The Good kind of Dirty

So I recently have discovered a new insight from the Jewish culture around Jesus' time and before (many thanks to the rabbi in town). When someone was Jewish (as Jesus and his disciples were), they would go through an intense schooling process which would help set the foundation for all living. This schooling process would eventually 'widdle' everyone off except the best of the best of the best (you know...Top Gun). So the children would, typically by age 10, all have memorized the first 5 books of our Bible, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. Then, if they showed their "rabbi" (teacher) they were worthy enough and could possibly do what he did, they would be allowed to continue their schooling.

However, most children would be sent home by age 12 or 14 to begin learning the trade of their father. See, if they weren't good enough to do what their rabbi did, they would be told, "Boy, I can see that you know the Torah (first 5 books) and that you love God, but you do not have what it takes to do what I do. Those that were left would be "grilled" by their rabbi, challenged, and forced to carry a heavy load...for if he was to become a rabbi, he would be "spreading the yoke" of his rabbi's burden. The rabbi would only want the best of the best of the best for this privilege. If you would make the "cut", the rabbi would say to you, "Follow me." And it wasn't just as simple as knowing what the rabbi knew...no, it was a much higher calling...the disciple needed to be like the rabbi...he needed to do what the rabbi was doing. Otherwise he would not be able to "spread his yoke" (which was the rabbi's teaching).

It was also custom to wish a blessing on the studies of a student. This was customarily done by referring to the ends, not the means. See, as you lived the life of a disciple, you would literally follow your rabbi anywhere he went. And since there was little pavement around, the well-wishing went something like this: "May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi." There they would be, disciples following their rabbi everywhere, as the dust from their rabbi's travels was kicked upon their clothes.

So, Jesus, about the typical age of a rabbi (30), went around and asked some fishermen to "come, follow me." These men were Jewish, and they were fishermen! That means that they had already been kicked out of the rabbi school. They were the B-team, the nobodies, the not-good-enoughs. Before, it always made me wonder why anyone would just drop everything to follow someone. But knowing Jewish culture and the privilege of becoming a disciple, this makes sense. Why else would they drop everything, leaving family and occupation, and "follow" this man? Jesus took this "JV squad" and changed the course of history!

So, later in the story, Peter saw his rabbi walking on water (Matt 14:25-31) and he wanted to be like his rabbi. Remember, a disciple needed to do whatever his rabbi could do, or he would be done and out. So, Peter gets out of the boat and walks on water. But he begins to sink. He cries out to his rabbi "save me," and Jesus catches him quickly. Do you remember what Jesus said? He said, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?

Who was Peter doubting?

It wasn't Jesus. He wasn't sinking.

Peter doubted himself. He doubted that he could actually be like his rabbi. Do you ever doubt that you can be like your rabbi, Jesus?

Jesus never doubted in Peter. In fact, he had much faith in him, didn't he? He left everything up to them...a bunch of "benchplayers" from the rabbinic school...and do you know what they did? They changed the world!

May you have faith in Jesus, but may you come to know that Jesus has faith in you...that you can be like him. A person of love, compassion and truth. A person of forgiveness, peace, grace, joy and hope. And may you be covered by the dust of your rabbi - Jesus.

Headed to Washington

For any that are compelled to...any prayer and/or fasting would be readily welcomed. On Sunday night (at midnight) I have been offered a seat on a bus that is going to stand for life in Washington D.C. for the day of Monday. We will travel at night, stand and speak for those who cannot defend themselves, and come back by Monday night (at midnight). Please pray that hearts and minds are changed and that we would become a nation built around life...

Does God want us safe?

You have heard it said that "the safest place to be is in the middle of the Will of God," haven't you? I am not so sure about that one. I think one could argue that this might be the safest for us spiritually...but I'm not so sure about physically, emotionally, or the like.

It only takes a minute for me to consider the many martyrs who have gone before that were in God's Will (see Rev. 2:10) to see that God does not always keep us safe as we Americans have come to know and understand safety (If you work for OSHA, please forgive me).

