08/24/2018
When you sit at the feet of Jesus are you teachable? Do you humble yourself and listen intently to every word He says, or are you a know it all, and keep interrupting with your own two cents? Jesus was gentle and humble when He taught, and we are to be this way as His pupils. How do you approach your spiritual instruction? Think about how you enter into your lessons and ask yourself “Am I teachable?”
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11:29 ESV
I have been a lifelong learner, and have taken many courses through the years. One thing I have noticed is that in every class there are one or two “students” who are not there to learn but to hijack the class and use it as a means of self gratification. This is true in the technical classes I take that pertain to my job, and it is also true in bible classes. You know them, the ones who don’t ask honest questions of the teacher, but interrupt so that they can interject their own understanding of the subject... sometimes to the point of it becoming a blatant correction. It would have been interesting to sit at the feet of Jesus and see this happening as he taught.
“And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.”
Luke 4:14-15 ESV
How do we behave when we are taking classes, and more specifically, how do we behave when the Holy Spirit is instructing us through someone? Are we gentle and lowly of heart, or do we attempt to take over the class with the attitude that we know it all? Are we really teachable, or simply looking for a platform for our own vanity? If we are the latter then we leave the class without having learned, and worse than that, we have interrupted the instruction of others. Being gentle and lowly of heart made Jesus a wonderful teacher, and it will make us exceptional students as well.
“And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?" But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, "If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all."”
Mark 9:33-35 ESV
This was a powerful lesson for the twelve, and is equally important for us to learn today... put your ego behind you, become humble, and become teachable. All of the apostles would one day become great teachers themselves, but on this day they were not the instructor. This was the time to sit humbly and listen... are you good at that? I can tell you that I often get excited about the lesson being taught by someone, and want to interject my thoughts. It is hard for me to take what I want to say during someone else’s class and save it for a day when I am the teacher. What I typically find is that when I am successful in stifling my own need to teach in the midst of another’s class, I learn more... it is hard to learn when we close our minds and open our mouths. Humility, and respect for others... endearing qualities.
Jesus asked questions as He taught, and this happens during most classes we take. Granted, some instruction is given in a lecture format, but even then there is usually a question and answer period at the end. As for Jesus, He asked questions in a few different ways... He asked rhetorical questions that were meant to make a point but didn’t require a response... such as in this example:
“And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour?”
Matthew 26:40 ESV
He asked leading questions in which the question became part and parcel of His instruction...
“Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?" They said to him, "We are able." He said to them, "You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."”
Matthew 20:22-23 ESV
And He also asked questions to allow those around Him to voice their answer. He was giving them an opportunity to understand more thoroughly by answering, and leading them based on that answer...
“When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" They said to him, "Twelve." "And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" And they said to him, "Seven." And he said to them, "Do you not yet understand?"”
Mark 8:19-21 ESV
As you can see... learning comes best to us when we are humble, and our knowledge is additionally increased when we respond respectfully to questions... or ask appropriate questions. The Pharisees and the Priests didn’t make good students because they came to Jesus thinking they already knew the material, and the answers better than this teacher.
“Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?" This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her."”
John 8:5-7 ESV
Am I teachable? Am I a good student? Or, am I a disruption to classes that I take? Do I make some humble instructor’s lesson a platform for my own ego? These are important questions to ask ourselves as we attempt to increase our faith and understanding. These are good things to ponder when we are tempted to take over, rather than take something away with us from a class. Humility... it made Jesus a great teacher, and it makes us successful students.
I ask one last time... Are you teachable?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for all of the opportunities you provide me to learn about you, your Word, and my faith. I thank you for the gentle and lowly heart of Jesus, and His humble instruction. Help my Holy Father to receive the understanding offered by your Holy Spirit, and to do so in a spirit of humility and with an honest desire to learn. Teach me to sit quietly in the classes of others, and to listen intently for your voice in their instruction. Keep my ego, and prideful outbursts at bay Father. Don’t let me stand in the way of those who are honest and eager to learn by distracting the class. You have filled me with so much knowledge and understanding Lord, but even so there is something more I can learn from even the least you place in my path. Keep my ears open, and my mouth closed Merciful Father. Open my mind, and give me a receptive heart for your instruction as I pay close attention to the most humble of your servants. How often I have found a diamond as in listened to a subject that I felt I knew well. Humble me at the feet of your Word. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you, and how great is your Word... even in the mouthes of children.
Rich Forbes