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.