While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. (Matthew 4:18-19, ESV)
According to Golf Digest, the average hourly rate for the Top 50 Best Golf Teachers starts at $200 and rolls all the way up to $1500. As I gazed over the list, I saw familiar names who teach many tour players. Each one embodies different nuances to their teaching theories. If you choose to take a lesson from a top 50 teaching pro, then you might want to do some research before handing over your money. Not all theories work for all golfers.
In Jewish traditions, there was (is) a very specific process for young boys to work up the levels of study. At a certain age, a boy would pick a Rabbi he desired to follow. The boy could only be chosen by that Rabbi if he passed the Rabbi’s personalized test. Failure meant a life of labor in a trade, like fishing.
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“We hire Jesus as our Savior, but we fire Jesus as our teacher.”
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Jesus turned it all upside down, per his usual. Instead of earnest disciples seeking out Jesus, he walked along the Sea of Galilee and hand-picked young men who were working their trades and said, “Follow me.” There was no test to pass. I imagine Simon and Andrew looked at Jesus wide-eyed and mouths gaping, “Us? We’ve already been passed up?” Matthew continues the narrative, “Immediately they left their nets and followed him.”
Did the newly minted disciples really understand what they signed up for to become a disciple of Jesus. Do we know what it means to follow Jesus?
Bible teacher Jeff Manion says, “We hire Jesus as our Savior, but we fire Jesus as our teacher.” The disciples would have clearly understood the goal was not to just know what Jesus knew, it was to be who Jesus was. A first century disciple wanted to be just like their Rabbi. They lived and walked so close to Jesus that the dust of his feet covered them. They drank Jesus’ words like water for their parched souls.
In the thirty-eight days remaining until we remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and his defeat over death, I want to invite us into a challenge to be like one of the twelve and get covered in the dust of our Rabbi. Let us engage the four Gospel narratives with fresh eyes and hearts to know Jesus in a way that leads to being more like our Rabbi. Read. Listen. Contemplate. Read again.
Walking The Text founder Brad Gray articulates it well, “A disciple of Jesus is someone sold out to the person of Jesus and does everything possible to become just like him. A disciple is not a passive observer, but an active participant.”
Will you be an active participant?