We had all filed into the large auditorium to receive our diplomas. It was finally time to graduate. After reading dozens of books and sitting through countless lectures and writing even more papers the moment had finally arrived. I was actually going to walk. I was going to receive my college diploma.
The students were all standing? when the faculty came in. They came marching in from the back in a single file line wearing robes that looked much different than ours. Their robes were ornate. Some were purple, others had stripes on the sleeves and some even had hoods. A few professors had gold rope laced around their necks and colored collars. The undergrads watched in awe wearing our simple black robes and hats as they paraded past in all their glory. It was a fantastic commencement ceremony with a good key note speaker and in the end we all walked away with huge college debt and a tiny pieced of paper that said we completed a college degree.
After the ceremony the professors all shook hands with us students and went on with their lives. Then Monday morning they put their robes back in their closets for another year went back to their offices and classrooms as usual. And those of us who graduated returned our rented robes and began to look for work anywhere we could find it.
In ancient times, the Rabbis were like professors. They were the ones who had earned all the ornate colors and stripes on their commencement robes because they were the most educated people in their day. It was a position that very few people obtained because of the strict requirements and lengthy schooling that it took to achieve.
A historical Jewish book called a “Mishnah,” describes the educational process for a young Jewish boy in ancient times to become a Rabi. It contains rabbinic interpretations of Scripture written down during the second century AD and reflects what was true during Jesus? It says:
At five years old [one is fit] for the Scripture, at ten years the Mishnah (oral Torah, interpretations) at thirteen for the fulfilling of the commandments, at fifteen the Talmud (making Rabbinic interpretations), at eighteen the bride-chamber, at twenty pursuing a vocation, at thirty for authority (able to teach others)
Ancient Jewish schools were always associated with the local synagogue in first century. Children began school at age 4-5 in “Beth Sefer” which was comparable to our modern elementary schools. The students were responsible for memorizing large portions of the Torah which is the first five books of the OT. After completing Beth Sefer only a handful of the best students would continue their education in “Beth Midrash” which would have been the same as our Junior High. These students would learn along side adults. They would study the prophets and other writings that enhanced their understanding of the OT Scriptures. They continued to memorize Scripture since most people didn’t have a copy because they were all hand copied and very expensive to produce.
Not all students finished Beth Midrash and for those that finished only the best of the best students sought permission to study under a famous Rabbi and would leave home to travel with the rabbi and study under him. These students were called “talmidim” in Hebrew which translates into English as the word “disciple.”
The students were passionately devoted to their rabbi and copied everything that he said and did. They were not just looking for a passing grade, they were attempting to line up their life with the rabbis in every way. As the rabbi lived and taught his understanding of the Scriptures the talmidim listened and watched and imitated the rabbi in hopes of someday becoming just like him.
After years of living and studying under the rabbi he would bless some of his talmidim to spread their wings and become a rabbi themselves who would have their own talmidim or disciples. There were several types of rabbis, but most were only permitted to teach the Scriptures. These types of Rabbis were called “Torah teachers.”
But there was another group of rabbis that only the best of the best of the best would even become. These were the rabbis that were so smart that they were allowed to teach their own interpretation of the Torah. These rabbis had “s’mikhah” or authority to make new interpretations and pass legal judgments. Any Rabbi with “s’mikhah” was the best of the best of the best. When they spoke people listened. (www.followtherabbi.com)
Remember that old E.F. Hutton commercial? It said that “when E.F. Hutton speaks, people listen.” The commercial always showed two people talking in a crowd then as soon as they said “E.F. Hutton says.” Then the crowd would go silent and everyone would look at them.
Rabbi’s with s’mikhah were like E.F. Hutton. When they talked, people listened. Jesus was a rabbi with s’mikhah. He didn’t have all the formal schooling of the other rabbi’s but he knew the Scriptures and spoke on them with authority and people listened. He had s’mikhah.
Matthew 7:28-29 says:
“When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” Matthew 7:28-29 NIV
Jesus didn’t only teach like some of the Torah rabbis, he lived out what he believed everyday with authority. He had s’mikhah. He didn’t just robe up for a commencement ceremony that happens once a year, he put on a pair of jeans everyday and went to work teaching and touching people with God’s love, something that the chief priests and Torah teachers didn’t do. He was one of us and spoke with authority because he took action with authority.
The Bible says that Jesus was a man of words and action. In Matthew 21 we read:
“The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant.” Matthew 21:14-15 NIV
Jesus was teaching the Torah in the temple and touching people with God’s love where they needed it. The chief priests and teachers of the law failed to make the connection between knowledge and application. They knew the Torah but didn’t necessarily spend much time putting it to use. They were like professors who never took off their commencement robes. They were well respected because of their achievements but Jesus knew their hearts and called them hypocrites because they knew what to do but didn’t do it.
Jesus told his talmid, his disciples, that if they wanted to have s’mikhah like him, they needed to do everything like he did. The needed to learn everything that he taught and apply it just like him. And what Jesus said to his talmid then applies to his talmid now. If you want to have s’mikhah like Jesus, then you need to teach the Scriptures and take action. You cannot have s’mikhah unless you do both.
In order to have s’mikhah we need to:
Learn what Jesus said.
Do what Jesus did.
Most people have no problem accepting what Jesus said. They have a problem applying what he said. I believe that’s why Christianity in general has lost its s’mekhah, its authority. But that can change. How? Simply by doing what Jesus said to do.
What did Jesus say to do? Teach God’s Word and touch with God’s love.
Could you imagine going to a doctor who confirms that you have strep throat then sends you on your way without handing you a prescription for any medicine? Could you imagine going to a massage therapist and having them explain the physiology of the muscles but never actually rub you where you hurt? That’s ridicules. Jesus had s’mikhah because he taught truth and showed love.
