Have you ever noticed how much Jesus is talked about by Christians? Yet very few know how revolutionary Jesus really was. It goes beyond being the son of God conceived through the Holy Spirit to a virgin. Or being the first leader to befriend the sinners and low lives of the time. Jesus was born in approx. 3 B.C ( http://www.pointsoftruth.com/articles/jesusbirth.html) and during that time, the schooling was very different than how it is now. Back then, everything was religious. Children were required to memorize the entire Pentateuch which is the first 5 books of the Bible. School was conducted by the priest and if a child memorized well and pleased the priest they could move forward in their education, but most were turned back over to their families to learn whatever their family trade was. The exceptions tho, could move on to the second level, and if they still pleased the priest, onto the third. The point of this is to achieve the job of being the priest's disciple, and when a priest saw the potential and knew a child could do what he does he would ask them to follow him (http://nooma.com/nooma-dust-008-rob-bell.php). Two words, but the two most wanted and unheard words of that time. To be a disciple of a priest, I would imagine, to be the equivalent to being a celebrity's best friend. That is probably one of the reasons why the priests did not like Jesus, and why he was so revolutionary. Because he assumed the stature of a priest, without going to school and become a disciple. That would be like someone who is a CEO being demoted so that average joe on the street with no college degree, and even possibly no high school degree, take your spot.
That is also why the men that he called to be his disciples dropped what they were doing, and followed him. He used the words of the priests, and they knew what they meant (an example of this- Mark 2:14). Powerful words. Enough to make young men stop right in their tracts, leave what they were doing that very moment, and follow someone they did not even know. Do you know how hard it is to get anyone to do that? Most of us are constantly multi tasking, and we finish what we are doing before we really listen to what someone is saying to us or before moving right along to the next thing. At the moment, the only thing I can think of that causes people to stop in their tracts is disaster. We see it all the time, you'll be driving on the highway and then all of a sudden traffic is backed up and you think you might be stuck for hours until you get a little closer and realize that there was an accident, and then almost immediately after that accident it's basically open road. But everyone has to stop and look for a few seconds before moving along. Another point I would like to add is that these men obviously weren't the best of the best in school! They were working in their family trade! It's not like Jesus didn't know who the best of the best was, but he didn't want the best kids who knew scripture. He wanted ordinary men, who were all different, and completed a purpose. I think that part of his choice of men is to show us how he see's us, with so much potential for greatness. One of his disciples, Levi (Matthew), was a tax collector. Tax collectors were considered thieves, and very well hated by the society in which they lived. Another was his very own betrayer! He choose Judas even though he knew that he would betray them. Some were just fishermen, but non the less Jesus choose them all one by one. Each with their sin, lack of faith, values, and belief. But he didn't look at that, he saw who he knew they could become and who they would be later on. He continuously forgave and did what no other man did before him, that is why he changed so many lives and people flocked by the thousands to see him. I will end this blog with a quote from my pastor.
"To reach people no one is reaching, we'll have to do things no one is doing." - Craig Groeschel
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