2.19.23 "Sneak Peak!" Westminster Presbyterian Church, Pasadena, CA

Exodus 24.12-18; Matthew 17.1-9 

Important things happen on high mountains … we call them “peak experiences” … 

There are plenty of such moments in the biblical story … 

Mt. Ararat, on which Noah’s ark grounded when the flood waters receded, and a new world emerged …

Mt. Sinai, on which God and Moses had several serious chats, in dark clouds, with lightening and thunder … down from the mountain came Moses with tablets of stone, upon which the hand of God had inscribed The Ten Commandments …

Mt. Nebo, where God took Moses at the end of his life … to see in the distance the Promised Land … as in all things, Moses could only go so far, and then, no further.

Mt. Carmel, on which Elijah the Prophet confronted the priests of Baal, like a shootout at the O.K. Corral … winner take all … the Priests of Baal shouted and danced, whipped themselves, cut themselves, nothing happened … then Elijah prayed … fire came down from heaven to consume the offering, the wood, the stones, the dust, even the water with which Elijah had soaked everything, just to make a point, God’s fiery love is greater than all the sin and sorrow of the world.

The Mt. of Olives, down from which our LORD road into Jerusalem amid the cheers and hopes of a troubled people … palm branches and cloaks laid down on the road, with people singing their hearts out … 

Mt. Zion, on which the city of Jerusalem was founded, and Solomon built the temple … the fabled temple, destroyed and rebuilt … built even greater by King Herod … the very temple in which Jesus preached the Kingdom of God, and overturned the tables of merchandise and coinage.

Mt. Tabor, the mount of transfiguration … our LORD meets Elijah and Moses, the law and the prophets … forging forever the bond between the covenants, old and new … the law and its wisdom; the prophets and their power … and Christ … the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

Who doesn’t like a mountain view of things … an easy hairpin drive up to Mt. Wilson gives us a panoramic view of Pasadena … air is bright, breezes cool … there, beneath our feet, the world in which we live.

I’ve never been to Everest, but I’ve read about it … those first climbers, losing their lives, and then the moment when Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, in 1953, made the first documented climb to the summit.

I’ve been on Lookout Mountain in Georgia … Pikes Peak in Colorado … California’s High Sierras … the Rock of Gibraltar, to look across the Mediterranean to the coast of North Africa.

It was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who said to the world, on the evening of April 3, 1968:

Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!

And so I'm happy, tonight.

I'm not worried about anything.

I'm not fearing any man!

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!!

The next day, the assassin’s bullet found its mark, and killed Dr. King … 

At the center of our faith stands Jesus the Christ … the child of Bethlehem, the boy growing up with wisdom and strength … the young man baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River … driven by the Spirit into the wilderness, there to be tempted, challenged, badgered, by the Evil One … a moment to decide, to make sure, to choose the right from the wrong.

For three years, Jesus wandered the highways and byways of Galilee and Judea … he crossed the sea of Galilee and healed a broken man … he crossed the border into Samaria to give life to a lonely woman … he set his face for Jerusalem, the deep center, where Rome and its military might, and the Temple with its religious power, walked hand-in-hand to work out a deal for the day … 

A deal that was cruel and oppressive … 

The deal that sealed the deal when Jesus entered the Temple and overturned the tables … 

The powers that be decided that no more of this troubling man would be what the doctor ordered … 

They arrest him, beat him, parade him through the noisy streets of a bustling city, to let people know who’s in charge, who’s boss, who calls the shots, and sets the pace … he’s taken to a small outcropping of rock, the Place of the Skull, Golgatha, and there, with two others, he’s crucified, dead, and buried … as the Creed puts it, he descended into hell.

