resolute

covered in the dust of the Rabbi

   Thunder in the desert!
   Prepare for God's arrival!
   Make the road smooth and straight!

 John dressed in a camel-hair habit tied at the waist by a leather strap. He lived on a diet of locusts and wild field honey. People poured out of Jerusalem, Judea, and the Jordanian countryside to hear and see him in action. There at the Jordan River those who came to confess their sins were baptized into a changed life.

 When John realized that a lot of Pharisees and Sadducees were showing up for a baptismal experience because it was becoming the popular thing to do, he exploded: "Brood of snakes! What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to make any difference? It's your life that must change, not your skin! And don't think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as father. Being a descendant of Abraham is neither here nor there. Descendants of Abraham are a dime a dozen. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire.

 "I'm baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. The real action comes next: The main character in this drama—compared to him I'm a mere stagehand—will ignite the kingdom life within you, a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out. He's going to clean house—make a clean sweep of your lives. He'll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he'll put out with the trash to be burned."

 Jesus then appeared, arriving at the Jordan River from Galilee. He wanted John to baptize him. John objected, "I'm the one who needs to be baptized, not you!"

 But Jesus insisted. "Do it. God's work, putting things right all these centuries, is coming together right now in this baptism." So John did it.

The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw God's Spirit—it looked like a dove—descending and landing on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: "This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life." Matthew 3:4-17

A good disciple sits by her Rabbi's (Master, Teacher) feet and listens, and learns. A good disciple follows her Rabbi so closely on the path as to be covered in His dust. A good disciple knows her Rabbi so well that she can mimic His attidudes, responses, behaviour.
Maybe it is easier if your Rabbi is here with you in flesh and blood. To actually follow a person. To see his shadow fall and hear his footsteps.
But my Rabbi has gone to prepare a place for me. How can I learn from Him, how can I know Him better? I long to sit at His feet and feel the roughness of His robes. I long to hear His voice with my ears but I am contented that I can hear His voice with my heart. He has not left me alone, but walks with me in spirit. I needn't be lonely for Him for He has left me His word. I can sit at His feet and learn by opening His word to me. I can follow in His footsteps along the path He has laid out for me by following what He says in His word. I can trust that I am following the True Rabbi, the only Son of God, the Way, The Light, because I trust in My Rabbi's word. 

To follow someone you must know them and know the path they are on. I am exploring in depth who Jesus is and what He says about Himself and how He wants us to follow Him. My children and I as well as our Bible study group will journey on the path with our Rabbi this season...come with us... 
Matthew 1-3
Mark 1:9-11
Luke 1-3
John 1:1-34