The Spiritual Weapon Of A Willing Spirit
I. JESUS BECOMES A RABBI
A. Jesus grew up in Nazareth and taught in the area of Galilee for several years. Nazareth was about 15 miles from
the city of Scythopolis. Scythopolis was a major city with Arenas, theatres, wide streets lined with pillars, a Greco / Roman
university, a complex sewer system, and running water.
B. Jesus grew up in the Jewish educational system. As a little boy, he would have gone to Hebrew “elementary
school” called “Beth Sepher” until age thirteen. Here he would have memorized the Torah and been able to discuss
the concepts of the first five books with skill and understanding. Luke tells us that Jesus excelled in his schooling at
Beth Sepher.
Luke 2:46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and
asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.
1. After Beth Sepher, young girls went on to get married and begin their own families. Most boys were finished with
school at this point and went to work learning the family trade. The gifted students would go on to the high school
equivalent called “Beth Midrash”. Beth Midrash was taught by the Rabbi and the community was welcomed to sit in on
the instruction as their schedules allowed.
2. The most gifted and passionate students who graduated from Beth Midrash would then seek out a rabbi that they
wanted to be like and request to be his “Talmid” or disciple. The rabbi would interview the prospective disciple and
perhaps require a period of time to observe him before accepting him. Most were rejected, but the select few were
accepted as “talmidim” (disciples).
3. The goal of the talmid wasn’t just to know what the rabbi knew, but to be like the rabbi in every way. The talmid
lived 24/7 with the rabbi and observed him in every type of situation in life. He observed how the rabbi interacted with
friends, enemies, family, difficulties, and successes. He learned intimately how his rabbi applied the law and the prophets.
4. Jesus would have completed Beth Midrash and then pursued a rabbi to follow as a talmid. Imagine being Jesus’
rabbi! After Jesus training he would have been “ordained” by his rabbi to go and make his own disciples as a rabbi.
5. Jesus was called “Rabbi” by Nicodemus the Pharisee, by Sadducees, and by his own disciples. Two levels of
rabbis existed in this system. Most rabbis practiced a trade while also teaching the Torah. They were commonly called
"Torah teachers" or "teachers of the law." They had memorized the Torah and become master storytellers, but they were
limited to teaching only the accepted interpretations of other rabbis. Some rabbis, who achieved special recognition
and wisdom, taught their own interpretations and were able to support themselves entirely by teaching. These brilliant
rabbis, such as Jesus, were recognized as having “s'mikeh”, the authority to introduce new teachings. They had
memorized the entire Old Testament, were exceptional teachers, and were trusted to provide new insights from God's
Word.
Mark 1:22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the
teachers of the law.
Matthew 5:21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be
subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again,
anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in
danger of the fire of hell.
II. JESUS CHOOSES DISCIPLES
A. Peter, James, John, Phillip and Andrew were all 15-18 yr old boys who hadn’t moved beyond grade school. They
weren’t gifted students and they weren’t promoted to Beth Midrash and so they began to learn the family business in
order to carry on their father’s trade of fishing. They came from the tiny fishing village of Bethsaida with a population of
600-800 people. The population was likely comprised of 8-10 families who lived in multiple dwelling, ranch style
complexes surrounding a courtyard.
B. Students always had to pursue the rabbi and apply to be a talmid. Rarely were they accepted. When they were
accepted, it was because they had great aptitude, passion, and persistence. In the case of Phillip, Peter, Andrew, James,
and John, the great rabbi came and chose them. They weren’t great students, they weren’t bright and ambitious, they
were average at best. Jesus’ call was a call out of mediocrity into greatness and significance. This is why they dropped
their nets and immediately followed him.
Matt. 4:18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother
Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will
make you fishers of men.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit — fruit that will last. Then
the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
III. JESUS’ LEADERSHIP TEAM
A. These disciples of Jesus were uneducated teenage boys who spent their days together in manual labor on fishing boats.
Think of what a group of young adult males on boats and in the water are like day after day.
