Inspire Bible for Kids Luke Sampler - Book - Page 26
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LUKE 4:43
Devotion
Fishermen
Jesus wanted to teach his
disciples to fish for what?
a. trout
b. people
c. sharks
Some of Jesus’ disciples were
fishermen. Jesus met them by
the Sea of Galilee, a large lake
surrounded by fishing towns.
Jesus called Simon Peter,
James, and John to leave their
fishing business and follow him.
He wanted them to be fishers of
people. He planned for them to
tell others about salvation and
pull people to the Good News
just as a fisherman pulls in fish
with a net.
When Jesus began looking for
men to follow him, he didn’t go
to the Temple. He didn’t go to
the schools. He walked along
the Sea of Galilee among the
fishermen. He didn’t look for the
richest or most intelligent men.
People like that may have had
pride in themselves or wanted to
share Jesus’ fame. Jesus called
ordinary people who left their
work to follow Jesus without
looking back.
Don’t worry that God won’t
call you to do something special
for him if you don’t get the best
grades or aren’t one of the
better athletes. Don’t expect
him to overlook you if you don’t
have many friends and you sit
alone at lunch. That’s not how
God works. He chooses people
who are willing and who will give
him the glory for what he does
through them.
Focus Verses: Luke 5:10-11
The Whole Story: Luke 5:1-11
him not to leave them. 43 But he replied, “I must preach the Good News of the
Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent.” 44 So
he continued to travel around, preaching in synagogues throughout Judea.*
The First Disciples
One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee,* great
crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. 2 He noticed two
empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were
washing their nets. 3 Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon,* its
owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the
crowds from there.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it
is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”
5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch
a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” 6 And this time their
nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their
partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and
on the verge of sinking.
8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees
before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.”
9 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the
others with him. 10 His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were
also amazed.
Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing
for people!” 11 And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed
Jesus.
5
Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy
12 In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy.
When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging
to be healed. “Lord,” he said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make
me clean.”
13 Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!”
And instantly the leprosy disappeared. 14 Then Jesus instructed him not to
tell anyone what had happened. He said, “Go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those
who have been healed of leprosy.* This will be a public testimony that you
have been cleansed.”
15 But despite Jesus’ instructions, the report of his power spread even
faster, and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their
diseases. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.
Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
17 One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious
law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every
village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s
healing power was strongly with Jesus.
18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They
tried to take him inside to Jesus, 19 but they couldn’t reach him because of
the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they
lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of
Jesus. 20 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins
are forgiven.”
21 But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who
does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”
4:44 Some manuscripts read Galilee. 5:1 Greek Lake Gennesaret, another name for the Sea of
Galilee. 5:3 Simon is called “Peter” in 6:14 and thereafter. 5:14 See Lev 14:2‑32.
Answer: b
