As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men," At once they left their nets and followed him.
Going on from there, he saw two brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called to them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Matthew 4:18-22
That was the first 4 disciples.
Mark 2:14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collectors booth. "Follow me," Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.
The 5th disciple. This went on for all 12 disciples. There were no sales pitch or anything, the men just up and left their families and all they have worked for. Zebedee's entire work force quit on him with no notice. Jesus, yeah... he went 12 for 12! You could argue, well he was the Son of God. But at that moment they didn't know that.
Why? Why in the world would they do that? Hang in here with me because I think this is pretty amazing.
Back in the day every Hebrew boy was trained to be a Rabbi. It was the highest honor. It was like boys wanting to be picked for the NFL or NBA back then. Only the best of the best get picked. If they are not picked they are told to go back home and tend to the family trade. Goodbye. Period.
Sometimes if the best made it and the Rabbi decides your not good enough anymore. Goodbye. Even after years and years and years of study.
Here is how it works.
Kids had to memorize Leviticus at age 6. What is awesome about that is that most people didn't even own the Old Testament, it was based on their Father's memory. If they passed then they moved on to Bet Sephar (the school of the book), this lasted between ages 6-12 where they had to memorize the first 5 books of the bible. Okay, so I don't know how many of you have children within this age range, but WTW! Just. Wow. Okay, then they were given the exam to see if they qualified for the next level. This exam was not based on content though; No, They wanted to know if you had the right questions to ask.
The great Rabbi's were known for the questions they had so they could keep the conversation going about God; they believed you could never get to the End of God.
Luke 2 tells us that after the passover feast His parents and family headed out a days walk to return home when they couldn't find their 12 year old boy, Jesus. They were unaware that he stayed behind in the Temple. After they searched for 3 days.....yes his Mother frantically searching for 3 whole days!!!... they found him in the temple sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions.
They were all amazed at his understanding and his answers. Yep he passed his Tora exam with flying colors, he probably made those others look like whimps.
They were all amazed at his understanding and his answers. Yep he passed his Tora exam with flying colors, he probably made those others look like whimps.
The next level was between ages 12-30. This was school of Bet Talmid (School of disciple). Ever wonder why Jesus disapears in the bible and comes back at age 30 called Rabbi?
In Bet Talmid you were to memorize the rest of the bible and closely follow and learn from other Rabbi's.
A Rabbi's interpretation of the Tora was called the "yoke".
This is also when they get Smika or no smika. This means you have the yoke of your Rabbi or you teach your own yoke.
I know this sounds crazy but give me a minute..... So, if you have the yoke of your Rabbi, you have to follow and teach exactly how they did. They loved to put laws upon laws, upon laws. For example, There is no dancing in the town square.The law upon the law would be: if you were to trip and fall, do not flail your arms. It may look like you're dancing. We cannot have any of that. Just fall flat on your face ....just so it's made clear (extreme level of legalism).
If you were picked for the NFL of Rabbi's you get a Smika and are able to teach your own yoke. But there had to be two witnesses.
Remember what happened at Jesus baptism?
Witness 1: John the Baptist “Behold the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world who’s sandels I am not worthy to untie”
Jesus comes up out of the water as rabbi w/o authority until a second voice speaks. So who was the second voice?
The heavens open and God speaks “this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased” Witness #2.
Now Jesus comes out of the water with Smika (authority) which means he could make up his own yoke, and he spent the rest of his life wrecking everybody else’s yoke.
Remember what happened at Jesus baptism?
Witness 1: John the Baptist “Behold the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world who’s sandels I am not worthy to untie”
Jesus comes up out of the water as rabbi w/o authority until a second voice speaks. So who was the second voice?
The heavens open and God speaks “this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased” Witness #2.
Now Jesus comes out of the water with Smika (authority) which means he could make up his own yoke, and he spent the rest of his life wrecking everybody else’s yoke.
Jesus said, "Take MY yoke upon you, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light." He is saying that he will set you free. His yoke doesn't make your burden any heavier.
Jesus has a yoke that boldy exclaims freedom, love, compassion, forgiveness, mercy and grace.
Ahhhhh, refreshing isn't it.
Disciples wanted to do everything like their Rabbi. They would even walk so closely behind their Rabbi they would be covered with dust. It was quite the honor to be covered in dust.
Are you going to be covered in the dust of Christ, or are you going to be covered with the dust of your own issues? Who's dust are you covered in? Who/what are you following the closest?
