The Teacher

Summary: The main way people thought of Jesus when he was on earth was as “The Teacher.” Jesus did not teach morality or a way to get to heaven. He taught about the Kingdom of God. His life was a demonstration of the Kingdom and his death and resurrection established it. The Kingdom of  God changes everything.

What if you only thought of me as a guy who lives in a trailer? That would be a distortion since it is incomplete. I do live in a trailer, but there is much more to me than just that. I have a wife and three kids, I love to backpack, teach Greek, and make music. 

We tend to think of Jesus only as a Savior. This is correct but incomplete; and because it is incomplete it is a distortion. One of the most common ways Jesus was referred to by his first followers was not “The Savior,” but “The Teacher.” Here are a few examples.

“Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” (Matthew 8:19)

“Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit life of the coming age?” (Mark 10:17b)

“Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth.” (Luke 20:21)

“Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” (John 3:2. “Rabbi” means “hono   red teacher.”)

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

Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” which means, Teacher. (John 20:16)

The last of these is especially revealing since it shows how Jesus' closest followers regarded him on an emotional level. At the empty tomb, when Mary recognized Jesus, she blurted out the term closest to her heart: Rabboni! Teacher!

The word “Rabbi” is a transliteration of the Hebrew word rabbi (רַבִּי) which has the connotation of “Master.” This “Master” not primarily a ruler but an expert. We might speak of a master mechanic or a Zen master. A Master in this sense is a revered expert. That is how the followers of Jesus saw him. He was the Master, the Teacher par excellence. 

Jesus is called “Teacher” or “Rabbi” over 50 times in the gospels. He is referred to as “Savior” only twice (Luke 2:11; John 4:42). This is not to say that Jesus is not a Savior. Thank God, he is! But his first followers thought of him first and foremost as a teacher. His teaching brought life and salvation.

We think of Jesus as a Savior who happened to be a good teacher. Of course he was a good teacher! What would you expect from the son of God? But Jesus’ first followers saw him primarily as a Teacher who taught the way of salvation. In other words, Jesus’ teaching is not something tacked on to salvation. His teaching is salvation.

So what did Jesus teach? 

Jesus Taught the Kingdom of God

Jesus’ teaching made people drop their jaws. The response at the end of the Sermon on the Mount is typical.

When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching. (Matthew 7:28)

“Amazed” doesn’t quite cut it. The word ekplāsō (ἐκπλήσσω) means “astounded to the point of being overwhelmed.” In modern English we we would say they were blown away. They were moved. They were spellbound. 

There were lots of teachers in Jesus’ day. What was so different about Jesus’ teaching? 

It wasn't that Jesus taught good behavior. Moral teachers are a dime a dozen. If you want a list of good behavior you can get one nearly anywhere. If you want someone to scold you and tell you that you ought to follow the list better, you can find plenty of people who are happy to do that too. This is the way the Scribes and Pharisee’s taught. It left people feeling bored and guilty and dreaming of temptation. Sadly, much teaching done in the name of Jesus these days has ...