“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." Matthew 10:42 NIV
Jesus told us to teach God’s word and touch them with God’s love. Every week we do that in Kid City and in our youth group. In the month of March we took up a collection of Beannie Babies to give to kids in Iraq. We collected nearly 3,000 beannies to show love. Next week, Sgt Knapp will receive several boxes of beanies to hand out.
Recently, our men’s group from church went out and talked to people about God’s love. They had spent weeks talking about how to share the Good news that Jesus loved them and a few weeks ago they went out and applied what they learned. I want to introduce a friend of mine, Tim Thomas, to share what he did.
Tim Thomas
Good Morning, my name is Tim Thomas and I became a Christian here 2 ½ years ago. My life has dramatically changed since then. Before becoming a Christian, I lived a life that was self-directed , controlled by emotion and had no sense of purpose. And through it all like most people I knew, I still considered myself to be a good person. Life’s situations would eventually prove to me the folly of such thinking. As a result of depression and making bad choices, instead of being filled with the Holy Spirit, I was filled with alcohol spirits and ended up hurting those close to me. Something had to change and thanks to the prayers of people here at Freshwater and by the grace of God, change did happen.
Since I have become a Christian, I have found purpose in my life. I know that God loves me and has forgiven my sins. I now ask the Lord everyday to fill me with the Holy Spirit and to grow my faith. God has given me anew attitude. I still have daily struggles, to say otherwise would be to give false testimony, but now I rely more on His will and His word to help me deal with them. I have learned the importance of fellowship and small group participation to encourage one another and to build each other up, so that the body of Christ is strengthened and more unified.
Recently I went through a class where I learned how to share my faith. Since Jesus has changed my life, I wanted to learn how to tell others how their lives can change too. Recently, I completed one of the courses being offered here at Freshwater called “The Way of the Master”.
The Way of the Master basic training course is an 8-week course that teaches believers how to witness to others the way Jesus did. Based on the biblical principles that God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble, we can use the Law of the Ten Commandments to bypass the intellect and speak to the conscience. Once we have shown an individual he has broken God’s law, will be found guilty on judgment day and be sentenced to an eternity in hell, he will understand his need for God’s grace. Then we can give them the good news about Jesus. How He paid their fine by dying and shedding His precious blood upon the cross for the forgiveness of their sins.
The course accomplished this through four simple steps that can be used in any witnessing encounter. You don’t have to be an expert, anyone can do this. The course uses videos, interactive class participation and home study to lead up to an actual “fishing trip” where you reach out to the lost. A variety of gospel tracts are used for icebreakers to lead into the witness encounter.
So why did I take the course and how as it made a difference in my life? First, Jesus tells us that if we love Him we will obey his commands, and He has given each of us a commission to do this. So it was the right thing to do.
Secondly, it would be a step out of my comfort zone and therefore, would help me to grow as a Christian.
Finally, it would be a very personal way to put to practical use what I have learned from Pastor John’s messages, other ministries I have been part of and of course what I have learned from studying God’s work. As part of the class, I wrote a letter to God asking that the Holy Spirit would guide me, give me spiritual discernment and make me a bold, loving witness for Christ. I put my trust in Christ to help me overcome any personal fears that I might have in speaking to strangers concerning this matter.
As a result of the Spirit of Christ working in and through me, my letter was answered and I was able to speak to several people on our class trip. I now share my faith and testimony with people at work and elsewhere. I hand out gospel tracks when I can, and I have gained a more intimate relationship with the Lord. The truths contained in His word seem to be clearer to me now and hold more meaning. Earlier this year Pastor John spoke about sowing seeds, well, this a great way to sow some seeds and tell Jesus that you love Him by participating in the great commission. The Lord has given me a burden to reach out to others and share the gospel, and with that a new sense of joy in being part of his family. Thank you Lord Jesus
Jesus also taught and healed people.
“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.” Matthew 4:23 NIV
Why did he heal people? Because they needed to see God’s love before they could embrace God’s grace. When Jesus healed them it gave authority to what he told them. Jesus had s’mikhah because he would teach people God’s word, then touch them with God’s love.
Last year Josh developed a lump on his jaw that the doctors thought was cancer. Overnight we thought we were going to have to fight leukemia again. A few people from church organized a prayer meeting for Josh and almost 100 of you came to Kid City to pray for him. We believe that God healed him overnight because the biopsy came back negative and the bump went away a few days later. At that time we needed Jesus to heal Josh and he did. Those of you that prayed participated in God’s miracle and we are so thankful for that.
Jesus spoke with s’mikhah when he said:
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” Matthew 5:14-15 NIV
Recently the Moats family returned from Equador. When they were there they saw the blankets that we made at Vacation Bible School last summer in the hands of children. They didn’t just tell the kids about God’s love, they told them about God’s love while the kids were snuggling up with their warm blanket.
Jesus had s’mikhah because he was one of us. He wore regular sandals and regular clothes and ate regular food. He didn’t wear any fancy cloths to elevate his position like the chief priests and Torah teachers, he taught the Scriptures and touched people with the love of God. He had s’mikhah because he was authentic.
We can be like Jesus by teaching God’s truth wrapped in a blanket of love. We can be like Jesus by teaching God’s truth and handing out hope in the form of beanie babies. We can be like Jesus by teaching God’s truth and handing out food at the homeless shelter. We can be like Jesus by teaching God’s truth and helping to park cars or serve coffee or greet people. Its words and action working hand in hand for the glory of God. At Freshwater we will never be known solely by what we say. We will be known for transforming God’s truth into action. That’s what Jesus did and that’s what we need to do too. Jesus wore jeans, do you? Let’s be people of action and make a difference together. AMEN.
