) shows us that we, if we are willing, can go to people who feel as unclean as Peter felt and declare them ‘clean’ in Jesus’ name. The most important thing about the paralytic man’s encounter with Jesus (the next story) is not that he was enabled to walk but that his sins were forgiven. He also was made clean. Perhaps the most unclean of all people in those days were the tax collectors. They were corrupt officials; traitorous Jews who worked for the Romans and exploited their own countrymen. Yet again (in the next story) we see Jesus declaring the unclean ‘clean’. Jesus did not come for the clean but the unclean, to make them clean. Jesus declared: “Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8). The pure in heart have access to God but only the unclean have access to Jesus and it is through him alone that we are made clean and gain access to God. Do you feel unclean? If so, then Jesus is looking for you.
Bring your stained life to Jesus and ask him for cleansing.
Read Luke 5:1-39
