Jn. 1:35 Again, the next day, Yochanan stood with two of his disciples.
Jn. 1:36 And looking at Yeshua as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”
Jn. 1:37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Yeshua.
Jn. 1:38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi, where are You staying?”
What we have here is the common way in which a person became a disciple of a Rabbi. They would normally follow him at a distance for some time until he acknowledged their presence by asking them, “Who do you seek?” Their response would be, “Rabbi, where do you live?”
Jn. 1:39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).
If the Rabbi rejected the potential disciple, he would say something to the effect, “It is none of your business.” If he accepted them as a disciple, his response would be, “Come and see.” Here, the Rabbi Yeshua accepts His first two disciples. This would also be a good time to bring out another point. The Hebrew word translated disciple is Talmid, which would be far better translated student. It is an unfortunate fact that today we try to make disciples out of people who are not very good students. Discipleship, then and now, was not for everyone. It is from these disciples that came the Rabbis, teachers, and elders of the community. That is the way it should be now. Because we do not really understand the Biblical concept of discipleship, we can end up trying to put people in a position that causes only frustration for them because they are not called into it.
The concept of discipleship, which was created by members of the Great Assembly (Pirke Avoth 1:1) during he time of Ezra and others, was intended as a way of beginning to train future leaders of Israel. The Hebrew word for disciple is "talmid" (talmidim for plural). Normally only the best and brightest men (and some women) were selected to travel and study under a Rabbi (Sofer or Tanna) until they had reached a level of competency in their studies of the Law that satisfied the Rabbi. A teacher's responsibility was not merely to impart knowledge, but rather to give his students a strong base of values and principles which would continue to give them strength. In Luke 14:25-33 Yeshua gave a very vivid description of what was required to be a true disciple of the Lord. Once they had completed their training thy would receive sort of an ordination (not official like it is today) an they were then considered Rabbis (read John, chapter 17). Yeshua is called "Rabbi" several times in the Gospels, indicating that He went through this discipleship process Himself.
Source: Luke 14:25-33; John, chapter 17
This leads us to the real meaning of discipleship. To begin with, we need to have a basic understanding of the Jewish education system. Originally, the education of children was entrusted to the father, who was commanded to teach them morning and evening, at home and abroad (Deut. 6:7). For religious education during the Biblical period, the parents could always invite that assistance of Levites who moved from place to place. The average Jewish father would deny himself the common necessities of life in order to provide a good education for his son. Some scholars assert that the ignorance of the average Jew today is simply terrifying. If it is to be coped with at all, Jewish education must start with a child and must continue through adolescence to adulthood. This same truth should apply to the church also.
Jewish Education System: There are two groups of Jews in the first century Israel. Group one were the Judeans who returned from Babylon around 500 B.C.E. and settled predominantly around Jerusalem. These Jews were very traditional. The Sadducees were formed out of this group. Group two were the Galileans who returned from the Captivity around 150-50 B.C.E. They founded the towns of Nazareth, Canaan, Corizine, Bethseada, and Capernaum. These people were radical, progressive, and passionate. The major sect of this area was the Pharisees and the Rabbis there performed healings and other miracles.
The Galilean School: there were three levels of education in the Galileans system, although most students did not reach them. The Rabbi worked for the entire community. Beit HaSefer was the elementary school for both boys and girls with the age ranging from five to twelve. The girls were only taught reading and writing. The boys studied Torah for all their subjects: math, science, history and faith. In order to advance to the next level of education, the boys had to commit to memory and be able to recite the entire Torah.
Beit HaMidrash was the middle school or junior high school. Only boys went to this level, only the ones who had memorized the Torah and had shown promise. In this school they learned the Mishnah or Oral Law. Questions-and-answer sessions between student and teacher were added to their memorization drills. They also began to memorize the Haftorah (rest of the Hebrew Scriptures) and study in the synagogues. Only around 10% of the boys made it to this level, while the others would begin to work and learn the family trade or business. The gifted students who continued usually studied half the day and learned a trade the other half.
