“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.“
-John 3:17

Jesus was a rabbi. That’s what everybody called him: “Rabbi.” He was a teacher that wanted his students to go beyond just learning his principles.

Jesus wanted his students to look like him. He wanted his students to walk like him and talk like him. He wanted his students to joke like him, eat like him, and treat people around them as he would treat people around him. In Jesus’ day, every rabbi was not just interested in teaching principles, but in making clones of themselves. That’s something we often miss in our western worldview.

Jesus wanted obedient apprentices. When we look at the great commission, we often think Jesus said, “Go out and preach the gospel.” He didn’t say that. He said, “Go out and teach them to obey everything I’ve commanded you, and baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” It was very different. Jesus commands his disciples to go out and make disciples, make students, make apprentices of his way of life.

Prayer: Jesus, I am so blessed to be your student. As your student, I will share your life with others, bringing more apprentices to sit at your feet and learn your ways. Amen.

Reflection: How have you been a student of Jesus? What have been your greatest lessons learned?