| | Dust. (inspired by, and heavily plagiarized from Nooma .008 Dust)Torah. Most christians and all Jews who hear that word think of the same thing: The First five books in the old testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. In First Century B.C. These books were the foundation for the entire hebrew educational system, and in a less direct was, used to determine status amongst the people.
Around the age of seven, Jewish boys began learning the Torah from a Synagog leader, usually a Rabbi. Until they were Ten or so, these children would work at memorizing the Torah, word for word. At the end of this stage of education most children would go home and learn a trade, but the best students would continue their education for another four to five years. During this time, students were to memorize the remaining 28 books of the hebrew old testament. At fifteen, after this second stage, these children would go home and be considered like someone with a college degree today, definitely smarter than average, but still doing the same jobs as everybody else. But the best of those kids would go to a Rabbi and ask to be that Rabbi's disciple. Consider this, the Rabbi were the highest educated people in Jewish culture. To ask a rabbi if you could be his follower and learn from him was like asking if you were good enough to be like him. If you were the best.
Jesus called twelve men from among the "uneducated". If you think of it as Jesus saying to them, "I Believe you are the best. I believe you can be like me.", then it is no wonder that Peter and Andrew dropped their nets and Matthew Left what was probably a rather well paying business as a tax collector. By calling them he said, You can be like me. Jesus called these men from lives that told the world that these were the worst and lowest in status, and they changed the course of history. That begs the question: Are those Jesus has called today changing the face of history?
It kinda' makes things make a little more sense. Like when The disciples of Christ were in the boat in the Sea of Galilee and Jesus walks out to them on water. When they realize it's Jesus, what does Peter say?
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And Peter answered him, |
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"Lord, if it is you, |
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bid me come to you |
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on the water." |
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What I've always found strake is why did peter ask to be called? What did that mean? In Context, if you think about it, Peter is asking Jesus Do you think i can do it. Do you really think i can do what you are doing. Do you believe in me?
And how does Jesus answer? Come.
Now heres the part where people always bash Peter. He doubts and starts to sink. But if you think about it, how many people in the history of the world have walked on water Jesus and Peter. In my opinion, Peters doing pretty darn good.
You all know the story, Jesus saves him and then says: "You of little faith. Why did you doubt?" But what is it exactly that Peter doubts? Naturally we assume he doubted Jesus. But Jesus isn't sinking. Peter doubts himself. Thats why Peter asks before he first gets out of the boat. Jesus wouldn't have called Peter out if he didn't know Peter could do it.
This brings up a whole new idea: It's important to believe and have faith in God. But with that we need to realize that God believes and has faith in us. God would not have called us unless He believed that we could do what He wanted us to do. Unless He knew that we could be like our Rabbi.
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| | Posted 9/19/2006 7:06 PM - 4 comments
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