Weekly THIS AND THAT for March 28, 2010: Discipleship

This and That:
Discipleship


Often, in order to teach, Jesus conducted Himself in a very similar way to what the people saw in their Rabbis’. For example, He called disciples. So did other Rabbis. But He did it a bit differently. The difference is enormous. For example, a typical Rabbi waited for someone to come and ask, “May I follow you?” The Rabbi examined him to see if he had the knowledge of scripture, and the passion, and the interest, and the commitment. All of those things are important. Jesus went out and found people who, apparently, didn’t even think they were qualified to be a great Rabbi. And He said, “Come follow me.”

Imagine the feeling of a Peter, who’s fishing, thinking, “I could never be a disciple.” And, Jesus comes along, and says, “Come, follow me.”

In Galilee, how were disciples called? Well, young men went to school; they studied scripture; they reached the age of discipleship (usually late teens), and they would find a Rabbi, and ask if they could follow him. This inquiry meant that this young man was going to try with every ounce of energy he has, to try and walk with God, exactly the way this Rabbi models God for him. As already noted, Jesus went out, and instead of waiting for young men to come to Him, He went out and did the choosing. He did this because He wanted the chosen person to know that “if you are my disciple, it is I who chose YOU!” Then, the Rabbi would take his disciples for a period of time. These disciples would live with him every, single, day to hear his teaching of the general audience of the area (so that they could learn to teach), but, especially to watch how he followed God’s teaching; how he obeyed God; how he lived faithfully to God’s teachings, so that they could model themselves after this person.

In Jesus’ culture, children went to school from about age 5-12. It was usually connected with the synagogue. The main focus in the school, taught by one of the teachers of the law, was the text of scripture. There was a real attempt to memorize part of the scripture. If one had demonstrated unusual gifts, and commitment to learning, one was encouraged to take your first Passover, before age 20. So, we know that Jesus went to first Passover at age 12. This implies that by age 12 already, He is an outstanding student of scripture. But, it’s at the next level, somewhere 12-15, most young men would begin to learn the family trade. But the few with unusual talent would try to find a great Rabbi with whom to connect. So, they would learn to follow the Rabbi, and become Rabbis’ themselves. We know that at age 30, Jesus becomes a teacher. At that point, He begins to call His disciples.

So, with Jesus, we note a similarity with the other Rabbis of His time. That is, when you become like a Rabbi, to the Rabbi’s satisfaction, then, rather than give you a diploma, what the Rabbi would do would be to say: “you go, and make disciples.” So, Jesus walks with his disciples for three years, and at the end of three years, He gathers them together and walks the (Mt. 28) all the way back to Galilee, from Jerusalem, and says to them: now, right here where you learned discipleship, YOU go, and make disciples. Show people how to follow your example, as you have followed the example of Jesus. And this is the jump point for us. Jesus thought they were ready, and filled them with his Spirit. From there, we pick up on the amazing things that happened when they went. These common men that Jesus chose went out and changed the world.

Guess what? Jesus has chosen us! But, once we’re in the game, we are God’s olympians. Saint Paul uses this very analogy. There are many runners in the race, but only one wins the prize. So run, as if to win. Our run tells people why we live; who we live for; who, and what we treasure in life. So RUN! RUN!

Love and Prayers,
Jack
Dr. Jack Buchner
Director, Religious Education