The Teacher

Dear Brethren,

Why did Jesus come to this earth?  We think of Jesus as our Savior – and that is true.  He is also called Redeemer, Lord, Master, and Deliverer among other titles in the Scriptures.  There are so many roles that He fulfilled.  He came so that we might obtain forgiveness.  He taught repentance.  He made reconciliation to the Father possible.  He came to magnify the law.  Jesus Christ came as Messiah.  The list goes on and on.

We do not often emphasize it, and it may come as a surprise to some, but the Bible regards Jesus as a teacher more than any of His other roles.  There are more references to Him being a teacher than any of the others.  Jesus came not only to save, but to teach us how to be saved (Luke 10:28).  The teachings of Christ were effective and had great impact.

“The [Pharisees] sent their disciples out unto [Jesus] along with the Herodians, saying, Teacher, we know that thou art true, and teach the way of God in truth.”  (Matthew 22:16)

What an incredible admission of what the Pharisees actually believed – that Jesus was indeed a teacher.  Jesus became widely known as The Teacher (Matthew 26:18).  A teacher is one who has the ability to help others learn.  Teaching is showing or explaining how to do something by giving lessons.

Nicodemus said it best when he called Jesus “a teacher come from God” (John 3:2).  Jesus always taught by His words and His actions – even in Old Testament times.  Jesus Christ – God of the Old Testament was the Teacher.

“Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue… And the Lord said unto him…, Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say… And thou shalt speak unto [Aaron], and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.”  (Exodus 4:10-15)

In the New Testament Jesus defined Himself as Lord and Teacher.  “Ye call me Teacher and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.”  (John 13:13)  But the teachings that Jesus taught were not His own.  The teachings that Jesus taught came directly from God the Father.  “Jesus said unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am He, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father has taught me, I speak these things.”  (John 8:28)

In this Sabbath sermon we will see that Jesus is The Teacher – past present and future. Jesus will be the teacher in the millennial World Tomorrow.

“It shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”  (Isaiah 2:2-3)

We will see that this understanding of Jesus as The Teacher will add a dimension to the life and work of Jesus Christ that heretofore may have been underestimated.

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Sermon:  "The Teacher"    


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