Jesus said to the disciples: If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up the cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

The stakes are set as high as they can get …  

Jesus demands of his disciples everything … all they are, all they hope to be … everything …

Six days later, Jesus takes with him three disciples, Peter, James, John … each different, each in their own way, a representative of the other disciples … a representative of all of us … they went up the mountain, a high mountain, says Matthew … because important things happen on high mountains …

A voice on the mountain, This is my son, the Beloved … with him, I am well pleased … listen to him …

There are high mountains all around us … literally … anyone of them might be enough to inspire our lives and call us to greatness …  

A high mountain might well be a very good book that sends us into the twilight zone, the wilderness, the arms of God.

Maybe it’s music … or art … visit the Huntingdon or Norton Simon - you may well be caught up on a high mountain.

Our trek to church, here in person, or home by the TV … a mountain to climb, a mountain of faith, hope, and love, who knows? … something said, some random thought … a song, a prayer … suddenly we’re there, with Jesus, Elijah, Moses, the disciples.

Within each of us is a mountain, a high mountain … a place within the soul, a pathway within the mind, where the gap between heaven and earth grows thin … God comes down to meet us in the upward reach of our soul … 

A moment in time … just a moment is all it is … comes quickly, closes quickly … and what’s left? who’s left? but Jesus … the Lamb of God.

Come now, says Jesus, there is work to be done.

Amen and Amen!

September 5, 2010, "Becoming You"

Luke 14:25-33

Jesus said to the disciples:

Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Well, that’s right to the point, isn’t it?

What did Jesus mean?

Doesn’t the Bible tell us to honor our father and our mother?

Indeed, it does!

So what is Jesus getting at?

Jesus is preparing his disciples for the work of the kingdom.

Jesus knew that the times were perilous.

Rome was in charge, and the religious leaders of Jerusalem had god all figured out.

It was a dangerous time.

And Jesus well knew that in such times, hard decisions were required.

Like an expedition leader crossing over a high and dangerous mountain pass to bring relief supplies to a remote village.

The leader says to everyone helping, “If you want to go any further, you’ll have to leave your packs behind. From here on out, the path is steep and dangerous, and it’s too hard to carry all your stuff, so just leave it here, beside the trail. And we’re not likely to pass this way again, so you may not ever see it again. And if you have any postcards to send home, do it now at the next village, because some of us may not make it back home” [from Tom Wright’s commentary on Luke].

Let me offer a few ideas on this passage from Karl Barth, but, first, let me tell you a little bit about Barth himself.

Born in 1886 in a Swiss parsonage, Barth grew up to become one of the greatest theologians of the 20^th Century.

Barth was teaching theology in Bonn, Germany, 1932, when Hitler and his Brown Shirts marched into power.

Barth was an early critic of German nationalism sweeping across the nation … the juggernaut of propaganda weaving together god and country, religion an race … Germany first, Germany best of all, Germany uber alles … and God is on our side.

Millions of Christians signed on with Hitler.

They thought that Hitler’s morality was just the ticket to restore a failing nation.

Hitler opposed abortion.

Hitler opposed pornography.

Hitler despised gays.

And he didn’t like aliens.

A message that appealed to millions of Germans.

But it was a confused message.

God and country and faith and flag and morality, all wrapped up into a package that led Germany nation down a darkening way …

All that glitters isn’t gold.

Behind this strange message of god and country, a deeper, darker message of world-conquest and the systematic seizure of Jewish assets and the eventual elimination of the Jewish race.

Hitler’s “morality” was a screen for a darker purpose.

And it worked.

Barth called it for what it all was – false gods, holding a cup of wrath in their hands … a cup filled with hatred … hatred for gypsies, Jews, homosexuals, communists and all non-Aryans … a cup poured out upon Germany and the entire world.

Barth saw it coming!

And made his decision.

All university professors were ordered to begin their lectures with Heil Hitler … Barth refused.

All university professors were required to sign a loyalty oath of absolute allegiance to the Fuhrer … Barth refused.

As a result, Barth was removed from his teaching position and ordered to have no further public appearances.

Thankfully, Barth was able to return home to Switzerland and in Basle, resume teaching and writing.

Others had no such recourse.

