DUST
Do you remember the story of when Jesus was walking on the water and the disciples were convinced that they had seen a ghost? (Matt. 14:22-33) The winds and waves were high and the men were scared and now seeing what might have been a ghost just made things that much worse. Jesus, seeing and knowing of their nervousness, says to the disciples, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” But now the story really begins to get interesting. Notice Peter’s response to Jesus. “And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water...” Peter walked on water? What ever gave Peter the idea that he could walk on water? He nor any other disciple had ever been able to do so before. Maybe to understand this story in greater detail, we should understand the historical backgrounds of first century Rabbis.
In the times that Jesus walked the earth, young boys had to make a decision. By age six or seven, a young boy would enter a Jewish school and begin his training of the law, or the Torah, our first five books of the Bible. This school seemed to have lasted till age 9 or 10. During those four years of study, the young boys would be asked to memorize the Torah. That’s right - all five books, word for word - memorized. Most boys, by age 10, would be sent back to learn their family trade because they didn’t have the dedication it would take to memorize so much scripture. Sound familiar? But those who continued with their education - and who would eventually become the best of the best - would be asked by their local Rabbi, teachers of the local synagogue, to “Come follow me.” This would be the phrase that all aspiring students wanted to hear. The invitation to actually follow their rabbi.
By the time of the invitation, the student would be around age 15 to 16, have their entire Old Testament memorized, and would spend the next few years learning to do everything their rabbi did. You see it wasn’t enough to just know what their rabbi knew - they had to become like him. This mirroring was so evident that historians have written that the young student in training would even follow their rabbi into public restrooms, because the student wanted to learn what communication was appropriate for every setting of life. It was then, during the first century, that this phrase, “May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi,” began. The students would walk behind their rabbis to the point that, at the end of the day, they would be covered with dirt from the dirt roads of the middle east.
Going back to our passage in Matthew, now we understand why Peter wanted to get out of the boat. Wherever the Rabbi went, the disciple wanted to follow. If the Rabbi experienced it, then his disciple would need that same experience to become as much like his rabbi as possible. Notice in the story how Peter actually walked on the water until he took his eyes off of Jesus. Isn’t this story true for us today? Can’t we move mountains as long as our focus and faith is on our Rabbi?
Nineteen times in our New Testament Jesus says, “Come follow me.” The same call that Peter heard is being asked today. Have you ever asked yourself why Peter was fishing that day? Why wasn’t he a rabbi? He wasn’t one of the best was he? Don’t you find it interesting that Jesus did not choose a preacher to be one of His twelve? No earthly rabbi chose Peter or believed in his abilities. But Jesus changes all that. Don’t overlook this important point. Not only do we believe in Jesus, but Jesus believes in us!! Thank you Father!
D.U.S.T. is the acronym we have chosen to describe a series of classes that has been developed for the Lowell Church of Christ. We will be offering these classes at different times of the year and in different formats. From time to time you will find a class being taught on Sunday morning and then you will find these same classes being taught on Wednesday night or even in small groups. This D.U.S.T. program is for everyone in our body. The leadership has taken a proactive role in developing this curriculum and is asking that all members, through time, participate in these classes.
The 4 classes are:
D- Discovering the Lowell Church of Christ (for new visitors and members)
U- Understanding discipleship
S- Studying Scripture
T- Training for ministry (spiritual gifts seminar)
If you would like to find out more about how to become involved in a DUST class or group, please let me know. We will be keeping everyone informed of the Sunday and Wednesday schedule of these classes as they become available, since they will be offered on a rotating basis.
~ Big John
For a much more detailed account of Rabbis in the first century, please see me about watching “DUST” by Rob Bell.