Beit HaTalmud:is the final level of education in the Galilean system. Here interpretation ad application of the Talmud was taught. Only one out of one hundred from Beit HaMidrash made it to this level. These students had memorized the entire Hebrew Bible. Around age fifteen the truly gifted would ravel and study with a famous Rabbi (one seen as having authority) as a talmid or disciple. The goal of the talmid was to "become like his Rabbi," and a the age of thirty gifted talmidim often became Rabbis themselves with their own disciples following them.
Talmidim: being a talmid (disciple) was not a simple matter, bu was someone with an intense commitment to become just like his Rabbi. Gifted students would listen to various Rabbisd and look for one they wanted to be like. After being accepted, the talmid would then "live" with their Rabbi. He would follow him everywhere, every day and every hour of the day without asking where the Rabbi was going. The talmid rarely left his Rabbi's side for fear that he would miss a teachable moment. These gifted talmidim, after a long period of training under the Rabbi, went on to become Rabbis, Sages, and Heads of Academies. They became the leaders of Israel.
What about discipleship in today's church? It is no secret that the Gentile church down through history has made every effort to get away from its Jewish roots. Because of that he church has paid some heavy consequences. Discipleship is one of those areas. Because of cultural differences, it would be difficult to set up an educational system similar to the Jewish one in our churches. But, when was the last time you heard of a 12-year old boy in one of our churches who had memorized the complete New Testament, much less the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). We simply do not expect enough out of our children today. Cookies, Kool-Ade, and coloring books will not get the job done.
"If ayone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever dos not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. So likewise, whoever of you who does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple." (Luke 14:26,27,33).
Only a very gifted youth of at least fifteen years of age could be considered for becoming a disciple. And as Yeshua made it very clear, only those willing to give up everything could be His disciples. The reason is obvious. Discipleship training was intended to train future leaders for His movement. They were to be the future shepherd of His flock, the church. Completely giving up everything in today's culture may not be possible, but our churches mus begin to train its future leaders at the earliest possible age. Too often today we have men entering the ministry that are simply not qualified. Very few can afford to go away to some expensive college, so the training needs to be done in the local church.
Source: Luke 14:26,27,33
Jn. 1:40 One of the two who heard Yochanan speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
In N.T. times the priesthood was in turmoil. The majority of the priestly families had formed the Sadducean Party, denying the doctrine of the resurrection and joining the wicked dynasty of King Herod. Only a few, such as Zachariah, remained zealous for God. Others left the Temple service entirely, withdrawing into the desert and becoming the Dead Sea Sect. This was probably the case of Yochanan haMatbil and the Gospel writer, Yochanan the Priest, a disciple of haMatbil.
The Biblical account here gives us the name of only one of the “two disciples” mentioned, namely Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. The other is left mysteriously anonymous, but with a little reading between the lines, we can assume that his identity is none other than Yochanan the Gospel writer, whom we could also call Yochanan the Priest.” This is especially plausible since it is clear that the writer of Yochanan’s Gospel is characteristically humble and prefers not to refer to himself by name. He prefers the nomenclature “Dear Disciple” or "the d“disciple that Yeshua loved.”
Anonymity, then, seems to be a key to understanding the priest known as Yochanan. In any case, the Gospel story makes it clear that this anonymous disciple of Yochanan haMatbil was a companion of Andrew and that both left haMatbil to follow Yeshua. Andrew, in turn, recruited Simon Peter who comes to the center stage in many of the subsequent Gospel stories. But, our anonymous disciple remains in the shadows.
As the story of Yeshua’s life and ministry continues, Yochanan the Priest doesn’t appear as one of the main characters “on the scene,” such as the ever present Peter. Again, we shouldn’t confuse him with Yochanan, son of Zebedee, who was a member of Yeshua’s inner circle. Perhaps this was simply an aspect of Yochanan the Priest’s humility. He was quite content to stand on the sidelines as an intense observer, filtering out each event of Yeshua’s ministry through his own priestly perspective. If he did have to be gone from time to time, he certainly could garner the details of any events from the other disciples when he returned.
