It was common practice in first century Israel to have teacher/disciple relationships to learn Torah. It’s not practiced in modern Christianity so it’s taken a little while for me to understand the significance this had on the responses of the people to Yeshua’s teachings. If a person wanted to become a disciple of a rabbi, they showed previous education, and complete devotion to the rabbi. They spent years under the tutelage of the rabbi. They learned verbatim the rabbi’s teachings, emulated his lifestyle – dress, habits, etc. When they completed their training, they began teaching as a rabbi, in the name of their mentor. Yeshua never studied under a particular rabbi (yet knew all their teachings); and when he taught he did not teach in the name of another rabbi but YHWH, unheard of at the time, and with such authority it amazed the masses. Also, Yeshua chose disciples with no previous education, except for what all Jews received as children.
This rabbi/disciple relationship continued throughout Jewish history and in many ways is evident in some places in modern Christianity. Yeshua sent out his disciples as rabbis to the common people, the lost tribes and the nations with the purpose of creating “mini Yeshuas.” He’ll take any person, regardless of color, race or previous religious affiliation. He has only one requirement – that person becomes completely devoted to His G-d, YHWH. He set the example of how to live and His teachings clarify the intent of YHWH’s Torah – given at Mt. Sinai. Matthew 28:19-20 says –
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
I believe He expects the chain to continue, disciples becoming teachers who make more disciples. It’s a legacy I take very seriously.
