From that point on [Luke 5:10] Peter was a full-time disciple, or learner. In this triaining program, there were no classrooms, no formal requirements, and no written assignments with footnotes and bibliographies. Peter and the rest of the disciples used a better method. According to the ancient mode of education, discipleship meant personal attachment to the master. (A Portrait of Peter, Panning, p.7)
Look carefully at this description of Peter's education. Discipleship is much more than just mentorship. Peter didn't meet with Jesus once-a-month to check his thinking around his gameplan and results, or to get some counseling to improve his marriage. Discipleship meant (and should still mean) walking in the footsteps of the master. Peter spent every day with Jesus.
Peter was privileged to be at Jesus' side everyday. He would have seen how he interacted with people. He had a front-row seat to how, and how often, Jesus prayed. He witnessed many of his miracles. He heard all his parables, and probably had Jesus explain them during the down times. Peter didn't learn from Jesus through his lectures, books, essays, or podcasts. Peter learned from Jesus by living life side-by-side with him every day.
Peter went from fisherman to apostle by living a life of ministry for three years walking daily with his teacher. This definitely was not conveyor-belt schooling. Peter recieved a leadership education. He could never have learned everything he needed to learn by sitting for hours in a classroom listening to a theoretical lecture on ministry. Peter was living his lessons every day. When Jesus taught a lesson it was relevant to the day's events and immediately applicable. The closest thing we have to discipleship today are apprenticeships, but an apprentice doesn't live his life with his master. Today's apprentices clock in to work for 8 or 9 hours and then go home. Peter lived his life with Jesus.
There is coming, and very soon now, a time in which Peter will be very influential in establishing the fledgling Christian church. Peter and the other apostles were to realize that order and discipline, not anarchy, must rule in the church under the guidance of a leader, Peter, whom Jesus had trained and prepared for that work. (A Portarit of Peter, Panning, p.13)
Peter's three of years of discipleship were preparing him for Jesus' departure from the earth physically. Peter would be the one all the other apostles and disciples would look to for leadership after Jesus ascended into heaven. Jesus knew what was needed. He knew who he had assigned this responsibility. He was intentional about training and preparing Peter for his calling:
Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men."
So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything, and followed him.
Luke 5:10-11
It's interesting to me that through true discipleship Peter was trained for his call, which was significant, in three years of serving alongside his master.
Today it takes more than eight years to train men for the ministry. Likely, because instead of serving while they're learning, they are isolated from the world they will be serving. Spending everyday in a classroom instead of the mission field.
My dream is that one day the church will make a move back to discipleship and leave behind schooling. The world can have its conveyor-belt schooling. The church needs discipleship.
God bless.
Jason Fredrick
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