The greek word for teacher, didaskalos, means one who, in a special sense, is acquainted with and an interpreter of God’s salvation- one who knows and understands how salvation is manifested in the life of a disciple.  The function of these teachers in the early church developed to include the duty of giving progressive instruction in God’s redeeming purposes. The term, or title, also means scholarship or scholar, one especially concerned with God’s salvation, which is known via His Word.  Rabbinical tradition emphasized oral teaching and scriptural study as the mode of transmission of knowledge.  In order for this method to be effective, you have to be within earshot of your teacher.  If you are within earshot, you also are within sight of or with insight of your Teacher, so that you can see how He does what He is instructing you to do.  Moreover, you can grasp His motivation (love) for doing what He does- in relation to you and to all He encounters.  Discipleship is a “full contact” endeavor, best manifested when the discipler and disciple can be “in touch” with each other, within physical proximity.  For this reason, I do not think that televangelists can be effective disciplers or pastors.”

In John 12: 26, Jesus says, “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me and where I am, there shall My servant also be;”. The Lord promises propinquity, nearness of blood, or kinship, not just proximity.  John 14: 20 says, “In that day, you shall know that I am in My Father and you in Me, and I in you.”    In John 13: 23, we read “There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.”  Imagine being able to lay your head on Jesus’ chest?  You just can’t get any closer than that!  Imagine Abraham’s trust of Eliezer to not only entrust him with his material goods but also to trust him with his very posterity!  The placing of his hand under Abraham’s thigh describes a deep, abiding trust that extends beyond Abraham’s person to those who would be a product of his loins.