Posted by Trajan 11/27/2006 10:08 PM
Topic: Disciples

The Disciples of Jesus, with the exception of Peter, were only teenagers under 20 years of age. They all failed to reach their ambition in life, and settled on doing what was expected of them. Until one day Jesus came into their lives and called them unto Himself, and their lives changed from ordinary to extraordinary. Like the great patriarchs of the scriptures (Noah, Moses, David, etc.) God uses the most unlikely people to fulfill and execute His providential will for mankind. King David was just a shepherd boy (12-14 years old) a when he struck down Goliath (the 9 foot tall giant) and restored the nation of Israel. Like David the Disciples were average common folk, and they didn?t have what it takes the first time around. But when given a second chance, they forsook reason and followed their heart (Matthew 4:19-20). With passion and obedience, they set out to know God. During their journey, He revealed Himself to them (Matthew 15:15-17). They were eager to take on the world and do whatever it takes to live for God. They made a choice (Joshua 24:15). A choice that changed their lives, and yours too. They chose to leave the world (John 15:19, 17:14, 1John 2:15) and follow The Word (John 1:14). It is that decision that changed the world and all of mankind. According to 1st century Jewish custom, all children in the Galilean region went to school to learn the Tanakh (Old Testament) from the ages of 5 to 12. At the ages of twelve they began to work with their fathers and if they were gifted (in learning understanding the Tanakh) they would continue their studies until the ages of 15. At fifteen if they desired to continue to know God?s ways they would ask a Rabbi if they could be his disciple. If chosen by the Rabbi they would follow him ?doing life together? for fifteen more years. At the age of 30 they would then be become a Rabbi themselves, which was the ultimate goal of every God fearing, Jewish child. (Similar to children today which desire to become professional Athletes or Musicians and Actors) Jesus also went through this same process in becoming a Jewish Rabbi. [Luke 2:39-41, 42-52, 3:22-23] When Jesus called the disciples (Matthew 4:19-20, 9:9, John 1:43) He had already began His ministry and people recognized Him as a Rabbi (John 1:35-39). When He called the disciple?s from their work (indicating they were at least 12 years of age or older) they all dropped what they were doing and immediately followed Him. They desired to know God and be men of God. They got a second chance to fulfill their dreams of being just like The Rabbi. We can see that Jesus called them children (John 13:33, 21:5) in many cases indicating they were youth. And in most cases they acted as youth would. Most of the young men in this culture married after the age of 18 (Girls at the age of 12-15) and with the exception of Peter (Matthew 8:14) none of the other disciples were married. During this time custom was that a yearly temple tax / tribute that every Jewish male over the age of 20 years must pay a half shekel to the Temple (Exodus 30:14-15). In Matthew 17:24-27 we see that the people collecting this tribute came to Peter and asked for the tribute. Jesus sent Peter to catch a fish which had a shekel in it?s mouth half a shekel for Peter, and half a shekel for Jesus this was for the tribute. Now, either Jesus left the other disciples to fend for themselves (Which is very unCharacteristic), or this indicates that none of the other disciples were over 20 years of age. Other were young too. Paul was young (Acts 7:58)He was not yet a Rabbi (Age 30), Timothy was young (1Timothy 4:12), and it is the young that overcome the evil one in (1John 2:14). The only additional source I know of that would suggest that the diciples were a bit younger than we commonly assume is found in the Mishnah, specifically Avot 5:25. This is the saying of Yehudah Ben Tema and he states that the age of five is the beginning for studying "Mikra" or scripture, a ten year old begins studying the Mishnah (Oral tradition), a thiteen year old is obligated to obey the commandments, and a fifteen year old begins the study of Gemara (Interpretations of the Rabbis). This may have included becoming a disciple of a Rabbi in Yeshua's day), and at eighteen he is encouraged to take a wife. In Judaism, a large level of responsibility is placed on the child at a very young age. So it is possible that the desciples were very young. I hope this helps, Shalom. Tray.