Discovering Jesus in the New Testament - Jesus Is My Teacher - a podcast by Lewis Marsh

Discovering Jesus In the New Testament

#02 – Jesus Is My Teacher

By Louie Marsh, 1-15-2023

 

 

 

 

1) Jesus is my TEACHER.

 

“13You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.” (John 13:13, ESV)

 

Of the 90 times Jesus is directly addressed in the Gospels, 60 of them use the title teacher.

 

“2This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”” (John 3:2, ESV)

 

• He wasn’t educated, had no degrees, and never stepped foot into a classroom.

 

Yet his teachings are revered and followed to this day.

 

“15The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” 16So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.” (John 7:15–17, ESV)

 

2) Jesus’ teachings are RADICAL.

 

“36“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38This is the great and first commandment. 39And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”” (Matthew 22:36–40, ESV)

 

radical

adjective

rad·​i·​cal ˈra-di-kəl

1: of, relating to, or proceeding from a root: such as

a(1): of or growing from the root of a plant radical tubers

(2): growing from the base of a stem, from a rootlike stem, or from a stem that does not rise above the ground radical leaves

B : of, relating to, or constituting a linguistic root

C : of or relating to a mathematical root

D : designed to remove the root of a disease or all diseased and potentially diseased tissue

radical surgery radical mastectomy

2 : of or relating to the origin : FUNDAMENTAL

 

• The spirit not the letter of the Law

 

“5Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:5–6, ESV)

 

“9And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! 10For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 11But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban” ’ (that is, given to God)— 12then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”” (Mark 7:9–13, ESV)

 

• His DEITY

 

“56Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” 57So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.” (John 8:56–59, ESV)

 

3) Jesus COMMANDS me to be radical.

 

• Don’t WORRY about anything.

 

“22And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.” (Luke 12:22–23, ESV)

 

• REJOICE in persecution.

“22“Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.” (Luke 6:22–23, ESV)

 

• LOVE my enemies.

 

“27“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,” (Luke 6:27, ESV)

 

• Everyone DOESN’T enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

 

“21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:21–23, ESV)

 

4) Jesus COMMISSIONED me to be a radical teacher.

 

“19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”” (Matthew 28:19–20, ESV)

 

 

 

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