The reason of Jesus first coming to earth was to guide humanity back into the path of righteousness after their continuously withdrawal from the light of God. He came to earth to show that apart from the “arbitrary requirements, God’s law is given to men as a hedge, a shield” (White, 1903, pp 76-77). It was because of these Jesus chose his disciples so as to train them as he edified the “world”. Jesus took it upon himself to teach and to guide the world. “Jesus is the incomparable Teacher because he knew what was in man” (Daugherty, pp. 132). Unlike, Most teachers these days, Jesus knew each man for who they were and they respective way to impart knowledge in them. In his teaching, he used various methods such as parables, miracles, metaphors which was proven, by the end results, to be a perfect style of teaching.
As easy as this may sound, Jesus himself had to go through a lot of trials which almost made him give up. Jesus said “And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39, King James Version). Here, Jesus’s final lesson was his death on the cross which was a lot to bear for him but being the master teacher, he gave his life for us. Jesus method is the best style of teaching which should be adopted by everyone ranging from Adults to children. It was with his method, he raised and nurtured the 12 disciples to maturity. *PURPOSE- In this paper, I will show who the master teacher is and the various methods he used to edify his audience which was done by looking into the ministerial life of Jesus in relation to the disciples and the people. These statements will be explored through the concepts, assumptions, questions, information, implications of this perfect style of teaching. The Teacher sent from God
Who appointed Jesus as the master Teacher? The bible says “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9: 6, King James Version). These are all qualities of a teacher. God far before the birth of Jesus had prophesied about a Teacher who would come change the world. The teacher would be wonderful, a counsellor of lost souls, the mighty God of miracles, the everlasting father who watches his children and guides them in the right path, and the prince of peace wo brings peace to every soul and nation. “In the Teacher sent from God, heaven gave to men its best and greatest. He who had stood in the councils of the Most High, who had dwelt in the innermost sanctuary of the Eternal, was the One chosen to reveal in person to humanity the knowledge of God” (White, 1903, pp.73).
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Jesus was not only the best and greatest teacher on earth, he was known as the greatest in heaven too. God, knowing that Jesus was the greatest, selected Jesus to shine his greatness on earth and attract lost soul towards God. *ASSUMPTIONS-Ellen G. White (1903) stated the following: Bent on self-pleasing, men came to regard God as such as one with themselves, a Being whose aim was self-glory, whose requirements were suited for his own self-pleasure, a Being by whom men were lifted up or casted down according as they helped or hindered his selfish purpose. (pp.75) Most people had the wrong idea about God before the coming of Jesus. God was feared that he smites anyone who goes against his will, he was seen as someone used humans as puppets. People offered gifts and sacrifices so as to be attain favor and mercy from Christ.
Part of this might have been true but he only did it to the evil doers. For instance, Nebuchadnezzar was turned into an animal because of his ways. Judas probably had this same misconception, which is why he took his life due to the guilt he had for turning Jesus in. Even till today, so people have common misconception of putting the fellow neighbor to death for sins like fornication, theft, rape. It is because of this, Jesus came to earth to educate humans on the true characteristics of Jesus Christ. “God’s greatest gift was bestowed to meet man’s greatest need. The light appeared when the world darkness was deepest” (White, 1903, pp.74). God knew that in order to make the foolish, wise, all one has to do is to put a single wise man in the midst of the foolish and the foolish will be enlightened. But Jesus wasn’t just a wise man, he is God. He was more than enough to change the world for better. That’s one of the reasons he didn’t chose just a disciple but twelve.
Christ came to earth to restore in man, the knowledge that had being mistaken for the false teaching, people who claimed to know Christ had retained. *CONCEPTS- Jesus exhibited various characteristics which made him the master teacher. He greeted everyone with blessings. He showed what he taught. “A good leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way” (Maxwell). The first principle of being a good teacher is being a good leader, which is basically leading as an example. That was what Jesus did daily as he greeted everyone with the beatitudes. An illustration of his methods *INFORMATION- Just for the same reason different teaching methods are used today, Jesus knew that people had different way of understanding, so he took the time to use various teaching style for different groups of people to ease their understanding. Some of the methods used by Jesus are: Caring. One method used by Jesus which alone can teach a lost soul is caring. All the other method listed below won’t be successful without caring. “The principles of caring and its effects on teachers, students, and others are demonstrated by research that supports that caring is the way of the master teacher” (Lipka & Brinthaupt, 1999, pp. 165).
Caring is the first method that has to be shown if any change wants to be made. A master teacher must show that he really cares about the problems his students are facing. “In every man who proposes to be a teacher, love is of supreme significance” (Thwing, 1897, pp. 168). Parables. “20And again he said, whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened” (Luke 13:20–21, King James Version). This is the parable of the leaven. What Jesus meant here was that the kingdom of God starts little in the heart of his followers but eventually expands as more soul is won. Miracles. Jesus performed many miracles during his time on heart. Some are healing the sick, raising the dead, walking on water, calming the storm, turning of water to wine, casting out demons. Each of these miracles had their respective audiences who either started believing or believed more in Christ.
