Follow in the Dust of the Rabbi

I teach a class through Fresno Pacific University called ET 735-Creating on the Web. This is one of the weekly devotional thoughts for that class.


Week 3: Follow in the Dust of the Rabbi

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28-30‬ NLT)

When using Twitter, we talk about “followers” or “following” someone.

Many Christians, Believers, etc. use the term “Christ-follower”

That word is worth some discussion...

Jewish society had a very clear path, a clear goal for boys.

Bet Sefer - ages 6-10 - memorize the Torah (the first 5 books; Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy)

Bet Talmud - age 10-14 - memorize the rest of the OT, all the way to Malachi!

Bet Midrash - about 13-14 - studying to be a rabbi, learning his rabbi's "yoke"

At each stage of this education, the rabbi’s followers were said to even follow the rabbi into the bathroom, so strong was their desire to imitate and learn from them. Their entire purpose was to be exactly like their rabbi, even down to bodily functions. The phrase “the dust of the rabbi’s feet” referred to the rabbi’s followers being so physically close to him, that they would be covered with the dust from the sandy, dusty ground that they walked on.

During the Bet Midrash stage, they would choose a rabbi they wanted to follow, who they wanted to become like. They would learn that particular interpretation of the Scriptures, and the other important writings, and their implication for daily life. This unique thinking, philosophy, and interpretation was called that rabbi’s “yoke”.

But Jesus came and said His yoke was easy. That He isn't about endless lists of rules and regulations (Matthew 11). When Jesus is speaking, He's not just picking words out of the air; He's speaking as a Rabbi would.

If the boy was a good enough student, the rabbi would accept them as a protegé. Many did not make the cut, though.

Jesus was a rabbi.

He chose not the best of the best of the best, as other rabbis did. He chose those that didn't make the cut. That's why they were fishing, instead of studying under a rabbi. Why did Jesus choose these guys? Because He believed they could become like Him.

One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him. A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind. (‭Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭18-22‬ NLT)

So, the words “follow” and “followers” have a very significant meaning in Jewish culture, and in the New Testament.

This brings me to an observation about Google+. There are “circles” on Google+. In our spiritual walk, we need each other. We need to not just go to church and sit in rows and look at the back of someone’s head. We need to get in circles and hold each other accountable, encourage each other, and such.

Whether we’re using Twitter, Google+, or other social media sites where we are trying to build our PLN (or make other connections), one thing is clear:

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
Proverbs 13:20