During the time of Jesus, most teachers were Pharisees and they were also members of the Sanhedrin. They were considered to be an elitist group of educated, honored and powerful people. In the area of ethics, law and religious teachings, they considered themselves to be the experts. Because of their renowned reputation they attracted people from the upper and middle classes to learn from them about the Law and rules, and become their disciples. The relationship between a scribe and his disciples was based on the passing on of knowledge at the rational level. In their schools, the scribe had to teach the ways of living out their Jewish faith into everyday life. Jesus was not a scribe, but still many people called him Master / Rabbi. In reality, like a rabbi, Jesus took in disciples, gave them special guidance and teaching. Jesus was aware of himself being a master. However, there is a uniqueness in the criteria and the way with which Jesus called his disciples.

In the region of Lake Galilee, from among those ordinary fishermen, tax-collectors, Zealots… Jesus chose his disciples. The master-disciple relationship between Jesus and his followers was one that was initiated by Jesus. He went out to search for his own disciples instead of waiting for admirers to come to join him. He made this very clear to his disciples when he said, “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you.” (John 15:16） Jesus’ disciples had hoped to be led by a national hero. Despite the fact that Jesus refused to be the hero people had expected him to be, they continued to follow him. What they had received was not a set of rules and regulations, but the mission to spread the good news. Due to the fact that Jesus was a travelling preacher - going from one place to another, the twelve apostles that he chose to be with him became united as one body, bonded together by friendship. Jesus said:” I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do. “ (John 13:15） Jesus Himself nurtured this small community – demanding that his followers renounced and abandoned their old set of value system – in order to embrace the joy of the Kingdom of God; He also bestowed on them the mission of proclaiming the coming of God’s kingdom. To be a disciple of Jesus, one’s purpose is not so much to become a master one day and to have one’s own disciples, rather, it is for the purpose of forming a community to serve the world – to be the salt of the earth, light of the world, and the wheat in the field. After Jesus’ resurrection, his apostles went forth to the ends of the earth to bear Him witness – becoming the model for all Jesus’ followers in generations to come.

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