Discipleship

When the Rabbi Says "Come"

When it came time to choose his disciples and launch his ministry, Jesus did not go to Jerusalem - the first place we might have gone - but to the sparsely populated hill surrounding the Sea of Galilee.  Why?  What was it about Galilee that captured his attention above all other places in Israel?

Scythopolis vs Bethsaida: cities in contrast

Scythopolis: big town, with amphitheater, schools, temples.  But Jesus did not come here to find disciples.

Bethsaida:  a fishing village.  Part of a triangle of towns: Korazin-Capernaum-Bethsaida.  People here lived an "ordinary" way of life.  Five of the 12 disciples came from here.

The building blocks of discipleship:
- living in community
- Torah (Bible) and debate about its interpretation
- school (beit midrash) for learning of scripture
- passion, and a desire to be like the rabbi