Some of Barth’s friends paid with their lives for their allegiance to Jesus Christ … 

When Barth speaks about decision-making, we can pay attention.

Barth says of this passage:

The biblical word for hate is not “emotional aversion.”

It’s not hostility, contempt or repugnance.

It does not apply personally to a mother or a father, but to the ties they embody and represent.

The disciple must be free of all such ties … because the way ahead may be very difficult.

And profound decisions may be necessary.

Not that a disciple would ever neglect the biological or social obligations of family … not at all, but a readiness to set the heart upon God [Church Dogmatics, 3.4.262].

Barth says this decision might even be reached agreeably by the whole family …

I can only think of Barth and his family - the heart-wrenching discussions they had in threatening times of Nazi Germany … and many families like them, in desperate times, as they thought about Christ, and what it means to follow him.

Jesus tells us the truth about discipleship.

We wouldn’t want it any other way, would we?

And we shouldn’t tone it down.

Nor sugarcoat it.

Jesus wants us to be clear.

He’s not recruiting us for a committee …

We’ve all been asked to serve on a committee a time or two.

We know the drill.

We ask about the responsibilities, and we’re told: “Oh, it won’t be much at all … a monthly meeting … maybe some paperwork now and then … but don’t worry about it.”

So we sign on.

And then, “Surprise!”

The monthly meeting turns into three or four.

The paperwork turns into a mountain of correspondence.

When it comes to Jesus,

We’re not buying a pig in a poke.

Jesus is upfront and honest.

There may be times when push comes to shove …

When the chips are down …

No more wiggle room …

You have to decide …

You have to choose …

Jesus tells us the truth:

It may be a costly business, following me.

Sacrifice may be required.

So pay attention.

Think about it.

Don’t start out on this course until you’re ready to go the distance.

Count the cost of the tower you want to build before you lay the first stone.

The price of the fight you want to fight.

As Barth wrote about this passage, I can only imagine him thinking back to the fateful days of the Thirties … the decisions he made … the decisions others made, too … 

Decisions that separated loved ones and families.

Decisions of faith that ended in death for many.

Few of us will ever have to make such momentous decisions.

A friend of mine, an sporting-goods executive, was ordered by his boss to fire 300 employees of a company recently taken over. My friend refused … and resigned his job because of it. He talked with me about it – he was married, but no children. But a home, a career …

Sometimes the road with Christ gets difficult.

Most of our decisions for Christ are on a smaller scale.

But even small-scale decisions are difficult sometimes.

I think small decisions for Christ can be difficult, as well.

We’ve all made decisions for Christ.

And sometimes they’ve been costly!

What e’er the cost we might pay.

It is far less than the price Jesus paid.

However heavy our cross may be,

It is far lighter than the burdens Jesus carried.

To redeem our souls and set us free.

To become who we are best of all: daughters and sons of God.

For that is who we are, and that is who we are becoming!

Amen and Amen.

Prepare

Matthew 4:18-22; 9:9-13; Matthew 10:1-11:1

Goooood morning Covenant Church.

I’m glad to be here, and I know that you are, too.

This is the day the LORD has made, let us rejoice in it and be glad.

A pastor was greeting folks in the lobby after the service … he saw a man he hadn’t seen for long time, and he said to him, “Sir, you need to join the army of the LORD.”
The man said, “What do you mean? I am in the army of the LORD.”
The pastor said, “Well how come I only see you at Christmas and Easter?”
The man leaned close to the pastor and whispered, “I’m in the secret service.”

There are no secrets when it comes to Jesus … he’s building a new community … and Jesus has a strategy …

It’s all about leadership.

Ultimately, everyone of us is someone’s leader.
Parents lead children.
Older children lead their siblings.
Spouses lead spouses.
When you pray for someone, you’re leading them.
When you’re ordering a hamburger at In ‘n Out, you’re a leader for the young lady taking your order … you smile and bless her, you see more than a teen; you see a real person with a real story, wondering where life will take her … you see her family, her hopes and her dreams … bless her with a smile; ask her how it’s going today … it’s amazing what we do for the folks who cross our way, even for a moment.

