Was Jesus a High School Pastor?
I realize that Jesus ministered to all ages of people but it seems that those with whom he spent most of his time and teaching on were younger.
Consider this:
The common age of primary education was from 6/7 years old until the age of 15. After which the exceptional and bright students would continue in their secondary education learning at the feet of a rabbi in one of the academies. Those who did not continue on in their education would look to their fathers to learn the family trade. This is were Jesus finds at least some of the men that he eventually calls to follow him or “learn” from him. Peter, Andrew, James and John were all doing the family business when Jesus calls them to be his disciples. How long had they been out of school? Perhaps only for a few years.
There is an interesting passage in Matthew 17:24-27 in which Jesus and his disciples travel to Capernaum were they run into those whose job it was to collect the temple tax. What follows is a crazy miracle about a fish with money in it’s mouth and a lesson that Peter would not soon forget regarding family and taxes.
What is interesting, however, is that it is only Peter and Jesus who are approached about the temple tax. Now it could be that the other disciples had already paid, or that the Gospel writers simply focus on Jesus money-fish miracle. It must at least be considered that the other 11 men who were following Jesus were simply under the taxable age, which according to Exodus 30:13 was 20 years old. It is quite possible that the disciples of Jesus, with the exception of Peter, were between the ages of 16 and 19.
In the words of Paul to a young man. “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe,” (1 Timothy 4:12).
In the words of goz, “it is possible that being a high school pastor is more noble and strategic than many really even consider.”
Consider this:
The common age of primary education was from 6/7 years old until the age of 15. After which the exceptional and bright students would continue in their secondary education learning at the feet of a rabbi in one of the academies. Those who did not continue on in their education would look to their fathers to learn the family trade. This is were Jesus finds at least some of the men that he eventually calls to follow him or “learn” from him. Peter, Andrew, James and John were all doing the family business when Jesus calls them to be his disciples. How long had they been out of school? Perhaps only for a few years.
There is an interesting passage in Matthew 17:24-27 in which Jesus and his disciples travel to Capernaum were they run into those whose job it was to collect the temple tax. What follows is a crazy miracle about a fish with money in it’s mouth and a lesson that Peter would not soon forget regarding family and taxes.
What is interesting, however, is that it is only Peter and Jesus who are approached about the temple tax. Now it could be that the other disciples had already paid, or that the Gospel writers simply focus on Jesus money-fish miracle. It must at least be considered that the other 11 men who were following Jesus were simply under the taxable age, which according to Exodus 30:13 was 20 years old. It is quite possible that the disciples of Jesus, with the exception of Peter, were between the ages of 16 and 19.
In the words of Paul to a young man. “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe,” (1 Timothy 4:12).
In the words of goz, “it is possible that being a high school pastor is more noble and strategic than many really even consider.”
posted by goz at 12:49 PM
2 Comments:
Ah, but it's the college pastor who is noblest of them all :)
Awesome, brother. And not only for the sake of discipling young-people... but especially discipling the not-so-sharp, "rabbinic drop-outs" among them. I love your hopeful tone in this post, Goz. Sounds like God's refreshing spring has been washing over your soul. Blessings brother. - Your fellow servant, J.
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