Jesus The Teacher Series

Jesus the Teacher

PPT 1 Series Title

PPT 2 Message Title

The series that's not about you.

But there is something about lifting Him up that lifts us up also.

Today I want to talk about Jesus the teacher, and I think that doing so will cause you to marvel at Him, and make you want to dig into His teachings again.

1. Jesus was recognized as an astonishing teacher.

He was called teacher more than 60 x's in the NT.

It was what most people called Him and what they most recognized Him as.

Even atheists, who fight against the very idea of God, call Him a great teacher. Atheists pick the bible apart but rarely do they pick Jesus apart, because of respect they for Him, even though they won't acknowledge Him.

PPT 3 text

Lu 2:46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

Lu 2:47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

I always thought this had to do with the unusual insight He had for a twelve year old, but I don't think the astonishment was simply age related, He was an astonishing teacher.

PPT 4 text astonished 3x's in the book of Mt.

Mt 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

Mt 13:54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this [man] this wisdom, and [these] mighty works?

Mt 22:33 And when the multitude heard [this], they were astonished at his doctrine.

What was it about Jesus' teachings that was astonishing?

2. Jesus was an astonishing teacher first of all because of His presence.

We miss a lot of the dynamics of Jesus' teaching because we weren't there

A concert on tv is never the same as in person.

A Michigan game is a lot different in the stadium, than it is in your living room.

We miss not just His presence but the dynamics of the situations in which he taught we also miss:

The tension with Him and His enemies. It was real, it was tangible, it was pervasive, yet he never lost dominance in the room. Should we pay taxes? Whose coin is it?

The excitment of being around the miracle worker.

Think of someone you really like. Now if you were to describe them to someone else and say, that they are really fun to be around, do you think those words will ever fully convey the truth of what that special friend is like?

Jesus is that person who is really awesome to be around, and that is one of the reasons people were astonished at His teaching.

Communicators and pastors have a phrase we use to describe people who have "it". By "it," we mean that they are a really good communicator. The phrase that is used is, "he or she can fill the room." IOW there is something more about them, some people teach and can empty a room, or put the room to sleep. Really good communicators, can, no matter how big a venue is, make it feel full. There is no dead space, there is electricity in the room.

Jesus was an astonishing teacher because of His presence. He had Je ne sais quois. (French for, "I don't know what." We understand it to be the anointing of the Spirit, and a gift as an excellent communicator.)

3. Jesus was an astonishing teacher because He taught with authority and power

PPT 5 text pic calming stormy sea

Luke 4:32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.

He said things only God could say.

This day has salvation come to your house. Your sins which are many are forgiven you.

No one ever in the history of the world taught stuff like that. That is teaching with authority.

He said things that changed people's understanding of the scriptures.

15x's in the gospels Jesus says, "But I say unto you..."

Often in a context where He had just been quoting Moses.

The scribes spent all there time claiming as their authority Hillell or Shammai, who contradicted each other in their teachings. The scribes were always claiming someone else as the authority behind their words. Even Moses did that, not so Jesus. He claimed an authority greater than that of Moses. If you want to hear words of truth about life and death, and heaven and hell, it's more comforting to hear it from an authority, not a second hand source.

The Jews were sick of religious teachers who always argued with each other, and rejoiced that Jesus spoke with authority, without hesitation, without equivocation. He never said once, "I'm not sure about that."