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Wouldn’t it be nice if, when we began to teach other abouts God, we had a mentor who had already been a teacher? We do. This devotion looks at how we can imitate Jesus’ teaching.

Nuggets

• Jesus was sent to earth by God to accomplish the plan of salvation and to pay the penalty for our sins.
• Everything Jesus did was for the glory of God.
• Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit.
• We are to proclaim the gospel.
• Jesus made sure people could understand what He was saying.

Devotions in the What I Believe series

www.seekinggodwithelaine.com/what-i-believe

Devotions in the Religious Education category

• What Is Religion Instruction?
• Jesus as a Teacher
• Learning from the Holy Spirit
• Learning to be a New Creation
• Using Worship to Educate Our Thoughts

When we start something new (or even just want to grow), oftentimes, we look to a mentor. That is someone more experienced than us who can help us be better at whatever we are wanting to be after at.

Teachers in the public school system have to start out doing a semester of student teaching before they can graduate and get their first teaching job. They go into a classroom with someone who can evaluate their skills and give them direction and encouragement to improve. The student teacher can watch the supervising teacher and pick up hints on things that are needed and best practices.

We have a Mentor that we can pattern our teaching experiences after. Who better to follow than the Master Teacher, Jesus?

For this devotion, I am using Sherman’s Christ as a Teacher sermon as a foundation.

Resource
Sherman’s Christ as a Teacher
https://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/sherman/christ_as_a_teacher.htm

Let’s Put It into Context

What is the purpose of education? The Holman Bible Dictionary wrote, “The primary purpose of education among the Jews was the learning of and obedience to the law of God, the Torah.”

Resource
Holman Bible Dictionary’s definition of Education in Bible Times
https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/hbd/e/education-in-bible-times.html

To me, religious education is instruction to teach us about the plan of salvation and the character of God, in order to build relationships so that we can imitate Him.

Jesus’ Qualifications

Sherman noted three qualifications Jesus had for being a teacher. They are His nature, His commission, and His endowments.

His Nature

“Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do” (Jn. 14: 11 NLT)

Jesus was sent to earth by God to accomplish the plan of salvation. He came to pay the penalty for our sins.

But it was more than that. “I and the Father are one” (Jn. 10: 30 NIV). They are of the same nature.

We may be saying, “Well, that let’s us out.” But it really doesn’t.

We are called to imitate God and Jesus.

“Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children” (Jn. 10: 30 NIV).
“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher” (Lk. 6: 40 ESV).
“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps” (I Pet. 2: 21 ESV).

Our walk is to be defined by us changing our character to be more like God. We are to embrace His nature and imitate it.

To read Imitate in the Glossary, access www.seekinggodwithelaine.com/imitate-glossary

Yes, Jesus could speak with authority because He was of God. So can we. “Proclaim these things; encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you” (Ti. 2: 15 CSB).

What, you ask, are these things? “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works” (Ti. 2: 11-14 CSB).

When we are redeemed from lawlessness and cleansed, we take on God’s nature. Oh, yes. There is a lot of work left to do to get us totally like Him — and it won’t be complete until we finish the sanctification road when we see Him face to face.

To read Sanctification in the Glossary, access www.seekinggodwithelaine.com/sanctification-glossary

His Commission

“For I have not spoken on my own, but the Father himself who sent me has given me a command to say everything I have said” (Jn. 12: 49 CSB)

Jesus was very humble. Humility is a character trait stressing dependence on God and a modest view of our importance with respect to others.

To read How Are Disciples Humble?, access www.seekinggodwithelaine.com/how-are-disciples-humble

Teachers should be humble. Thomas wrote, “A teacher is great and divine just in proportion to his humility.”

Resource
Thomas’ Christ as a Teacher
https://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/thomas/christ_as_a_teacher.htm

Everything Jesus did was for the glory of God. He was totally obedient. He took His commission very seriously.

We have a commission, too. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt. 28: 19-20 CSB).

We have a message and a purpose. It isn’t to build ourselves up. It is to invite those who are spiritually dead to the cross so that the blood of Christ — when they accept His gift of salvation — can cleans them from their sins.

Spiritual death is the separation from God that occurred as a consequence of Adam and Eve’s original sin. Sin is when we disobey God and break one of His laws and commandments.

His Endowments

“He has also put his seal on us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment” (II Cor. 1: 22 CSB)

Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised” (Lk. 4: 18 KJV).

We’ve talked about being sealed before. Being sealed is another way to show that we are set apart from the world. It shows us God’s love.

God sealed Jesus first. “But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval”

To read Sealed in the Glossary, access www.seekinggodwithelaine.com/sealed-glossary

We are to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We are to let Him lead as we walk in the Spirit.

To read What Does It Mean to Walk in the Spirit?, access www.seekinggodwithelaine.com/what-does-it-mean-to-walk-in-the-spirit

We, too, have the Spirit leading us as we teach others.

