hero's disciple part 3:: robin

ROBINS’ STORY:

as time went on, Robin became obsessed with becoming like batman. he soon becomes a miniature version of Batman. Batman has the Batmobile, Robin has the Robin-cycle. Batman has a utility belt, and robin has one too. Batman wears a cape and a mask, so does Robin. Batman uses bat-a-rangs and grappling-guns and Robin does too. Robin learns to fight like Batman, to listen like Batman, to move silently like batman and to think like batman. Robin never had to ask himself what Batman would do in a given situation, he knew. He had watched him, and spent time with him; he listened to him and ultimately learned to imitate him perfectly. They were the Dynamic Duo.

PETER’S STORY:

Peter followed his Master everywhere too. If Jesus went to a mountaintop, Peter went too. If Jesus went to Caesarea Philippi, Peter went too. If Jesus went to a Samaritan village, Peter went too. Just like Robin, Peter watched Jesus, and listened to Him, and followed him everywhere. He was obsessed with becoming Just like him and mimicking His every move. The Rabbis used to say, “cover yourself in the dust of your rabbi.” In other words, follow your Master so closely that the dust of His feet covers you.

There is a story of when Peter and the other disciples were in a boat in the middle of the sea, when Jesus came walking on the water to meet them. Matthew describes what happened in chapter 14 of his gospel:

“When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.”
Peter saw his Master on the water and he wanted to follow Him there. He wanted to walk where his Master walked. and so Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on water with Jesus.
the story continues: “Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Why did Peter doubt? and WHO did he doubt? Did he doubt Jesus? or himself and his ability to walk where Jesus walked?

Jesus scolded him as if to say, “why did you think that you couldn’t be like Me? I never doubted you- I knew that you could- because I believe in you more than you believe in yourself.”

OUR STORY:
As disciples of Jesus, we need to be like Robin and Peter- we need to follow our Master. We need to listen to Him and be with Him. He invites us to think like Him and to always ask, “what would Jesus do right now?” He invites us to imitate Him. The best way for us to do this is to immerse ourselves in the accounts about him in Matthew, Mark, Luke and john. As we read those, we read with the eyes of an apprentice, watching the Master as He works and working to imitate Him.

There is a story at the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry, where Jesus was having His last supper with His disciples. There was no foot washer, and all of the men would be sitting around a low-lying table, with feet everywhere. The foot washer was the job for the lowest person on the totem pole. No one volunteered for the job- so the Master took off His outer garment, took a bucket of water and a towel, and began to wash everyone’s feet.

When He was done, He said, “When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

Jesus tells us, “if you want to imitate Me, then be a servant. Give yourself for others. Lower yourself and put others first.”

The Apostle Paul said it this way: “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,
 did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
 taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.’

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children² and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” –ephesians 5:1

The Master extends his hand and invites you and me to imitate Him- to serve and love like He serves and loves. He invites us to be His apprentice and to imitate Him. He invites you to follow Him so closely that you are covered in the dust from His sandals.

He invites you and me: “come and be my disciple- my Robin. Together, we will be a Dynamic Duo!”

Will you respond to His invitation?

God is love.

-rev-rob