B. Jesus was the happiest man that had ever lived and he was only in his early thirties when he led this group of disciples.
Psalms 45:7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of
gladness more than Your companions.
1. Jesus feeds the 5000 (Mark 6:36-38)
2. Jesus walks on the water (Matt 14:22-31, Mark 6:47-48, Luke 8:31)
C. As Jewish young men, the disciples had a specific messianic paradigm. In their mind, all the messianic prophecies
of the old testament would culminate in one seamless series of events. They expected Jesus to fulfill, within their
generation, all of the messianic prophecies that we know as 2nd coming prophecies.
1. Is 63, Zech 9:9-10, 14:12
2. These young men were expecting Jesus to be an anointed Rabbi, a military general wielding miraculous powers,
and a brilliant political leader that would lead Israel to international prominence.
D. They were full of zeal, ambition and competition. They were dreaming of greatness, military conquest, and of
reigning as the mighty men of the great King (Ps 48).
Matthew 20:20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from
Him. 21 And He said to her, “What do you wish?”
She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your
kingdom.”
Luke 9:43 And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he
said to his disciples, 44 “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the
hands of men.” 45 But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it,
and they were afraid to ask him about it. 46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the
greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them,
“Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent
me. For he who is least among you all — he is the greatest.”
Luke 22:24 Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.
Matt. 16:15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You
are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not
revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build
my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
IV. PETER’S CRISIS AS AN UNFAITHFUL TALMID
A. Peter was the most boastful and ambitious of all the disciples. The dream of Peter’s heart was to be whole-hearted,
self-sacrificing, and heroic. He wanted to give it all and to have it all.
Luke 22:28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father
conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the
twelve tribes of Israel. 31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon,
that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he replied, “Lord, I am
ready to go with you to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today,
you will deny three times that you know me.”
John 13:36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow
now, but you will follow later.” 37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Then
Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown
me three times!
Mark 14:27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be
scattered.’ 28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will
not.” 30 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “today — yes, tonight — before the rooster crows twice you yourself will
disown me three times.” 31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And
all the others said the same.
B. Peter did disown Jesus three times and then he went outside the city walls and wept bitterly. If a talmid disowned
his rabbi, the one he had pledged to follow and be like, he would be thrown out of the talmidim and never received in
again. This is why Peter goes back to fishing. His days as one of the priviledged disciples of a great rabbi are over.
There’s nothing left for him but to go back to the family business and waste away his years in the meaningless and the
mundane.
V. PETERS RESTORATION - JOHN 21
A. Jesus comes to Peter on the same stretch of beach he first met him on. When Peter realizes it is his great rabbi calling
to them again, I imagine he flashed back to the memory of his initial calling and a faint hope began to rise in his heart.
“Jesus did the unthinkable once, could he possibly do it again?” I think it’s this faint hope that causes Peter to jump
out of the boat into the water and swim to Jesus.
B. Jesus exposes the truth about Peter’s weak but sincere love.
1. Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me more than these”? – I think he is talking about the fish. In other words, “Peter,
what do you really want? Do you want to give your life for this or for me?”
2. There are two words for love used here. Agape and Phileo
a. Spiros Zodhiates defines Agape as the kind of love that willingly and unselfishly sacrifices itself for the object of
devotion.
b. Phileo is defined by Zodhiates as a friendship kind of love, a love that shares similar interests with another.
3. Jesus exposes the fact that Peter’s love is only phileo love. This is painful to Peter. It’s out in the open and everyone
knows that he doesn’t have what it takes to be a true talmid.
4. In this vulnerable moment Jesus looks at him and says in essence, “Go make your own disciples, you qualify,
your weak but sincere love is enough Peter!, one day you will be the kind of disciple that lays your life down”.
5. Finally, Jesus looks at him and says the unthinkable, “Follow me! I choose you again Peter! I believe you can
be like me. Your on the team.”
6. Peter ends up being crucified upside down and lays down his life in the kind of whole-hearted heroic devotion
he always longed for.