Pleasing The Teacher
Sermon
Love Is Your Disguise
Second Lesson Sermons For Lent/Easter
Pleasing the teacher. Paul writes to the Ephesians, "Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord." Try to learn what is pleasing to the Good Shepherd, the Savior King, the Holy One, the Son of David, the Good Teacher/Rabbi. Sprinkled throughout the Gospels nearly seventy times, Jesus is referred to as rabbi or teacher. It is striking that in the garden as Mary encounters the risen Lord and he speaks her name, she responds, "Rab-eo'ni!" which means teacher. So Jesus, for many, was the good teacher, the good rabbi. And most of us gathered here know what it is to have a good teacher. Do you remember your favorite teacher? I have been fortunate to have more than a few.
It was spring quarter of his freshman year in college when John innocently wandered into a survey course on ancient civilization. The course was team-taught by a history professor and his graduate assistant. They considered the early cultures of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China; the implications of early inventions and scientific thought -- the wheel, the measurement of time, mathematics, and writing; the rise of the Greeks and Romans; and the emergence of world religions. John was not a person one would predict to get hooked on ancient history, but hooked he got. He began staying after class each lecture to ask additional questions, frequently walking with one of his professors back to the History Department office. Surely his energy for this subject was not due to an overly developed intellect. Instead, to this day, he remembers some very good teaching.
At the end of the term students were to submit the dreaded "Plutarch" paper. This was a critical treatment of some material penned by the ancient Greek author. John had done reasonably well on two mid-terms and with a moderately successful paper, he knew he would finish the course in good shape. As the class turned in the Plutarch paper, the professor asked the students to give him a few days and then stop by his office to pick up the graded papers. So, on a Friday afternoon John stopped by the History Department and after a few moments of pleasant conversation the professor said, "Well, I guess you want your paper ... They're right here in my drawer. I've got them arranged according to grade, the highest on top." With sweating palms, John watched him begin to thumb through a large pile of term papers. When he got through the first third without finding John's paper, John was getting nervous. When the professor got into the bottom third, John was sorry he had come. There were only a few papers left and then on the very bottom of the pile, John's paper. John was pale. Handing John his paper, with a twinkle in his eye the professor said, "You didn't think you could have gotten anything but an A, did you? The is the best paper of the term!" The richness of learning and the honest pursuit of knowledge were beginning to take root in this young life, and the professor's little joke pleasantly celebrated the work they had done together.
Do you have a favorite teacher? What makes a teacher good or great? Clearly, good teachers practice what they preach. They have deep insight and a passion for their subject. They have a knowledge and care for students. They are able to communicate material effectively and able to make concepts real, tangible, concrete, and important. They understand how people learn, and since they practice what they preach, they are excellent, committed practitioners, and they are active learners.
Many times in the Gospels, Jesus is known as teacher, good teacher, rabbi. What did Jesus teach?
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.
-- Matthew 5:3-12
Many have suggested that the summary of what Jesus taught is found in the Beatitudes as he speaks of the blessing which is to be found in meekness, humility, service, suffering, purity, and faithfulness. And it is safe to say he had deep insight and passion for his subject, and that he had knowledge of and care for his students.
But how did Jesus teach? We know much about how Jesus taught. He taught in parables. He was a weaver of word pictures. He helped understanding to become real, tangible, concrete, and important. He talked about the things his listeners would know about in their world. "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? ... You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house" (Matthew 5:13-15). He spoke to his disciples of things which were known to them. "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds ... The kingdom of heaven is like hidden treasure in a field which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who on finding one of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it" (Matthew 13, selected verses).
Jesus taught in parables and in ways people would understand. "There was a man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers who stripped him and beat him and departed leaving him half dead ..." One in Jesus' hearing would know that the road to Jericho was a desolate and dangerous path. If one were to fall among robbers and be beaten and left for dead, one would pray for it not to happen on the Jericho road, for it was rugged and remote and timely help on this road would be unlikely to arrive.
Did Jesus ever use teaching aids? The children were coming to Jesus, that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus, when he saw it, was indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God." If Jesus was the good teacher, if he was the great teacher, and if he was able to reveal the mysteries of God even to children, then there may still be hope for ones like you and like me. And he placed a child on his knee and said, "Look at this child. Really, truly look at her. I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child, shall not enter it" (Mark 10:13-15, author paraphrase).
Did Jesus use teaching aids? And at supper he took bread and after he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you." And after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood" (Luke 22:19, 20).
And where did Jesus teach? In a boat at seaside, in Peter's home, in the synagogue, on the streets, on the hillside and the plain. He taught where the people could gather, where they would gather, and he offered them what a good teacher offers: deep insight with passion, word pictures, direction, guidance, and the best example of all -- himself.
