The Three Stones

An email from TWOTP's Steve Frost who's just spent two weeks in Israel among people who live and breathe Torah.

Dude, I picked up three stones for you! Check it out here's the story of the three stones.

Every Jewish child memorizes Torah (the first 5 books of the Bible) by the time they are 12. If they excel, they go on to Beth Midrash. If they don't make the cut, they go learn a trade. The ones who go on to Beth Midrash and excel there, move on to Beth Talmud. The ones who go on to Beth Talmud then hope to be chosen by a Rabbi. The point of Rabbinical teaching is that the student become like the teacher. The teacher, the Rabbi, choses the best of the best. He choses students who he thinks have what it takes to follow through to the end and become like him. The contract between Rabbi and student was sealed by the Rabbi choosing the student with the words, "Follow me."

Peter, James and John are fishermen, between the ages of 13 and 20. They hadn't made the cut, so they were learning a trade. Jews hated large bodies of water. It was called the Abyss. It represents chaos and is where sin is cast away. Being a fisherman was pretty much the bottom of the trade heap. Loserville. They hadn't made Beth Midrash and they hadn't made Beth Talmud and they would never be chosen by a Rabbi. They didn't make any of the cuts.

Jesus, the Rabbi, walks up to these complete losers and says, "Follow me." He says to these guys who have nothing going for them, "I believe in you. I believe you can be like me."

Later, after Jesus had been crucified and raised from the dead, and after Peter had denied him three times, he appears to the disciples on the shore. Jesus is cooking breakfast for his friends. As they are eating together three times Jesus asks Peter, "Who do you say that I am?" Three times Peter answers, "You are Lord." An affirmation for each denial. Jesus is reinstating covenant with Peter. He is saying to Peter, "I still believe in you. I will always believe in you. And here's what I want you to do Peter, I want you to feed my sheep."

Both of those events happened within a few hundred yards of where I picked up three stones that I will give to you the next time I see you.

Jesus believes in you. Jesus still believes in you. Jesus wants you to feed his sheep.

Love you brother

SF