For example, walking on water made the disciple believe more in Christ. Puns. “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned…” (Luke 6:37, King James Version). Puns are used here because “judged” and “condemned” are similar but in the text mean different things. Metaphors. “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst” (John 6:35, King James Version). Here Jesus directly refers to himself as the bread of life. What Jesus tried to teach with this verse is that he will always look after us. “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5, King James Version). What Jesus is teaching with these verse is that we are more productive in him. Proverbs. “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthe 6:24, King James Version). One can’t serve two masters with different values.
One will have to choose one over the other. Paradox. “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it” (Mark 8: 35, King James Version). What Jesus meant here is that anyone who does the wrong thing in order to save it, will lose it at Judgement time while whoever loses his life for the sake of the Christ will enjoy eternal life. “And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, if any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all” (Mark 9: 35, King James Version). Here God is trying to teach her is that to be a leader you must first serve all, be acquainted with your to be follows, put yourself in their shoes. Jesus showed this paradox by washing the disciples’ feet. Simile. “Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, the kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field” (Matthew 13: 31, King James Version).
Jesus taught about the growth of the kingdom here. The parable above means implant the gospel in a soul and he will bring many more to Christ thereby building the kingdom which was once a seed into a full grown tree. *ASSUMPTIONS- People tends to relate most these teaching methods as a permissive style of teaching. They forget about a key teaching style that is emphasize in the bible. That is; Rebuke. “And he said unto them, why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” (Mark 4: 40 King James Version). Rebuking plays a key role in teaching today. Jesus knew encouragement alone is not enough to raise the best character, so he rebuked. *IDENTIFY & DESCRIBE- There were different problems faced by Jesus during his ministry and some of these problems are still faced today. I. Throughout the ministry of Christ, a particular group of people was found to cause problem for Jesus. These are the Jews. From calling him a false prophet, to report Jesus to the authorities, the Jews were behind it all. Today different groups are seen to go against Christian.
For example; “Nineteen Islamist militants accused of carrying out a deadly attack on Christians in Egypt have been killed by police, the interior ministry says” (Coptic Christian attack, 2018). II. Temptations: One of the main problems with the Christian values being taught is temptation. This was faced by Jesus, disciples, and Christians. Temptations are devices of the devil and is sometimes a test from God. They make student do what they are old not to. Luckily for us, God once again helped us. “…but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape …” (1 Corinthians 10:13, King James Version). *IMPLICATIONS & CONSEQUENCES- Just like there are good and bad implications for most things, there are good and bad implications for the methods of the master teacher. For the bad; Too much of anything is not good. Therefore, if a teacher is not flexible in utilizing every aspect of Jesus’s method, it will lead to the destruction of self-dependence in student. During Jesus training of the disciples, he sometimes left them to explore by themselves.
The rea son for these is for them is to experience other things the world can throw at them so that they won’t be stranded when faced with certain problems. As for the Good consequences; Well behaved and students of good morals. The methods of the master teacher help with the main aspect of human behaviors and that is Morals. A Christian without morals isn’t a Christian. Wise Students. Following the methods of Christ helps raise student who are good problem solvers, who know what do when it comes to urgent matters. *QUESTIONS- Do Teachers know who teaching are teaching; physically, spiritually and emotionally? Do teacher use different methods for different people or the same method for different people? What is the reason for teaching; is it for worldly gains or for edification?
These questions are what Jesus s Conclusion *INTERPRETATION &INFERENCES- In order to show who, the master teacher is and the various methods he used to edify his audience, we have to look into the ministerial life of Jesus in relation to the disciples and the people. Jesus methods impacts Christianity in so many ways which makes Christianity what it is now. Also, man’s character changed for the better, not only the apostles fellowshipped more with Christ, the people did also. The church became one as was intended by Christ. As said in the assumptions, I personally, think that if rebuke is put together with the other teaching style; the best teaching methods will be utilized. “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes” (Proverbs 13:24, King James Version), also, “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him” (Proverbs 22:15, King James Version).
References
- White, E.G. (1903). The Desire of Ages. Retrieved from https://www.whiteestate.org/books/da/jc/over.html
- Daugherty, R. (n.d.). Jesus the Greatest Teacher Who Ever Lived. Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books/about/Jesus_the_Greatest_Teacher_Who_Ever_Live.html?id=oEb9DwAAQBAJ
- King James Bible Online (n.d.). Matthew 26:39 – KJV. Retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+26%3A39&version=KJV
