An Open Invitation

Read Mark 1:16-20

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” —Mark 1:17

For us to fully understand the invitation that Jesus made to Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John, it helps to know the relationship between rabbi and disciple in the first century. In that day and time, a child’s education began at the age of five or six. The first level of education was called Bet Sefer (which means “House of the Book”)—it was held at the local synagogue and focused on learning the Torah. Because physical manuscripts of the Torah were rare, students learned large parts of the Torah by memorization. This level of education continued until they were ten.

At that point in the process, many students would leave their formal education and begin apprenticing with their parents in the family trade—farming, masonry, tailoring, and so on. The students who excelled in their early studies, though, would be invited to continue to the next level of their education, Bet Talmud (“House of Learning”). During this level, students would begin memorizing other portions of the Hebrew Scriptures (prophets, psalms, wisdom literature, etc.). But students didn’t just memorize scripture—they were also introduced to the tradition of wrestling with scripture to better understand it. (Jesus was likely in this stage of his education when he went to the temple and “stumped” the rabbis there with his questions—Luke 2:46-47.)

Only the very best and brightest students progressed to the final stage of education, Bed Midrash (“House of Study”). This level of education was more like an apprenticeship—a student would study underneath a particular rabbi, becoming his disciple (talmid in Hebrew). A rabbi would be very selective in which students he allowed to become his disciple. Before accepting a student, the student would have to demonstrate to the rabbi his understanding of various texts and the history of their interpretations. Think of it like a college application process on steroids.

If the rabbi was satisfied that the student was bright enough and good enough to one day become a rabbi, then he would offer an invitation: Come, follow me. The disciple would then immerse himself in a 24/7 learning process, following his rabbi and observing his ways and absorbing his wisdom. There’s an ancient Jewish blessing that goes: “May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi." It’s a reference to the literal act of following, that a disciple might follow so closely that they get covered in the dust kicked up from the dusty roads. But on a deeper level, the blessing is about being so immersed in the rabbi's influence and presence that you absorb his teachings and become like him in character.

When Jesus came across Simon and Andrew, they were casting their nets into the Sea of Galilee. James and John were mending nets with their father. Meaning none of these four men had advanced to the level of Bet Midrash, and probably not even Bet Talmud. Somewhere between the ages of 10 and 16, they had ended their formal education in order to learn the family business (fishing). Yet when Jesus came across these men, he invited them to become his disciples. As Rob Bell points out in his book Velvet Elvis, this invitation carried a life-changing message. Jesus believed that one day they could be like him.

While Jesus only invited twelve men to become his disciples during the time he walked on earth, we believe that Jesus’ invitation is now open to all people. Regardless of how well we can quote the Bible, regardless of our past, regardless of our wealth or status in society. The same invitation is offered to us all: “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people.” We, too, are invited into an immersive, 24/7 lifestyle of following Jesus.

So may you be covered in the dust of our rabbi—may you absorb his character and his teaching, that one day people would say that you are like him.

I know I am not worthy to receive Your call, O Lord. I understand so little, and my soul is not pure. But I trust that, if You have called me, You will equip me to follow and to serve You my whole life long. May my life be shaped by Your grace, so that I reflect Your goodness to the world around me. Amen.