The Master Teacher (English version)

I recently took my first Berean course and I greatly enjoyed discovering more about the life of Jesus through examining the Synoptic Gospels: Mathew, Mark and Luke. One of the many aspects of His life that intrigued me was the way Jesus taught. Reading about Christ’s teachings in the Gospels reveals certain characteristics of Christ the Teacher. These characteristics can be an example for us to follow in our everyday interaction with the people God has placed strategically in our lives. 

1. We learn that He loved those whom He taught. He was moved by their needs and had compassion on them (Matthew 9:36; Mark 6:34), so He taught them many things.
The love of God in our lives should compel us to build relationships that are purposeful and intentional. When we strive to cultivate genuine relationships with people, we begin to recognize their needs and have compassion on them. Compassion should lead us to action and this action, whether it be praying for them or just listening to them, will give them a glimpse of Jesus in our lives. The act of listening often gets overlooked and we don’t realize that people just want to be heard.

2. He knew His students because He knew human nature (John 2:24–25), and He spent time with them. 
Jesus spent time with people. That is the key to anything with value and worth in this world: time.  A newborn baby who spent over 9 months in a woman’s womb. A piece of coal that underwent a long process to become a diamond. The largest skyscraper in Latin America that took years of planning and construction to stand tall and firm. If we don’t invest time with people we will not get anywhere in our relationships. If we want to see God transform a person’s life we must go above and beyond to spend time with them and get to know them. 

3. He knew His subject, enabling Him to speak with authority. At the age of twelve, He amazed the teachers with His knowledge (Luke 2:46–47). Later, in His public ministry, His hearers were amazed at His knowledge (John 7:15–17) and the authority with which He taught (Matthew 7:28–29; Mark 1:21–28).
We too can be great examples if we possess the authority of Truth in our lives. We must be prepared to give people answers when they question our faith. We must be prepared to defend our faith as well as present it. We must not be ashamed of what we believe and live for. I include myself in saying that we have a tendency to back off because we are afraid of adequately sharing our faith, or worse yet offending someone. This is why we must strive to know the word and grow in the knowledge of our God. The more we know the more confidence and authority we will have to present the message to those who have not heard. 

4. As a master teacher, Christ demonstrated that He knew how to teach. Our Lord knew how to use different methods to impart knowledge. He knew that effective teaching involves guiding students’ learning activities. For example, on some occasions when He used parables or illustrations, He paused to explain or clarify what He was saying (Matthew 19:22–26; Mark 4:2–20) or did so soon afterward. He guided learners’ thoughts from the known to the unknown, from the common events of everyday life to truths in the spiritual realm. He used questions to guide them in their search for truth (Matthew 16:13–20).
We can conclude that because Jesus was a master teacher he must have been quite creative. Would you say that you’re favorite professor possesses a unique ways of conveying the subject? Jesus had several methods to impart knowledge 
that included question and answer, rhetorical question, storytelling, learning by doing, and lecture.This engaged people and helped them understand the truths He was teaching. We too must be creative in the way we share our message and Truth with people. God has given us likes and preferences, giftings, and talents that can be used as tools to minster to people. What particularly calls my attention is the way Jesus used everyday situations. We too can use everyday life to point people to Jesus.

Knowing how to teach also meant Christ shared His knowledge of God and of spiritual truth through His words, actions, and attitudes. He was always in control and able to adapt to each situation so He could maximize the effect of His teaching (Matthew 13:1–2). The fact that He always used the right approach shows that He planned carefully. Above all, He cared for people, and they sensed this clearly.
If we genuinely care for people we will plan carefully our time with them. What does that person enjoy? A sport? A hobby? A certain coffee shop? Sharing time with them that they enjoy and using that as a vehicle to get to know the person will open up doors to share who you are and the message you posses. 

5. Christ the Master Teacher lived what He taught. All that He did and said flowed out of His being. He stated that His purpose was to do what pleased the Father (John 8:29), and this provided an example of the life that pleases God. Unlike some who say, “Do as I say but not as I do,” He said, “I am the way” (John 14:6). Everyone who ever came in contact with Him could say as Pilate said, “I find no fault in him” (John 19:4, KJV). We might say a teacher’s life gives expression to his or her thoughts, motives, and character and reveals what he or she truly is. This is what a teacher communicates to students.
Just recently one of the students we work with told us that his best professors were the ones who had passion for what they taught. It sounds cliché, but we must walk the walk and talk the talk. One of our strongest messages as believers is our consistent lifestyles. People are looking for real, genuine people. They want to believe in people who uphold who they say they are and live it, regardless of what they uphold. We must not waiver in our faith and be inconsistent with our lifestyle. People will sometimes believe in us before they believe in our God. They will respect and find credibility in a life that is honest. Like Jesus, many people should look at our life and find no faults. 

Part of being a teacher is being an example. May we follow Jesus’ example in ministering to the people the Lord has placed in our midst and in the season of life we find ourselves in.