For example, wasn't Jesus "in the Father's Will" when he handed himself over at the Garden of Gethsemane to be crucified? Didn't he ask for this cup to pass if it was the Father's Will: And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will."

Of course, we are all blessed that our Father's Will was for Jesus' to pay the final penalty for us, saving us by his blood. If we are looking to Jesus, we will not see a man who "played it safe."

How about the time when he took his disciples to the region of the Gerasenes...

NIV Matthew 8:28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 "What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?" 30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs." 32 He said to them, "Go!" So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. 33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.

A couple things about this...#1 Jesus AND THE DISCIPLES went to a place that was so violent that no one dared to go! #2 The whole town, seeing the loss of money in the drowned pigs, pleaded with him to leave them!

Or how about Jesus and Lazarus? Jesus had just been "run out of town" and the Jews had tried to stone him. And the disciples quickly grew concerned:


NIV John 11:1 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick." 4 When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." 5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. 7 Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea." 8 "But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?" 9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. 10 It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light." 11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up." 12 His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. 14 So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." 16 Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."

Jesus is never concerned about safety as priority #1, unless it's our spiritual safety. Thank God we are never given more than what our Creator and Lord gives us the ability and strength to handle. Of course, you know the end of the story above...after 4 days in the tomb, dead as a doornail, Lazarus was raised to life again! And by the way...Jesus was not stoned to death in the process. When we are fulfilling God's Will for our lives, we can count on Jesus giving us the strength for the hour and know that possibly unexpected, even amazing things can happen.

And they have! Have you read the Story? How about the saints that have gone before (Heb. 11)...or how about the many martyrs that have passed since Christ first called the faithful to stand firm? Let me give you just a couple of examples to chew on...taken from Paul Meier's Eusebius (p. 293)

When the edict against the churches was published at Nicomedia and posted in a public place, a distinguished man was so moved by his burning faith that he seized it and tore it to pieces - this despite the presence in the same city of two emperors [Diocletian and Galerius]. But he was only the first of those who so distinguished themselves at that time, suffering the consequences of such a daring act with a cheerful confidence to his very last breath.

Among all who have been praised for virtue and courage among Greeks and non-Greeks alike, none was more outstanding than Dorotheus and the imperial servants like him. This group had been highly honored by their masters, who treated them with no less affection than their own children. But they regarded suffering and death in its many forms as greater riches than worldly fame and luxury. Let one example illustrate what happened to the rest.

Under the aforementioned rulers, a certain man was brought into a public place and ordered to sacrifice. When he refused, he was hoisted up naked and lashed with whips until he should give in. Since even this failed to bend him, they mixed salt with vinegar and poured it over the lacerations of his body where the bones were already protruding. When he scorned these agonies too, a lit brazier was applied, and the rest of his body was roasted by the fire as if meat for eating - not all at once, lest he find too quick a release, but little by little. Still he clung immovably to his purpose and expired truimphantly in the middle of his tortures. Such was the martyrdom of one of the imperial servants who was truly worthy of his name: Peter.

Many others are not recorded, but the book goes on to tell of those who were beheaded, butchered with the sword, bound and threw into the sea, and a host of other creative ways to end life.

Amazingly, many of these writings tell of people who praised God and prayed until their dying breath...not only did Jesus exhort us through the the church at Smyrna and Pergamum regarding being faithful, even in extreme circumstances, he also promises that we will have strength and given a crown of life (Rev. 2:10). Thank the good Lord that he gives us, as he did Antipas (Rev. 2:13), the faithfulness to stand and be faithful, even to the point of death, in order to give us the crown of life.

So, be smart...but don't be scared. Drink deeply into the Word of God daily that you may know and do His Will, no matter the circumstances...because He can do all things.

Would God use your entire life and death to save another? When I think of Jesus, He already has! May we have the strength and courage to fearlessly tread and proclaim where Jesus leads us. Go, be fearless, knowing your Lord is always in control, and do likewise.