Hold doors open … pay attention to the person pushing the shopping cart down the ramp at Trader Joe’s … nod your head and say good morning … set the pace; show the way … let your light shine …

We’re all leaders.
We help someone stand a little taller.
We push them along the road a little further.
We help them take a deep breath and start all over again.

It’s all about leadership …

Jesus calls leaders …

But let’s ask one giant question: “What are their qualifications?”

Dianne Carlyle sent this to me the other day … a “memo” from a management firm:

Addressed - TO: Jesus, Son of Joseph
Woodcrafter Carpenter Shop, Nazareth

FROM: Jordan Management Consultants, Jerusalem

Dear Sir:

Thank you for submitting the resumes of the 12 men you have picked for management positions in your new organization. All of them have now taken our battery of tests; we have not only run the results through our computer, but also arranged personal interviews for each of them with our psychologist and vocational aptitude consultant.

It is the staff opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education, and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking. They do not have the “team" concept. We would recommend that you continue your search for persons of experience in managerial ability and proven capability.

Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper. Andrew has absolutely no qualities of leadership. The two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interest above company loyalty. Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale.

We feel that it is our duty to tell you that Matthew has been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau. James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus definitely have radical leanings. They registered a high score on the manic depressive scale.

One of the candidates, however, shows great potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well, has a keen business mind and has contacts in high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious, and responsible. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your controller and right-hand man. All of the other profiles are self-explanatory.

We wish you every success in your new Venture.

Sincerely yours, Jordan Management Consultants

Let’s take a look at the story of the fisherman again:

Peter and Andrew, James and John, had already been turned away from further education to be rabbis … being a rabbi was the dream of every young man and his family … and young women, too.
Like the old Irish families of Boston – to have a son be a priest, a daughter a nun.

The young men in the boats had already gone through basic Hebrew school, but only the best and the brightest were accepted by the rabbis to go on with their education and training.
If you didn’t make the cut, you were sent back to your family to take up the family trade.
These young men had already been passed over.

So when Rabbi Jesus comes along and invites them to take up His yoke – that’s rabbinic language to join His school and learn from Him – there’s no hesitation!
They know who He is … a rabbi of unusual authority … to be invited by Him, goodness sakes alive … like getting an invitation to study at Stanford on a full-ride scholarship … of course, they’ll go with Him!

Amazing how God works!

There’s a remarkable story about this in the Bible (1 Samuel 16).

After King Saul fails, God asks Samuel to anoint a successor.
God sends Samuel to the house of Jesse in Bethlehem, for I have provided for myself a king among Jesse’s sons.

When Samuel arrives, arrangements are made for dinner and worship, and when Jesse’s sons arrive, Samuel says to himself when he sees these strapping young men: Surely the LORD's anointed is here.

One of the young men catches his attention – he’s everything a king should be.

But the LORD says to Samuel, Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance; but the LORD looks on the heart.

Jesse brought out his sons – seven of them … God said no to all of them.

Samuel asks if Jesse has any more sons.
I do have one more son. But he’s the youngest; he’s out keeping the sheep right now while the rest of us are here for the party.

Samuel says, Bring him here. We’ll not sit down for dinner until he comes.

You know the rest of the story … the one ignored by Jesse, the last so, the youngest and the least … that was the one God choose to be the king.

God said, He’s the one.

God at work on two levels …
For the sake of the world … and for the sake of the church.
Talent for the world … gifts for the church.
Common grace for the well-being of the world … supernatural grace for the spiritual formation of the church.


God began by giving David worldly talent – talent and ability to be a shepherd; a leader of sheep … David knew how to fend off predators, how to guide the sheep to good pasture and safe water … David had only a sling for a weapon, but David knew how to use it expertly.

