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."
Another take on the idea that He taught with authority is found in the way one bible version translates this text: the Persic version renders it, "he penetrated them with it"; His word got into them. His word spoke to them, His word changed them.
If I have stolen anything I will repay it 4x's! That is a man that got changed by words that penetrated him..
4. Jesus was an astonishing teacher because His word was confirmed by signs.
PPT 6 text
John 3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews;
John 3:2 this man came to Him by night, and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God [as] a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."
That you may know the son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins, I say unto you...
No man eat of you ever again. The fig tree withered and dried up over night, that is authority!
Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up. He claimed to be able to raise Himself from the dead, no one else ever did. Houdini told people if possible I will come back, he never has.
5. Jesus was an astonishing teacher because of the way He used stories to teach.
Mt 7:3 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
(Carpentry illustration)
The idea that someone would walk around with a huge beam stuck in his eye, and yet be oblivious to it, while at the same time being perfectly able to see the small speck in his brother's eye is both outrageously funny and immensely powerful.
The story of the Good Samaritan (summary and modernized)
Religious scholar, eternal life. What does the law say?
Good do that. Justify himself, who is my neighbor?
A priest,
A levite,
a single mom.
He used this story to teach the man that he was not as good as he thought he was. He only wanted to be a good neighbor to people who were just like him. But sinners and outcasts he had no intention of loving as he loved himself.
Prodigal Son from Georgia (summary and modernized)
I want my inheritance.
He goes to Vegas
Lived on the streets eating out of dumpsters, wishing he could have another restaurant meal.
He came to Himself.
My dads workers live better than this.
He hitched all the way back to Georgia. The whole time he rehearsed his confession and apology.
His dad saw him a long way off. God sees people who are a long way off with loving and longing eyes.
He begins his speech, dad interrupts him, never lets him say make me a servant.
The son found out that his father had spent more time thinking about how to welcome his son back home than his son had spent thinking about how to confess.
He also found out that God doesn't have any second tier kids. Caste systems exist all around the world. God doesn't have second class Christians.
Jesus is a teacher who astonishes us today.
Close: Do you need to be more concerned about your own beams? Are you a prodigal.
Possible study group questions:
What do you think it might have felt like to personally hear and see Jesus teach?
Which of the parables have spoken the most to you?
What do you think of the way the father treated the prodigal son, and what do you think pastor meant when he said, "God doesn't have any second tier kids."