So how did the students behave? Usually well, but sometimes they were hungry. Sometimes Jesus needed to round them up something to eat. Sometimes they doubted or resisted what he said. The disciples often did not want to hear much about Jesus' suffering which was to come. Sometimes they came to bait him or to trap him. They asked, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother's dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the wife and raise up children for his brother.
Now there were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and died without children; and the second and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. Afterward the woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be?" (Luke 20:28-33).
"The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman [to Jesus] who had been caught in the act of adultery. Placing her in the midst, they said to Jesus, 'Teacher, this woman has been caught in an act of adultery. Now the law of Moses commanded us to stone such. What do you say about her ...?' 'Let him who is without sin among you, be the first to throw a stone,' Jesus responded" (John 8:3-7, author paraphrase).
But most of his disciples and his students heard him, learned from him, were given life by him, were enlivened by him, were nurtured in hope and saved by him.
How do you think Jesus felt about his teaching? When he spoke the Beatitudes on the hillside and when the parable of the Good Samaritan first came forth from his lips, how do you think Jesus felt about his teaching? And when he called forth disciples and they left everything to follow, to find life in him, how did he feel about his teaching?
And when he entered Jerusalem with palm branches waving and garments carpeting his path, the enactment of God's king coming to enthronement, how did Jesus feel about his teaching? Or on that night when he took bread and broke it and offered a cup, or when he, with towel and basin, knelt to wash the disciples' feet, how did he feel about his teaching? Or when he prayed in the garden and his disciples could not stay awake with him, or on the cross when he said, "Father, father, why hast thou forsaken me?" how did he feel about his teaching? Or when in the garden of his resurrection, he spoke the name "Mary" and she said, "Rab-eo'ni," which means teacher, how did he feel about his teaching? Or when he said on the road to Damascus, "Saul, Saul why do you persecute me?" and Saul for a time was struck blind, but became Paul and became one of Christ's greatest students, an evangelist to the world, how did he feel about his teaching? And when he spoke your name and called you to be among his students and knew that you are a student, both willing and unwilling to do all which is required to live the lesson which he brings, and to do the teaching on his behalf which he requires, how did he feel about his teaching?
So it is interesting to think on whether Jesus' teaching was pleasing to him, to consider how he felt about his own teaching. And if we asked him, "How do you feel about your teaching, Jesus?" I expect he would sigh, "I'm not sure how I feel about my teaching. But I am interested in what you are learning ... and in what you are teaching for me."
If we are interested in pleasing this teacher, this good teacher, this rabbi, Rab-eo'ni , it will be by our learning and by our teaching that he will be pleased.
Have you ever had a favorite teacher? Maybe the One who sent you to teach on his behalf.
It was spring quarter of his freshman year in college when John innocently wandered into a survey course on ancient civilization. The course was team-taught by a history professor and his graduate assistant. They considered the early cultures of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China; the implications of early inventions and scientific thought -- the wheel, the measurement of time, mathematics, and writing; the rise of the Greeks and Romans; and the emergence of world religions. John was not a person one would predict to get hooked on ancient history, but hooked he got. He began staying after class each lecture to ask additional questions, frequently walking with one of his professors back to the History Department office. Surely his energy for this subject was not due to an overly developed intellect. Instead, to this day, he remembers some very good teaching.
At the end of the term students were to submit the dreaded "Plutarch" paper. This was a critical treatment of some material penned by the ancient Greek author. John had done reasonably well on two mid-terms and with a moderately successful paper, he knew he would finish the course in good shape. As the class turned in the Plutarch paper, the professor asked the students to give him a few days and then stop by his office to pick up the graded papers. So, on a Friday afternoon John stopped by the History Department and after a few moments of pleasant conversation the professor said, "Well, I guess you want your paper ... They're right here in my drawer. I've got them arranged according to grade, the highest on top." With sweating palms, John watched him begin to thumb through a large pile of term papers. When he got through the first third without finding John's paper, John was getting nervous. When the professor got into the bottom third, John was sorry he had come. There were only a few papers left and then on the very bottom of the pile, John's paper. John was pale. Handing John his paper, with a twinkle in his eye the professor said, "You didn't think you could have gotten anything but an A, did you? The is the best paper of the term!" The richness of learning and the honest pursuit of knowledge were beginning to take root in this young life, and the professor's little joke pleasantly celebrated the work they had done together.
Do you have a favorite teacher? What makes a teacher good or great? Clearly, good teachers practice what they preach. They have deep insight and a passion for their subject. They have a knowledge and care for students. They are able to communicate material effectively and able to make concepts real, tangible, concrete, and important. They understand how people learn, and since they practice what they preach, they are excellent, committed practitioners, and they are active learners.