What does it mean to follow Jesus?
Drink in the word thirstly as disciples. Take on the yoke of your teacher. Ask the Holy spirit to guide you and be in it to know and imitate your teacher. It is not about knowing answers. We do not have to be bible scholars to share the gospel. Ask questions, be a learner of the bible.
Have we just reduced discipleship to just a weekday?
It is time to be a disciple. It is time to live on a mission. If you feel like discipleship is bogged down, a burden, required and heavy, ....then it's done wrong.
"Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest in your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 28-30.
Why do you like the heavy yoke? Recieve your gift and blessing. You are worthy. God chose you for this time and this generation for a specific purpose.
There is a cost of discipleship. We get to leave behind shame, guilt, and gather up freedom that comes through Christ. He may even call you to move. You may be called to move to another city, or even Africa. Or your Africa may be right where you are. Ask yourself: What am I unwilling to leave? Discipleship is a whole life of following Jesus.
Where do I go?
Follow Jesus.....the sick, poor, widowed, lonely, scared......places where you will be misunderstood.
Jesus goes to broken places. Places some Christians are scared to go. Places you are misunderstood....and it may be the religious ones that do misunderstand. You'll hear, 'we just can't give grace that far.' Some religious people prefer heavy yolks. Look at the pharisees in the bible. Follow Jesus near the broken hearted.
IF YOU CAN'T FIND CHRIST, FIND THE BROKENHEARTED.
We can trust Christ. It is a soul crusher to not follow Jesus because we are just comfortable where we are.
I am so hungry to raise my hands with this generation to follow Christ so closely we feel the dust of our Rabbi. It is time to raise up a discipleship generation.
How? How do we wake up the sleeping giant?
My question is.... are the old wineskins going to allow the new wine? New wineskins are able to stretch as new wine expands. Old wineskins are already at its limit, are brittle and not able to stretch. That's awesome and all but how does this speak in 2014? There are several paradigms about old becoming new in the bible (ex.2 Corinthians 5).
Will old forms be able to contain the new works our generation is bringing in? The old wineskins do not stretch and do not have room. And this is happening across the board- no one rule- a trend.
3 out of 10 adults in 30's are connected in church.
4 out of 10 adults in their 40's.
5 out of 10 adults in their 50's.
Barna.org projects our kids (like....my 2, 5 &6 yr old children!!!) by age 29- 80% of them will be gone from church.
Yes, we are in bible belt world around here but it seems that church here in the South has became cultural and not transforming. It has been said, but that church over there is blowing up in numbers. 90% of the time its because of a baby boom or transfer of a letter from another church. We are shuffling the deck people!
Let's put our foot out into the real world and listen to our peers. What is the worlds perception of Christians that keeps you away?
They are hypocritical, judgemental not real, you have to be part of the exclusive club, mean, no fun, and intolerant. We know thats a character. We all know real, good Christian men and women. But, think about it, where there is smoke, there is fire. If they are offended by us, our offensiveness, we better change it. Address it asap. LET US BE THE NEW WINE.
We need to be new wineskin to stretch with the new generation. Instead of defending our stand with Christ, step to the side and allow others to experience real, raw, biblical truth behind his compassionate grace. Become an advocate with the lost and allow them to see a soveriegn God.
We have already won.
No one can take away the Kingdom.
It'll stand and we need to represent it by serving and extending mercy.
Create a safe place where people feel like they can belong. No strings attached, do not treat people like they are a project, and no agendas.....just love them like Christ would.
If people aren't coming to church we need to reach people phrophetically. Invite them in for dinner, a bonfire, poker night, movie night, etc. Speak to them through Christ love and he will bring them to Him. I believe through love to our community we will see people come to Jesus, we will see a generation come to Christ. Become a slave like Joseph, be a good neighbor. Show them they are precious to Him. There is no time limit.
Just because people aren't coming to church like they use to doesn't mean they are not hungry.
We cannot just feed off the sheep anymore, it is time to follow the Shepard.
In his strength we can send out a new generation that sends out the good news to people. Be responsible for what we are called to do. Allow ordinary small moments to be an avalanche towards their day of redemption. We GET to do this. It is time to get on with it.
Because if its not us, then who?
This is discipling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQbmaKuT0Oo
*Barna.org
*Citytocityrevival.com
*Notes from Jen Hatmaker Ladies Conference
