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Scripture: Mark 9.38-50; Romans 5.18-6.4


What is a disciple? One who closely follows a Rabbi or Teacher. Notice the word closely.

An early Jewish sage once said to disciples, “Cover yourself with the dust of your rabbi’s feet.”

Rob Bell tells of a friend who once saw a rabbi go into a bathroom and his disciples followed him in. They didn’t want to miss anything the rabbi might say or do while he was in the bathroom!

In Orthodox Judaism children are taught the Torah, the first five books of the Bible. Torah means teachings, instructions, or simply “Way.” Israel believed that following Torah, God’s word to Moses, was simply the best way to live. Jews in Jesus day prided themselves on teaching their children Torah. Education wasn’t a luxury, but rather a necessity for life. Six year old children memorized Torah at their local synagogue under the instruction of their rabbi. By the age of ten most students would know the Torah by heart – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy – memorized. After that, the better students would go on to Talmud, the rest of the Old Testament, while those who didn’t would begin to learn the family trade.

At fourteen, the very best students would apply to become disciples, talmidim, of a rabbi. A student would present himself to a rabbi and ask to become a disciple. The rabbi would choose the disciples who he thought, not only could learn, but become like the rabbi himself. Can this kid cut it? Can this kid take my yoke upon himself?

At one point, Jesus reminds his disciples, “You did not choose me – I chose you.” And whom Jesus choose. Fishermen, tax collectors. Why were they doing these things when Jesus called them? Because they weren’t the best of the best. They were the average students, the not-good-enoughs. That’s who Jesus wanted.

Jesus believes these average fishermen can do it. He believes they can become like Him.

“John said to him, “Rabbi, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbid him, because he was not following us.”

What’s the disciples beef? Some guy is using their Rabbi’s good name, Jesus, to do his own stuff. Some would-be disciple who hasn’t taken up Jesus yoke is going around doing good under his nametag. The disciples have a legitimate point. Not only that, but they were probably just a little miffed and dismayed that they had just come off the experience of failing to heal a demon-possessed boy themselves. They had used the authority of their rabbi’s name but come up empty. And then they stumble upon this Johnny-come-lately nobody who is just doing these miracles, and well, Lord, it’s embarrassing to them. Standards must be maintained. They had sacrificed everything to follow in the dust of their rabbi. But this stranger, what had he sacrificed?

The answer Jesus gives them is telling. He talks about “mighty works” and “a cup of water.” Though he doesn’t use the word truth here, Jesus fleshes out what truth and life is. He uses the metaphor of salt. Salt can be what is used to judge and punish us and salt can be what gives us flavor, what gives us life. Salt is good. Salt is truth.

The Pope got in trouble the other day because of some salty words. Turns out he was quoting a medieval text on Islam in a discussion of the present day relationship of Islam to Christianity and the Western world. The text said that Mohammed didn’t bring peace but rather often violence. It was a controversial text. But Pope Benedict didn’t say he believed it, he just quoted it. This caused a firestorm among those ready to find another reason to attack Christianity and the West. Some of these radicals proved how wrong the Pope was by killing a nun and some other innocents.

It’s an unfortunate situation but it illustrates how delicate and incendiary is the question of Truth in the world. Who has Truth?

No religion has a corner on Truth. The problem with Christianity too many times is that it is presented in a very narrow and dry, or weak and pitiful way and then claims, “Only we have the Truth.” Other religions come across this way too, but we should concern ourselves with our religion.

The reality is that God is present everywhere in everything. The Jews of Jesus day believed that the world was literally jumping with God’s glory, juiced with his presence. The presence of God was so real and heavy that sometimes you had to brush it away from your face.

David said, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?”

Jacob said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”

God is always present. We are the ones who occasionally show up.

The Apostle Paul affirmed that God’s presence and truth is international and universal when he spoke on Mars Hill and other places. Paul was confident that God’s truth revealed in Jesus Christ was true everywhere and always for everyone. And Paul believed that there were foundations of truth and seeds of truth in every culture and among all peoples. The One true God had prepared both Jew and Gentile to receive Truth in the person of Christ.

As modern and postmodern people today we might wonder what does stained glass and hymns and sermons have to do with the truth I feel and experience in everyday life?

Everybody has spiritual experiences. Watching a red sunset is very often spiritual. Feeding homeless people or visiting a sick friend, that’s spiritual. Watching my children fall asleep is a spiritual experience to me. Are these experiences strictly religious? No.
Are they true? Absolutely.

“Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and gracious, anything that is excellent and praiseworthy, think about these things.” Philippians 4.8

It is all from God and it all belongs to you.

I have often thought that in moments of weakness it is possible for me to doubt God, to disbelieve all this religion. Though I believe the historical truth of Jesus, the Cross, the Resurrection – there are times I could deny it. I could turn my back on it and my responsibility to it. I could stop following and go my own way. But I know it couldn’t last. Because I couldn’t find a place to go where God wouldn’t be there to. He would always be showing up in so many little things.

It would be annoying and frustrating. I might even get angry. It’s like what some people who have gone through a divorce say. It’s in one way harder for them because it’s not like their ex has died. No, they’re still walking around this planet and sometimes you bump into them and have to be reminded of their presence.

I could divorce God. But He wouldn’t be dead.

All my life speaks of God’s life around me and in me. We can find truth in a lot of places. Lots of things taste salty. We shouldn’t deny that. We can find truth in other religions as well. This is a good thing.

But the Teacher we are following, we follow not for a religion but for Himself.

“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” Jesus says.

Following Jesus is the best way to live.

Or as Paul puts it in Colossians 2, “These religious acts an rules are a shadow of what is to come – the substance, the reality is found in Christ.”


Everyone who seeks truth and life, I believe, will find it in the One who is Truth and Life.
Let us follow as closely in his presence as we can.