But, there is possibly another reason for Yeshua’s affection for the “Dear Disciple” — namely the simple fact that Yochanan was indeed a priest. As mentioned earlier, most of the priests were members of the wealthy and influential party of the Sadducees. To have such a person as a disciple would have been a great honor for Yeshua, giving His movement more credibility with the people. Moreover, if he had been an Essene, he would have been a seeker after God and the kind of spiritual walk that Yeshua offered.
Jn. 1:41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah.”
This statement will have some importance to play when we come to Matthew 16:17 in segment no. 082.
Jn. 1:42 And he brought him to Yeshua. Now when Yeshua looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Johan. You shall be called Cephas.”
Evidently Andrew and Simon do not decide to become disciples of Yeshua at this time. Later on, in segment no. 044, we will find these men in their boats with their father Zebedee. They have been fishing all night when Yeshua approaches them. The Synoptic Gospels then record that they forsake all and follow Yeshua.
Jn. 1:43 The following day Yeshua wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.”
Jn. 1:44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
Jn. 1:45 Philip found Nathaniel and said to him, “We have found Him of who Moses in the Law, and also the prophets wrote — Yeshua of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
Jn. 1:46 And Nathaniel said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, Come and see.”
What was a Nazarene (Notzrim?). A Notzrim was someone who was despised and rejected. Jewish literature does not inform us why this is so. Nathaniel’s question reflects the negative viewpoint people had for Nazarenes. People who were from Nazareth were people who were despised and rejected.
Jn. 1:47 Yeshua saw Nathaniel coming toward Him, and said to Him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile.”
Jn. 1:48 Nathaniel said to Him, “How do You know me?” Yeshua answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
Jn. 1:49 Nathaniel answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel.”
Jn. 1:50 Yeshua answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these!”
Jn. 1:51 And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
When Yeshua saw Nathaniel coming, He calls him an “Israelite in whom there is no guile.” When Nathaniel hears this, he asks, “How do You know me?” Yeshua’s answer is a strange one: “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” What is going on here? In this story, there are several items of interest from a Jewish perspective. Nathaniel believed because Yeshua previously saw him under a fig tree meditating. He is now about to tell him other things to let Nathaniel know this is no ordinary Man he is dealing with. In Jewish literature it is recorded that one of the best places to meditate is under a fig tree. One example is Midrash Rabba 62:2 where it tells of Rabbi Akiba and his disciples being accustomed to sitting under a fig tree to study.
Source: Midrash Rabba 62:2
It wasn’t that he was merely sitting under a fig tree, but that Nathaniel was meditating upon Scripture. What impressed him about Yeshua is not only that he saw him under a fig tree, a supernatural feat, but that Yeshua also knew what Scripture he was meditating on. An Israelite in the O.T. in whom there was much guile, and was even famous for much guile, was Jacob. Jacob was also the first person to be called Israel. By calling him an Israelite and using the term “guile,” Yeshua was connecting Nathaniel with Jacob. Nathaniel recognized this because he happened to be meditating upon a special portion of Genesis which talked about Jacob.
To further let Nathaniel know that Yeshua was actually reading his mind from a distance, a supernatural feat, Yeshua gives him another clue. The specific Scripture Nathaniel was meditating on was Genesis 28:12. In that Scripture, Jacob is forced to flee from the home of his father because of his guile. While he is spending the night in Bethel, his first stop, he has a dream. In this dream, he sees angels ascending and descending on a ladder from heaven. So, Yeshua knew what was in the mind of Nathaniel. It is this recognition on the part of Nathaniel that causes his response, “You are the Son of God!. You are the King of Israel!” Yeshua was telling Nathaniel that the dream that Jacob had was a foreshadowing of His coming.
Source: Genesis 28:12
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