When Samuel anointed David, something happened.
The Spirit came upon David … his natural abilities were transformed: David became a leader of God’s people.
In the very next story, David defeats Goliath … a remarkable combination of natural talent – David knew how to wield a sling – and supernatural grace – so that talent becomes a servant of the Most High God!

Not even David’s father could know it … not even Samuel the prophet could see it!
Amazing how God works!

The fisherman knew a lot about fishing; that’s how God prepared them.
The common grace of love that flows out to the world.
They knew how to make nets and raise a sail … they could read the sea and smell the wind … they could handle their boats in the worst of storms … they knew the markets, how to move their product and win the best price … they were very good at what they did.

But no one thought they could be spiritual leaders.
Amazing how God works!

How do you see yourself today?

I mean, really see yourself?

We may see ourselves as failures …
We may see ourselves as successful …
Chances are, we’re a little of both.
We hope we’re better than we are sometimes, and sometimes we know just how crummy we can be.

But Jesus takes folks just like us …
Amazing how God works!
It’s a spiritual thing … and only God can do it!

Only God can make David into a king.
Only God can make Peter into a preacher of the gospel.
Only God can make us into elders and deacons, Sunday School teachers or youth leaders …

Water needs heat to become steam.
Carbon needs pressure to become a diamond.
Knowledge needs time to become wisdom.
Our common grace talents and abilities need spiritual transformation to become spiritual gifts.

This is the word of the LORD … Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts (Zechariah 4:6).

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives (John 14:27).

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2).

It’s a spiritual thing!

And that’s the good news for all of us!

It’s a level playing field at the foot of the cross.
Starting from scratch.
Bank presidents and single moms … CEOs and construction workers … Harvard graduates and Hispanic immigrants … liberals and conservatives … Republicans and Democrats … folks at the top of their game and folks not even sure where the game is played.
It doesn’t make any difference to God, because God changes all of it, transforms it, rebuilds it, makes all the necessary adjustments … God replants us and prunes the tree; God takes our talent for sheep or fishing and transforms it talent into gifts for the people of God (Ephesians 4:12).

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love (Galatians 5:6).

Have you see Kung Fu Panda?

Great family fun – grandparents, take your grandkids.

It’s all about a fat little panda voiced by Jack Black … a fat little panda named Po, who dreams of being the Dragon Warrior …

By accident, Po ends up with the Furious Five who are all training to be the Dragon Warrior … he doesn’t fit; he doesn’t belong; they don’t want him; he’s overweight and out of shape, and his father wants him to be a noodle soup expert.
As far as the world is concerned, he’s no Dragon Warrior.

But Oogway the Master looks at the Furious Five – they’re all good, they’re fast, well-trained … and then Po, the fat little panda … all he has are his dreams, and his noodle soup … but he’s the one … he’s the Dragon Warrior who will bring peace to the land. The world can’t see it; even Po can’t see it. But the Master sees it!

When the Master calls the fishermen, who would’ve guessed?

It’s a spiritual thing.

Amen!

Follow Me - January 27, 2008

Matthew 4:12-18

Thanks to Rob Bell, Mars Hill Bible Church, Grandville, MI, who introduced me to the First Century world of the rabbi in a message seven years ago, entitled, “In the Dust of the Rabbi,” and then in his book, Velvet Elvis.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Come, follow me!” and they did; just like that.

Has that story ever struck you as odd?
Is this the way discipleship is supposed to happen? Jesus calls and away we go?

It hasn’t helped that too many movies portray Jesus as a dreamy-eyed mystic – white bathrobe, Miss America sash, beautiful hair, far-away voice: “Come follow me!”
The disciples look heavenward; light shines on their faces - ethereal music – they float off their boats and follow Jesus.
I don’t think so!

There’s a real story here.

About a Rabbi and His students – four fishermen from the Sea of Galilee.
Actually fishermen is a bit misleading – “fisher-teens” might be more accurate – late teens, early twenties at most.

