In The Dust Of The Rabbi

I saw a video this past weekend that was one of the best I had ever seen. It is published by NOOMA and is done by Rob Bell by the title of Dust. In the video Rob Bell explains how rabbis in Jesus' day picked their disciples. He also explained the educational process of the Jewish student. The first stage is called Beth-Safar. This was for kids aged 5 or 6 to age 10. During this time, the children would memorize the Torah. The best students would continue their education in the next stage called Beth-Talmud. This is for those aged 10-14, here they would memorize all the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures. So the by the end of age fourteen they had the whole Old Testament memorized. The next stage of Hebrew education was only for the best of the best. Beth-Midrash was for those aged fourteen and above. This is where they studied the oral and written law.

This is the position that every good Jewish boy wanted to be in. To become a rabbi, or a teacher, was the highest honor to be had. To be a disciple of a rabbi meant not only would you know what the rabbi taught, but you wanted to be just like the rabbi.

When Jesus chose the twelve they were not the best of the best. They were not studying under a rabbi. They were fishermen, tax collectors, and zealots. He sought them out showing them and us that he only wants a heart of service not the greatest intellect or the greatest talent.

There is a phrase in the Mishna that says, "May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi." The idea was that if you followed behind your rabbi on the dusty roads, you would get covered in his dust. Meaning, you were following his so closely to be so much like him that you are glorified to be covered with the dust he left behind. That is how close a disciple wanted to be to his rabbi.

The question is: is Jesus your rabbi? Is his dust all over you? Have you so dedicated your life to Him that his dust covers every aspect of your life? May the dust of Jesus cover you!