11/13/08 Thursday                                                              Luke 5:1-16

Jesus-The Lord of All

            The state of California is in conflict.  Today, Scott Eckern, the artistic director of the California Musical Theatre in Sacramento, was forced to resign because he was found supporting the “yes” on proposition 8 campaign.  He gave a $1000 to the campaign.  His donation was discovered by Marc Shaiman, the composer of “Hairspray.” Mr. Shaiman, an openly gay man, urged artists and theater workers across the country to boycott the theater.  The GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender) community in arts and music inundated the theatre with protest calls.  As a result, Mr. Eckern had to resign.  This conflict of gay marriage is getting up-close and personal.

            There is one interesting fact about Mr. Shaiman.  He claims that he loves God and that God makes him gay.  Yet his belief is contradictory to the Biblical teaching.  God who demands men to leave homosexual lifestyle cannot be the very God who makes them gay.  There is evidence in the Bible that men can leave the gay lifestyle.  In 1Cor 6:9-11, we find that homosexuals in the days of Paul left the lifestyle when they believed in God.  What makes the difference then and now?  We will learn from the scripture today regarding the empowerment that allows people to accomplish extraordinary things.  

Peter (vv.1-11)

            Peter originally followed Jesus.  But then he left because he had to care for his family.  Even the healing of his mother-in-law did not persuade him to go back to Jesus. After all, high fever was still a healable disease.  No one should give up their lifestyle for some explainable miracle.  Moreover, fishing was Peter’s livelihood, and he had to eat and to provide for his family.

            Jesus came to show Peter who He really is.  Peter first called him “master” as a respective term.  After he witnessed the miraculous power of Jesus, he called Jesus the Lord.  What is the difference between master and Lord?  Masters are worldly overseers; they make sure you follow rules and give out your daily output.  When you see masters, you see work.  But Lord is the overseer of the universe.  It is the name of God in the Old Testament.  When we see the Lord, we have reverence.  His presence demands our submission of will and action.  When Peter recognized the lordship of Jesus, he abandoned his livelihood and followed Jesus. 

The Leprous Man (vv.12-16)

            Leprous man could not approach people in Jesus’ day.  Doing so would mean severe punishment up to death.  Yet when the leprous man recognized that Jesus was God, he risked his life to come and to get healing.  Jesus healed him.  This is important because even medical technology of today cannot heal leprosy.  What makes the difference then and now?  The difference is in the person of Jesus.  Jesus is God, and he can heal people both then and now.  Without Jesus, there is no hope then and now.   

            Homosexuals of today do not see Jesus as the Lord of universe and the Lord of their life.  That is why they persist in their lifestyle and go up against the will of God and people who oppose their lifestyle.   Before Christians judge them too harshly, we need to examine ourselves.  Are we submitting ourselves to the will of God?  Do we cherish our lifestyle over the Lord?  Are we the Peter before the miracle or after the miracle?  

Meditation:  The conflict of submitting to the Lordship of Jesus is ongoing.  Name one thing that you will not submit it to Jesus.  Start making conscious decision in submitting it to Jesus today.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that I will submit to Jesus as the Lord of my life.  I ask that I will deny the desire of my flesh.  Break me, mold me, and use me for your sake. In the precious name of Jesus I ask, Amen.