Let’s get into our time machine and pay a visit to first century Palestine. Like Rod Taylor in the 1960 movie version of H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine – fasten your seat belt. Our next stop: the world in which Jesus lived.
The world of the rabbi.

I’ll move the lever – we can hear the whirling motors, we begin to spin, the clock ticks backward, 1950, 1900, 1500, 750, 325, and begins to slow, 150, 75 … and the year 30, when Jesus began His work.
Bright sun and hot winds.
Welcome to first century Palestine.
The world of the rabbi.

A rabbi is the most respected person in the Jewish community – the rabbi is the best of the best – Harvard, Stanford and Yale, Princeton, Duke and MIT – it’s a long and arduous road to become a rabbi.

A rabbi began his official work around the age 30, as Jesus did following His baptism.

But a rabbi’s education began at age five or six – to study the Torah!
What we call the Old Testament.
Genesis to the Italian book Malachi –

Every Jew lives with the text, morning to night, birth to death – a people of the book.
Memorizing it from beginning to end, discussing and debating it’s meaning – playing scripture games – someone recites a sentence from Isaiah, and others repeat what comes before and after.
The art of questions: a woman had seven husbands; whose wife will she be in the life to come? Is it lawful for a Jew to pay taxes to the Romans? What must I do to inherit eternal life?

And lots of parables – stories with a twist; images to tease heart and mind: the prodigal son; the pearl of great price; the vineyard.

It’s all about the text – Moses, the prophets, the Psalms - because the text is survival.
The text preserves and empowers the Jews in a hard world.

So began a child’s education.
How young should a child be to begin instruction in the Word of God?
One rabbi said: “Under the age of six, we do not receive a child as a pupil; from six upwards accept him and stuff him [with Torah] like an ox.”
Imagine the early morning hours in the synagogue of Nazareth – boys and girls fidgeting - scared and eager; the rabbi, wise and respected.

On the first day of class the rabbi would take honey and cover each student’s slate – a wonderful treat for every child.
Honey was a sign of God’s favor. There was nothing finer, nothing sweeter, nothing more full of pleasure than honey.
The rabbi would rub honey all over the slate. And then he would say, “Now class, lick the honey off the slate and off your fingers.”
As the students did this, the rabbi would say, “May the words of God be sweet to your taste, sweeter than honey to your mouth” (Psalm 119:103). May the words of God be the most pleasurable, the most enjoyable thing you could even comprehend.

First level: Bet Sefer – “House of the Book.”
By the time children finish Bet Sefer, around age 10, they know the Pentateuch by heart – the whole thing: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.
Memorized.

Is this kind of memorizing possible today?
Watch a 14-year old plugged into her iPod – thousands of lyrics memorized.

Children who demonstrated ability with the text would be invited to the next level – Bet Talmud – “House of Learning.”
By age 13 or 14, the top students had the entire Bible memorized.

Think of Mary’s Magnificat – her song to the LORD is all Scripture – remember, Mary was about 14 when Gabriel paid her a visit – Mary, like all Hebrew children, knew the text well.

When Jesus’ parents found Him in the temple, how old was He? He was 12.
And what was He doing?
He was sitting among the teachers, listening to them, asking them questions – they were amazed at his understanding and His answers.
Around the age 14 or 15, the best of the best continued their studies. The rest are sent home to learn the family trade and begin their own families.

The best of the best ultimately apply to a well-known rabbi to become one of the rabbi’s talmadim – one of his disciples.
The goal of a disciple was more than just learning – the goal was to be just like the rabbi.
Guys, remember buying a pipe in college because your favorite professor smoked a pipe? How about that tweed jacket with the elbow patches?
Ladies, you did you hair the way she wore her hair and held a pencil to your lips as she did while lecturing.

More than learning, it was all about living.
When a student applied to a rabbi, he was asking to take the rabbi’s yoke upon him.
Remember when Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you”?
The “yoke” was the rabbi’s teaching – the rabbi’s way of life.

