Covered in His Dust (Part 3)

One day when Simon was mending the nets on the shore, Andrew came running towards him, shouting, “Simon, Simon, we have found the Messiah!” As he approached, he grabbed and pulled Simon’s arm, excitedly saying, “You must come with me at once! I have met the Messiah!” Simon loosened Andrew’s grip and said, “What are you talking about, Andrew? You’ve lost your mind. What makes you think you have found the Messiah?” Andrew blurted out, “I was with John the Baptist and he pointed to a man coming toward us and said, ‘Behold the Lamb of God!’ Another disciple and myself started following this man and He stopped and asked us, ‘What do you seek?’ We responded, ‘Rabbi, where are you staying?’ He then invited us to come and see where He was staying. We followed and remained with Him for the day. His name is Jesus. I couldn’t wait to tell you and bring you to Him. Please, Simon, come with me!” Simon hesitated a moment, and then decided he had nothing to lose. He dropped his tangled nets and ran behind his brother. When they arrived where Jesus was staying, Andrew went to Jesus and said, “Rabbi, this is my brother.” Jesus looked at Simon and said, “You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas (Peter).” Simon was stunned. With his first introduction to this rabbi, he had been renamed. Who was this man? Something was very unusual about Him? Why did He rename him? These were questions swirling in Simon’s head.

Several weeks had passed since this encounter with Jesus, the rabbi. Simon and Andrew were casting their nets out into the sea. They weren’t far from the shore when they heard a familiar voice call out to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men!” Simon glanced over his shoulder and saw Jesus standing on the shore, beckoning them to come. He could hardly believe it. This rabbi was calling him to come and follow Him. Surely Jesus knew he had been rejected as a disciple, Simon thought. Otherwise, why would he be fishing and not following another rabbi, being covered in his dust? This rabbi, the most respected and talked about person in their region was now inviting him to be His disciple. How unexpected! How honouring! He immediately left the nets and followed Jesus. This had to be the best day of his life! Jesus invited other disciples that had also been rejected to follow Him. Simon would hear Him say to each one, “Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Wow, Peter thought this was unimaginable—a rabbi not requiring him to answer all His questions, a rabbi who didn’t expect him to be the ‘best of the best of the best,’ a rabbi who actually chose him and not him choosing the rabbi, a rabbi that accepted him with all his failures. This rabbi offered him an easy and light yoke, one he wouldn’t carry alone, but rather, share it with Him. This was definitely a yoke that he was willing to bow his neck for. This was a rabbi Peter wanted to follow.

Peter knew Jesus believed in him even when he didn’t believe in himself. He was the only rabbi that searched for His disciples. Many would be called, but few would be chosen. Many would be used, but He would only walk with a few. He chose Peter and appointed him to go and bear fruit—fruit that would last. Jesus wouldn’t demand from him, or the other disciples, spiritual activity, but would rather encourage them to be fruitful. How freeing this was compared to what the other rabbis required. Jesus didn’t expect His disciples to perform for Him. They had Jesus’ approval without trying to win it. Peter knew that Jesus had faith in him and the others; and although they had failed by the other rabbis’ standards, He knew they had what it took to be His disciples.

For the next three years Peter and the other disciples would follow closely behind their Rabbi, Jesus. Jesus was true to His promise that His yoke was easy and light. The other rabbis would teach their interpretation of the Scriptures, but fail to practise what they taught. They would weigh their disciples down with unbearable, religious demands and strict rules; yet, were unwilling to help those who were struggling under the burden of the rules. They would do good things so others would take notice of them—recite lengthy passages of Scriptures; pray long prayers; take the most important seats at a feast or in the synagogue; and expect people to greet them with respect in the market and want them to call them “Rabbi.” Their yoke was heavy and burdensome. 

Peter was aware that Jesus was worthy of honour and respect and should be served, but he never demanded it. In fact, his life exemplified a servant leader who practised what He taught, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Peter shuddered to think what he would have been like if he had become another rabbi’s talmudeen? It seemed God had spared him of that, and for some strange reason, had chosen him to follow this great, humble, Rabbi, Jesus.

Peter, the disciple, would have many humbling lessons to learn along his journey with Jesus. Despite this, he never grew tired of hearing the old men call out to him, when his robe was covered in dust and dirt, “May you be covered in His dust, my friend!”

(Chapter taken from my book “The Treasure Within - Searching beneath the surface.”)