THE TRUTH TEACHER

This 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) NKJV

There was no doubt that Christ was a Teacher come from God!

Many teachers come teaching worldly wisdom.  They speak only of earthly things.  Their speeches are full of quotations.  They imitate, in voice, manner, and method of stating truth, some respected human teacher at whose feet they have sat. But there was a freshness, a self-witnessing truthfulness, a depth, an authority in the words of the Master, which bore the unmistakable mark of deity. Our Lord addressed Nicodemus as "the teacher of Israel" Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? (John 3:10) NKJV. Many professedly wise men today, like Nicodemus, know nothing of spiritual truth or spiritual wisdom. 

Jesus taught with authority.  for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (Matthew 7:29) NKJV. This was the verdict of the people. He didn’t have to quote Gamaliel or Hillel, because the conscience of His hearers said, He speaks the truth. He taught with tenderness and sweetness. So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, "Is this not Joseph's son?" (Luke 4:22) NKJV.

To those who resisted His words, as the Pharisees did, His tongue was like a sharp two-edged sword; but for the sinful, weary, and heavy-laden, grace was poured out from His lips. He taught with plenty of illustrations.  But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples. (Mark 4:34) NKJV.  From all over, He gathered His illustrations; from the sky and the earth, from the vulture and the sparrow, from the lightning-flash and the sunrise, from the household candle and the temple lamp, from the woman's dough and the ripened corn, from the children's games and the housewife's jewelry, from the feasts of the rich and the bare pantry of the poor. How picturesque and beautiful His talk was! The parables were pictures of gold to the poor and dying of Israel. His speech was full of windows through which the light poured. It was no wonder that the people crowded around Him, and hung with intense interest on His words.

But we must come to Him as Savior. Before we can understand His teaching, we must be converted, and become as little children. To us, He says, as to Nicodemus, "Ye must be born again." To reverence Him as "Teacher" is not enough. Until the soul has cast itself in the dust before Him, crying, "Have mercy upon me"; for "I am a sinful man, O Lord." His teaching of the truth will be of no avail.

There is a marked gradation in the teaching of Jesus. He began by speaking about earthly things, and led His disciples on to understand heavenly things. He gave milk to babes, but to those of understanding, hard and deep things, as strong meat. Are you ready and willing to learn from the Truth Teacher?

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, give us grace to perceive You, blessed Lord, to hear Your voice, and to receive the gracious teaching which comes from Your heart.  In Jesus name I pray, AMEN.

God’s Daily Promise

Promise #6:
I delivered you from darkness into the kingdom of My beloved Son.

Colossians 1:12-13 (WEB) 
12 giving thanks to the Father, who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; 13 who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love;