Disciples of Rabbi Jesus

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me.

Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how

to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy

or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and

you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Matthew 11:28-30 The Message

 

 
We've all been to school and are familiar with learning. But how much of our school experience was simply filled with factoids learned for a test and forgotten soon after? That's not the kind of learning God wants us to have. At the time of Jesus, a Rabbi would select disciples from among the best students at the local synagogue. These young men gave up their former lives to serve their teacher. They made sure he ate and had a place to sleep each night. They walked with him, listening to everything he had to say about life as well as the Scriptures. They observed how he treated people and dealt with the unexpected. They would closely follow their teacher all day long as he taught through the countryside; their garments covered by the dust he stirred as he walked the unpaved streets. The wise even developed a saying, "May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi," to indicate the closeness of relationship required to be successful disciples. It was not enough to know what their teacher knew; true disciples were meant to become like him; to think as he thought, speak as he spoke and do what he did.  

So when Jesus invites us to learn of him, he is calling us to be with Him. As soon as we said, "yes," to salvation, Jesus began calling us to discipleship. He calls us to walk with Him and enjoy His company; to know his heart; know what’s important to him; how he thinks and what he wants. God's design is that we would learn all we need to know through intimate friendship with Jesus. A first century disciple would leave his family and his profession, laying down his regular life in order to gain the privilege of becoming like his rabbi. And we are called to do the same. May you be covered in the dust of your Rabbi, Jesus.