Focus: Our Master Teacher

Text: Jh.3:2

"Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God…"

Our Lord Jesus Christ was a teacher par excellence. Mark reports that "the common people heard him gladly" (Mk.12:37). On one occasion, the Lord Jesus arrested a demonic case, and Luke recounts that the people "were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out" (Lk.4:36). At another time, Luke reports, "It came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching… the power of the Lord was present to heal them" (Lk.5:17).

*Jesus taught with authority 

Matthew says, "For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes" (Mt.7:29).

*Jesus spoke with utter graciousness

Luke declares, "And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?" (Lk.4:22).

*Jesus taught with incredible boldness

John says, "He speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?" (Jh.7:25-26).

*He ministered with great power

Luke says, "And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power" (Lk.4:32).

*He spoke with glowing uniqueness

John writes, "The officers answered, Never man spake like this man" (Jh.7:46).

*He taught with profound totality

Read any of parables or the sermon on the mountain and see for yourself. He taught with absolute certainty and completeness.

*He taught with words too deep to exhaust

As he taught in his hometown, the people said, "Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?" (Mt.13:54). Dr. Munro Gibson said, "There is far more in His word's than at first appears. They are germinal words, full of seeds of richest thought. They unfold living principles." It is impossible to exhaust His words.

*He spoke with eternity in His words

The Lord Jesus says, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away" (Mt.24:35). He alone spoke eternal words - words of eternal reality and verity. Who has ever claimed eternity for His words? His words have the stamp and signature of permanence.

*He spoke words that make us wonder

While He taught in the temple, "the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?"(Jh.7:14-15). We are held spellbound by His words.

We learn from the writer of Hebrews that He is "upholding all things by the word of his power" (Heb.1:3). Hallelujah!

I pray we heed His voice, "Learn of me," and do His behest. Also, I pray for His words to have a hold on us, bring healing to our minds, hearts and bodies, and transformation to our whole being. Amen.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter