Are You a Disciple?

Mark 2:14 reads: And while passing by, he saw Lewi, the son of Khalpai, who was sitting at the custom house, and said to him, "Come follow me!" And he arose and went and followed him. In this passage, we see the call by Yeshua to Matthew to be His disciple. What did the call to discipleship mean in the first century. It meant four things: (1) the disciple was to memorize the words of his teacher; (2) the disciple was to learn the traditions of his teacher; (3) the disciple was to imitate his teacher; and (4) the disciple was to raise up more disciples. Notice Yeshua didn't ask Lewi to "get saved" or "be filled with the Holy Spirit." He called him to follow in His footsteps and to become a learner of His ways. Compare this method with those of the modern evangelical church and you will easily see the difference.

It would have been very exciting for Lewi to be called by Yeshua. In the first century, children started learning at the age of 5 from the Book of Leviticus. By the pre-teen years those that showed some talent for learning would be selected to continue their studies of Torah. By the teen years, those who showed real potential would be selected by a rabbi to become a disciple and go deeper in their studies. Those that did not show promise would be taught trades and skills to be able to support their families. The point is that all of Yeshua's disciples did not make the grade; they were not selected to be a disciple of the established religious leaders. In other words, they were failures academically. Now, consider how they would have felt when a Jewish rabbi comes walking by and call them. It would be like having a second chance. That pattern has continued since the first century. Yeshua still calls men and women, boys and girls, and offers a second chance at being a success. Lewi would have been thrilled to be His disciple.

Today, have you heard the call? This is not a call to say a prayer or make a commitment to a creed or doctrine. This is a call to a lifetime of learning; a lifetime of submission to Yeshua's teachings. Are you ready to "follow?"