If someone wanted to be a blessing to you, would you tell them to depart from you?  If so, then why?  That’s a subject well worth looking into.  I believe there’s more here than meets the eye with the casual look we usually offer.  In fact, it may be exactly why many of those seeking healing have not yet seen the manifestation of it.

In Luke chapter five, Jesus was about to speak to a multitude, and what happened here might help you get a better understanding of healing and the tender mercies of God.  I’ll share with you what the LORD has shown me in this chapter.

Luk 5:1  And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
Luk 5:2  And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
Luk 5:3  And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
Luk 5:4  Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
Here we see Jesus had borrowed the use of Peter’s boat, and Jesus wanted to show His appreciation.  It is written, “A workman is worthy of his hire”, so Jesus was simply wanting to pay Peter for the use of his boat.

Luk 5:5  And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
I’m sure Jesus knew they had caught no fish, so knowing fish was what they needed, Jesus arranged for the fish to come to their NETS.  The word “NETS” is plural, that means Jesus was telling Peter to let down more than one net.  However, please note that Peter only wanted to half-heartedly obey Jesus, and put out THE NET, that is, ONE net.  Let me ask you; how many times have we half-heartedly obeyed God’s instructions, thinking we know better than He does?  Hmmm?   I’m helping you here….

Luk 5:6  And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
Now, had Peter obeyed Jesus and cast out NETS, he not only would have had more fish, but the net they used would not have broken.  Talk about the one that got away?  Lots of fish got away that day because Peter didn’t let down the NETS like Jesus told him to.

Luk 5:7  And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
Here’s coming something you really need to pay attention to….

Luk 5:8  When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
Jesus had just given Peter two boatloads of fish for the use of his boat while He taught the multitudes.  And Peter is saying DEPART FROM ME?  Most of us would have said, Jesus, I’m never going to turn loose of you for a moment, it’s You and me forever.  But why did Peter say that?  It was because He saw Jesus as Holy, and himself as a sinful man.  Notice this, Jesus did NOT say to Peter, DEPART FROM ME FOR YOU ARE A SINFUL MAN.  Are you wondering why?  I did, and asked the LORD to open my understanding about this situation.  Jesus loves the sinner, He just doesn’t love the sin.  Therefore, He came to earth to be the perfect sacrifice for the payment of our sin debt.  And even before Jesus went to the cross, He was nothing but good, gracious, and loving to sinners.  He didn’t rub people’s sins in their face.  Peter KNEW he was a sinner, and even told Jesus so.  Yet Jesus blessed him, and even called him to be one of His disciples.  And here, Peter saw himself unworthy of Jesus’ love.  And many today want to be healed, but in their own way, go about crying out UNWORTHY!  UNWORTHY!  DEPART FROM ME JESUS, FOR I AM AN UNWORTHY SINNER!
Being around sinners didn’t seem to bother Jesus.  He saw sinners as precious and valuable to Himself and His heavenly Father.  Why do you think Jesus healed all the sick who came to Him?  Don’t you think there were some sinners among the crowds?

Luk 5:9  For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
Luk 5:10  And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
Jesus saw Simon Peter in a way that he did not see himself.  Jesus didn’t see “sinners”, but rather “disciples” who would be changed into BELOVED OF GOD, and FAMILY, who would be empowered with the power of God, not many days hence..

Luk 5:11  And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
What did they see in Jesus that convinced them that all they had done up to that day was worth NOTHING compared to what Jesus was doing?  And by the way, who got all those fish in the boats, for it says they forsook all and followed Jesus?  Well, for one thing, Jesus was not rubbing their faces in their sins like the Scribes and Pharisees of the day did.  Peter and the others had a “sin-consciousness”.  They just didn’t just wake up one day and decides they were “sinners”, it had been driven into them by the Scribes and Pharisees.  And those same “Scribes and Pharisees” of today are determined to make sure YOU are mindful you are a sinner, and unworthy of God’s grace.  And that includes healing.  But that isn’t what JESUS taught or did, is it?  So, “What would Jesus do?” He would show mercy and heal the sick, regardless of their “sinner status”.

Luk 5:12  And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
The lepers were the “worst of the worst sinners”.  So…..although Jesus COULD heal him if He wished, would He?  Touching a leper made YOU unclean as well, so what could Jesus do?  For if He touched this sinner, this unclean leper, this outcast from society, He would be unclean as well, right?  Nope!  Jesus didn’t leave the leper unclean, HE CLEANSED HIM!  And Jesus will clean YOU up and make you pure, if you will ditch the mentality that you are unworthy of God’s grace.  Anything YOU do does not qualify you for grace anyway, it’s only by God’s decision that you are made whole and worthy.  Did you get that???  It’s GOD’S will you be made whole, it was HIS decision to reach out to you with grace and healing, not anything else!

Luk 5:13  And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
Luk 5:14  And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
Luk 5:15  But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.
Luk 5:16  And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
Luk 5:17  And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
Luk 5:18  And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
Luk 5:19  And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
Luk 5:20  And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
Luk 5:21  And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

Yep, there you have it…God has forgiven that man’s sins and caused him to be made whole.  What did the man do to deserve it?  Nothing.  He just showed up, and not even on his own, mind you, someone else carried him there. In fact, there is no evidence here to suggest the man with the palsy even asked Jesus to forgive his sins, yet Jesus forgave them.   So when you’re trying to reason yourself into being healed, remember this: don’t tell Jesus to depart from you like Peter did.  Instead, latch onto Him and don’t let go.  He isn’t worried about you being a sinner.  He took care of your sin problem on the cross and made forgiveness available to “whosoever will”. .  HE and HE ALONE made you worthy to receive His mercy and grace.  Just like Jesus said to the leper, I will: be thou clean. He has provided your opportunity for healing and forgiveness of sins. Don’t send Jesus away!