Chasing Wisdom by Daniel GrotheChikamu

The word apprentice means “a person who is learning a trade or art by experience under a skilled worker.”* It comes from the Latin word apprehendere, which means “someone who apprehends.” It doesn’t mean someone who apprehends easily, or who just picks it up right away, but someone who refuses to leave the side of the master, who refuses to stop when things get difficult; in other words, someone who is actively learning along the way. 

And isn’t this exactly what Jesus had in mind when he called that motley crew of folks to follow him, to become his disciples? The Greek word for “disciple” is mathētēs, which simply means “learner.” And learning takes time—and error. All of Jesus’ disciples messed up and embarrassed themselves. James and John wanted to destroy a city by calling down fire on it (Luke 9:51–56). Peter was quick to assure Jesus that he’d never deny him (Matt. 26:35), but we all know what happened only a few hours later (vv. 69–75). On and on it goes, their stories of imperfections, coming to a full crescendo in Judas’s betrayal and their wholesale scattering on that very dark Good Friday night. But for all their issues, eleven out of the twelve showed back up when Jesus rose. They came out of hiding and got back on track. By the power of the Holy Spirit, they became true disciples. They worked for it, they learned, they threw away all their backup plans. They took up their crosses and followed Jesus. And, in the process, they changed the world. This is Discipleship 101.

When I’m doing it right, I’m submitting myself to wise people who know Jesus, and who will call me to a life of cross-shaped obedience. People who will challenge me and give me books to read. People who will ask me the hard questions and push back when they think I’m telling only half the story. . . .

How about you? Are you willing to work for it? 

* Merriam-Webster online, s.v. “apprentice,” accessed May 10, 2019, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apprentice.