"COME, FOLLOW ME"

Jesus was a Rabbi. 

He asked a few fisherman to "Come, Follow Me"

In Jesus time, all Jewish children would attend school at the age of 6. They would be under the teaching of the local Rabbi (teacher), who was the most respected member of the community. By the age of 10 the students would have the first five books of the Bible (The Torah) memorized. 

Genesis.

Exodus.

Leviticus.

Numbers.

Deuteronomy.

Can you imagine having to memorize the family lines? The Laws in Leviticus? Ugh. By the age of 10!

Maybe it was easier because not everyone had a copy of the Torah. Actually, there was probably only one copy per village kept in the synagogue and only read once a week. 

At age 10, students would begin to sort of....divide into two groups. 

Those who had natural abilities to understand scripture. The "smart" kids.

Those who chose to work in the family business. The "not so smart" ones.

The "smart kids" went on to the next level of education, called Bet Talmud and spent the next four years memorizing the ENTIRE Old Testament.

Genesis through Malachi.

All of it. 

Memorized. 

By a 14 year old. 

Do you have the Old Testament memorized?

I don't...

Believe it or not, there was a next step in the education of these Jews in Jesus time. It was to apply to become a talmidim (disciple) of the Rabbi. The goal was not to be the Rabbi's favorite student, but to actually do what the Rabbi did. 

The student had spent 8 years memorizing the Old Testament, Genesis through Malachi. Wrestling with questions about God and what the scriptures meant. And now was the moment where he would have the chance to be a disciple of the Rabbi. To do what the rabbi did. 

Only one catch.

The Rabbi has to believe that the student has what it takes. 

He has to believe in the student. 

If he believes that the student has what it takes, the Rabbi would say, "Come, follow me". 

Are you seeing where I am going with this? Let's continue....

Fast forward some time, and you see a Rabbi who is starting his teaching and training of disciples at the age of 30 (which is when a Rabbi usually begins teaching and training). 

This Rabbi's name is Jesus. 

And He calls out to fisherman, who hadn't made the cut. Didn't believe they were "good enough" (or were told this) to continue their education. Memorize the entire Old Testament. Apply to follow a Rabbi.

Jesus asks these fisherman to "Come, follow me." 

Jesus believed they had what it took.

Jesus believes we have what it takes. 

Jesus BELIEVES IN US. 

Why don't we believe in ourselves? Why do we choose to believe others (parents, teachers, peers, church "authority", etc.) who tell us we don't make the cut. 

Jesus BELIEVES IN US. 

Jesus asks us to COME, FOLLOW ME.

And even more on the plus side, His yoke is easy. 

When Jesus was frustrated with his disciples over the course of His teaching, He wasn't condemning them, telling them they weren't good enough yet. 

Peter didn't sink into the water because He lost faith that Jesus would help him walk on water. Peter lost faith in himself. 

Peter lost faith that he could do what his Rabbi was doing.

JESUS BELIEVES WE CAN BE LIKE HIM. 

BELIEVE YOU CAN BE LIKE HIM.

BE LIKE HIM.

(The idea and main concept of this blog came from a book called "Velvet Elvis", which I highly recommend)