IHOP Kansas City Missionary Conference

Some great truths:
Derrick Loux spoke at one of the conferences and told about the history behind the disciples and Jesus’ relationship that were so dear to me, I wanted to share it with you.

Because Jesus was called “Rabbi” (which means teacher), that probably meant that not only did he go to the normal school where all boy’s graduated from, which would have been to the age of 13. He also went to a higher schooling that was only for those who did well in the regular classes. He would have been a disciple of another Rabbi (can you imagine being Jesus’ Rabbi?) for several years until He was pronounced knowledgeable enough to teach his own disciples.

The normal procedure to become a disciple of a Rabbi was that you “applied” or asked the Rabbi if he would teach you. The Rabbi would then assess your skill, knowledge, ability, etc and determine if you were worthy of being taught by him. Of course it was the desire of every Jewish mom that their son would be taught by a great Rabbi and maybe be the chosen one (the Messiah).

What makes Jesus and His disciples so unique is that Jesus called them. They did not ask Him! They were dumbfounded that a Rabbi would call them. This gives new, deeper meaning to John 15:16, “You did not choose me, I chose you….” Even more interesting and quite humorous is the fact that the disciples were probably only about 15-18 years old. Imagine twelve teenage boys hanging out all the time together or trying to be the patient teacher to them….I don’t think life was boring there. It helps me better comprehend the constant fight between them about who would be greatest (I know that from watching my 3 boys…it’s a guy thing J).

Derrick Loux suggests that Jesus may have actually been playing with them a couple of times in the Bible. Look at Luke 9, the disciples come back from a time of great power and healing (thanks to the power of Jesus), then when faced with 5000 hungry men, Jesus tells the disciples, “You feed them.” I imagine Jesus was tired of hearing all the “let me tell you what I did” stories they were telling each other.

My favorite is right after that, when Jesus walks on the water…see Mark 6:48. Jesus saw the disciples straining on the oars and waits until the fourth watch (or almost morning) to go to them. Can’t you just see Jesus sitting on the hill shaking His head and giggling at them? He walks out to them and actually almost walks past them….I envision Him saying, “Hey guys!” as He walks past and watches their mouths drop open, while Jesus grins at them.

What hit me most in understanding the young age of these disciples who were common everyday kids is that Jesus had to be a lot of fun to put up with them. Remember, these were not the studious ones who went to higher training, they were sent into the family trade of fishing, etc. Jesus chose everyday common folk, like you and me. He laughed at their follies and put up with their pridefulness and foolishness, just like He puts up with and even laughs at ours. Isn’t that reassuring?

In Luke 21:15 when Jesus reinstates Peter, the original word used the first two times Jesus asks is “agape”. Peter responds to Jesus, “I love you filial” Filial love is a brotherly love, agape love is a higher more encompassing love. Jesus is asking Peter if he loves Him to the point of sacrifice. Peter is saddened and shameful because he has already proven to Jesus that he does not because Peter denied Jesus. The third time Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him, Jesus uses the word filial. In other words, Jesus says, “I will accept your brotherly love and reinstate you because that is what you can give me now.” Jesus then goes on to tell Peter in the next verse that Peter will grow into a higher love because Jesus will teach him as the years go on. Jesus offers us this same promise. Love Him the best we can, give Him all we can, follow Him and He will take us to the deeper place of sacrificial love of Him.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7