Jesus’ Instructions

I am sure that Jesus left heaven with marching orders. God had a plan — a plan that had been set up a long time. I think it is safe to say that Jesus was thoroughly briefed as to what that plan was.

To read Before the Foundation of the World in the glossary, access www.seekinggodwithelaine.com/before-the-foundation-of-the-world-glossary

Revelation of Grace

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph. 2: 8-9 ESV)

Salvation was made possible through the gift of grace. There is only one way to salvation. “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (Jn. 14: 6 ESV).

That should be just what we preach. We are to proclaim the gospel. “Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mk. 16: 15 CSB).

Teaching Style

“The officers answered, ‘No man ever spoke like this Man!’” (Jn. 7: 46 NKJV)

We talked in the last devotion how the Scriptures were written in the common language of the day. That was how Jesus taught. He made sure people could understand what He was saying.

Jesus taught in parables. A parable is a story that Jesus told. Remember, I’ve said a couple of times that we learn by hooking new information with what we already know?

Jesus was a master at this. He used everyday occurrences to explain the kingdom of God. Sherman wrote that He taught with “… authority, power, simplicity, consistency.”

Resource
Sherman’s Christ as a Teacher
https://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/sherman/christ_as_a_teacher.htm

Results

“Jesus replied, ‘The truth of the matter is that you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you believe in me’” (Jn. 6: 26 LB)

Oh, yeah. Jesus got frustrated. Remember a while back, we talked about how He called people on just coming to hear Him so they could get free food?

To read How Should We Be Fed by Jesus?, access www.seekinggodwithelaine.com/how-should-we-be-fed-by-jesus

Sometimes, our learners will get what we are telling them and accept Jesus. Other times, they won’t.

We can’t give up. Jesus was content being the planter and letting someone else be the harvester. We won’t see results all the time, either.

I know. That is discouraging, but we have to persevere.

We can’t deviate from our job description. We are to proclaim the gospel and make disciples.

Making the Connections

We are called to teach others God’s Word and His ways. When we are doing His will, it will be okay. “So also will be the word that I speak – it will not fail to do what I plan for it; it will do everything I send it to do” (Isa. 55: 11 GNT).

Making the Connections to Self-Discipline

We’ve been looking at defending our beliefs when we are witnessing. That means we have to be secure enough to convince someone to accept our beliefs.

Our questions should still serve us to determine on what we need to focus.

• What does the Scriptures say?
• What do I believe?
• Why do I believe the same/differently than the Scriptures?
• What are the talking points when witnessing to a non-believer?

Related Links
I have created a worksheet of the questions above. Access it through https://seekinggodwithelaine.com/what-i-believe-worksheet

How Do We Apply This?

How should we be like Jesus as a Teacher? I found a lot of suggestions.

Resources
Sherman’s Christ as a Teacher
https://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/sherman/christ_as_a_teacher.htm
Morris’ Our Lord a Model for Sunday-School Teachers
https://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/morris/our_lord_a_model_for_sunday-school_teachers.htm

We need to know our subject matter. Sherman wrote, “Every teacher should have a concordance, a commentary, and a companion to the Bible.”

Resource
Sherman’s Christ as a Teacher
https://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/sherman/christ_as_a_teacher.htm

Those can be found online. I use www.biblehub.com for the different versions of the Bible and commentaries. I also use www.biblegateway.com for different versions. I think they have more resources that I haven’t looked at yet.

We have to believe what we are teaching. If we don’t think Jesus rose from the dead, we aren’t going to convince our learners that He did. If we don’t think we should follow all of God’s laws, we will not convince our learners that they should. We have to live what we teach.

That also means that we have to decide to be teachers.

If we are going to teach, we need to pray. We have to pray to the Father in Jesus’ name with the help of the Holy Spirit for guidance. Morris wrote, “Without prayer you might as well not teach at all.”

We need to be filled with compassion for our learners. Morris wrote, “Kindness, the key to the human heart, therefore, was the temper in which He taught.”

Resource
Morris’ Our Lord a Model for Sunday-School Teachers
https://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/morris/our_lord_a_model_for_sunday-school_teachers.htm

I have to want to and enjoy teaching you and my Ladies. I have to want to provide you with information that will help you grow in your relationships with God. I have to present the information in love.

This can’t be a hit and miss deal. When we commit to teaching, we have to be faithful in carrying out our duties. We not only have to teach during the assigned time, but we also have to prepare beforehand and be available afterwards to answer questions.

We have been entrusted with a very important mission. Morris wrote, “Nothing can be greater than to teach truth to an immortal mind.”

Resource
Morris’ Our Lord a Model for Sunday-School Teachers
https://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/morris/our_lord_a_model_for_sunday-school_teachers.htm

Jesus tailored His teaching to His audiences. I am sure He taught differently on the mountainside than He did in the synagogue than He did to the Pharisees. We have to know our audience.

Always, always, always, Jesus spoke the Truth. We need to, also.

Father God. You provide everything we need. You have provided Jesus as a Mentor so we can know the best teaching practices to spread Your Word. Help us to do just that. Amen.