Many times in the Gospels, Jesus is known as teacher, good teacher, rabbi. What did Jesus teach?
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.
-- Matthew 5:3-12
Many have suggested that the summary of what Jesus taught is found in the Beatitudes as he speaks of the blessing which is to be found in meekness, humility, service, suffering, purity, and faithfulness. And it is safe to say he had deep insight and passion for his subject, and that he had knowledge of and care for his students.
But how did Jesus teach? We know much about how Jesus taught. He taught in parables. He was a weaver of word pictures. He helped understanding to become real, tangible, concrete, and important. He talked about the things his listeners would know about in their world. "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? ... You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house" (Matthew 5:13-15). He spoke to his disciples of things which were known to them. "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds ... The kingdom of heaven is like hidden treasure in a field which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who on finding one of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it" (Matthew 13, selected verses).
Jesus taught in parables and in ways people would understand. "There was a man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers who stripped him and beat him and departed leaving him half dead ..." One in Jesus' hearing would know that the road to Jericho was a desolate and dangerous path. If one were to fall among robbers and be beaten and left for dead, one would pray for it not to happen on the Jericho road, for it was rugged and remote and timely help on this road would be unlikely to arrive.
Did Jesus ever use teaching aids? The children were coming to Jesus, that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus, when he saw it, was indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God." If Jesus was the good teacher, if he was the great teacher, and if he was able to reveal the mysteries of God even to children, then there may still be hope for ones like you and like me. And he placed a child on his knee and said, "Look at this child. Really, truly look at her. I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child, shall not enter it" (Mark 10:13-15, author paraphrase).
Did Jesus use teaching aids? And at supper he took bread and after he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you." And after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood" (Luke 22:19, 20).
And where did Jesus teach? In a boat at seaside, in Peter's home, in the synagogue, on the streets, on the hillside and the plain. He taught where the people could gather, where they would gather, and he offered them what a good teacher offers: deep insight with passion, word pictures, direction, guidance, and the best example of all -- himself.
So how did the students behave? Usually well, but sometimes they were hungry. Sometimes Jesus needed to round them up something to eat. Sometimes they doubted or resisted what he said. The disciples often did not want to hear much about Jesus' suffering which was to come. Sometimes they came to bait him or to trap him. They asked, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother's dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the wife and raise up children for his brother.
Now there were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and died without children; and the second and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. Afterward the woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be?" (Luke 20:28-33).
"The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman [to Jesus] who had been caught in the act of adultery. Placing her in the midst, they said to Jesus, 'Teacher, this woman has been caught in an act of adultery. Now the law of Moses commanded us to stone such. What do you say about her ...?' 'Let him who is without sin among you, be the first to throw a stone,' Jesus responded" (John 8:3-7, author paraphrase).
But most of his disciples and his students heard him, learned from him, were given life by him, were enlivened by him, were nurtured in hope and saved by him.
How do you think Jesus felt about his teaching? When he spoke the Beatitudes on the hillside and when the parable of the Good Samaritan first came forth from his lips, how do you think Jesus felt about his teaching? And when he called forth disciples and they left everything to follow, to find life in him, how did he feel about his teaching?
And when he entered Jerusalem with palm branches waving and garments carpeting his path, the enactment of God's king coming to enthronement, how did Jesus feel about his teaching? Or on that night when he took bread and broke it and offered a cup, or when he, with towel and basin, knelt to wash the disciples' feet, how did he feel about his teaching? Or when he prayed in the garden and his disciples could not stay awake with him, or on the cross when he said, "Father, father, why hast thou forsaken me?" how did he feel about his teaching? Or when in the garden of his resurrection, he spoke the name "Mary" and she said, "Rab-eo'ni," which means teacher, how did he feel about his teaching? Or when he said on the road to Damascus, "Saul, Saul why do you persecute me?" and Saul for a time was struck blind, but became Paul and became one of Christ's greatest students, an evangelist to the world, how did he feel about his teaching? And when he spoke your name and called you to be among his students and knew that you are a student, both willing and unwilling to do all which is required to live the lesson which he brings, and to do the teaching on his behalf which he requires, how did he feel about his teaching?
So it is interesting to think on whether Jesus' teaching was pleasing to him, to consider how he felt about his own teaching. And if we asked him, "How do you feel about your teaching, Jesus?" I expect he would sigh, "I'm not sure how I feel about my teaching. But I am interested in what you are learning ... and in what you are teaching for me."
If we are interested in pleasing this teacher, this good teacher, this rabbi, Rab-eo'ni , it will be by our learning and by our teaching that he will be pleased.
Have you ever had a favorite teacher? Maybe the One who sent you to teach on his behalf.