If the rabbi decided that a student had what it takes, he would say to the student: “Come, follow me!”
The equivalent of the “big envelope” in the mail from the university of your choice.
Rejection notices come in small envelopes: “Thanks for applying. Your strengths and abilities are better suited for another school. Good Luck.” Which simply means: “Get outta here and don’t bother us again!”

Acceptance comes in a large envelope.
“Welcome! We’re glad to have you as a student! Enclosed, please find housing applications, and financial aid forms.”

The big envelope.
“Come, and follow me!”

Let’s return to the Sea of Galilee.
Why were James and John, Peter and Andrew fishing?
They got the small envelope.
They didn’t make the cut.
The dream was over.

Jewish boys dreamed of being a rabbi … and girls did, too. But girls couldn’t, which makes the story of Mary and Martha so fascinating – when Jesus visited their home, where does Mary sit?
“At His feet” says the text.
Code language for being a student.

Martha’s consternation over Mary’s behavior is embarrassment – Mary’s audacity, behaving as if she were a rabbinical student, is improper and unbecoming for a woman.
Perhaps Martha was a wee bit envious.
Jesus affirmed Mary’s status that day – she got the big envelope!

Every family wanted their sons to be rabbis.

Like the Irish families of old Boston – to have a priest in the family, or a nun – a mark of distinction, a source of pride and gratitude.
“Yes, my son is priest. My daughter’s a nun.”

Every culture has “status” positions – a physician at the Mayo Clinic; an attorney with a Washington law firm – a poet or a painter (well, scratch those last two).
In Palestine, first century, “My son is a rabbi!”

James and Andrew, John and Peter were fishing because they weren’t the best of the best.
But on a memorable day, a rabbi walked the shore of the sea – his reputation already established – a rabbi of distinction and unusual insight.
“You have heard it said, but I say unto you.” This rabbi teaches with an uncommon authority.

Of course they knew Him. Everyone knew the rabbis.

Rabbi Jesus says, “Come, follow me.”
They didn’t even have to apply!
He choose them!
The big envelope.
A second chance for them.

Remember sixth grade recess?
When the teacher would call on two of the best softball players to be captains, and then have them choose their teams.
I hated it.
I wasn’t much of an athlete – I couldn’t hit a ball if you’d paid me.
So, the teams are chosen – the best first, the rest, and finally, the leftovers only because the teacher made it so.
Without the teacher’s assignment, the least of the least would have been cleaning erasers.
“Come, follow me.”

Like Tiger Woods calling you up tonight to play golf with him next week at Pebble Beach.
Or George Clooney inviting you to his home in Italy, all expenses paid.
“Yes, of course, we’ll leave our nets, we’ll leave home, to follow a rabbi.”

And what about their Dad the next day?
At the Coffee Company – “Ah, you notice my boys aren’t here with me today? Well, I tell you, the rabbi Jesus invited them to follow Him.” And all the men give Dad a high-five and hoist their cups in salute.
And Mom at the bowling alley, “You’ll never believe what happened yesterday; my boys were invited by Rabbi Jesus to take up His yoke. We’ll miss them, of course, but we’re so proud. A dream come true.”

So began a three-year journey for Andrew and James, John and Peter – students of Rabbi Jesus – following Him closely, so closely that at the end of the day, they’re literally covered in the dust of the rabbi – wanting to be just like Him.

That’s why Peter got out of the boat and walked on water – if his rabbi could do it, he could do it, too.
And Peter did. Peter walked on water.
And when Peter grew frightened and began to sink into the angry sea, Jesus said, ”You of little of faith. Why did you doubt?”

Doubt?
Did Peter doubt Jesus?
Peter doubted himself.
“I can’t do this. I’m not capable!”
Self-doubt disturbs Jesus more than anything else.
Jesus knows what we’re capable of doing – that’s why He calls us –
“Come, follow me!”
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me.”
Our rabbi believes in us.
He knows we can be just like Him.” Amen!