WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?
Teacher
Day 11 Wednesday
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EXPLORE THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST
For us there is one God, the Father,
from whom are all things and for whom we exist,
and one Lord, Jesus Christ,
through whom are all things and through whom we exist (1 Corinthians 8: 6).
MARK 1: 21-22
And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.
MATTHEW 22: 15-22
Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.
CONSIDER
What was the quality of Jesus’ teaching that so astonished his listeners? The word authority here literally means “out of being.” Jesus knew what we talked about because he knew the mind of his Father. How do you see Jesus’ brilliance as a teacher in his reply to the question of taxes?
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PRAY THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
Begin with the Jesus Prayer. Pray it reflectively several times, for yourself or on behalf of another.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Then pray the day’s prayer slowly and repeatedly for at least a minute (that’s about seven times). Allow the prayer to take you into the meaning of the day’s facet of Jesus’ name. Pray it for yourself and/or on behalf of another. Take your time and trust this process!
Lord Jesus Christ, Teacher of truth,
you have the words of eternal life: speak to me today.
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LIVE INTO THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
He has granted to us his precious and very great promises,
so that through them you might become partakers of his divine
nature . . . For this very reason, supplement your faith with
virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness,
brotherly affection and love (2 Peter 1: 4
JOHN 20: 15-18
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
CONSIDER
Jesus surprised Mary in the garden, calling her by name. The title “Rabonni,” teacher, was the first word out of her startled mouth. What does that tell about her relationship to Jesus?
Why do we feel affectionately toward those who have taught us important things?
What new information about his future did he give Mary to share with the other disciples?
How might we consider Mary’s words to the disciples to be the heart of our witness to Jesus our Teacher?
COLOSSIANS 3: 16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
CONSIDER
Life in Jesus our Teacher means a continuing dynamic: we learn from him and we teach others of him. We receive and we give. All the while we discover the wonderful truth that never did you learn something so well as when you teach it.
Thus, a community of Christ is always a vibrant gathering to be sent, learning and teaching, being filled and pouring out, loving and being loved with the truth of our Teacher at the still center of our pulsing life together.
Speak to Jesus this morning of all you have learned from him. Thank him for things you know about him. Thank him for insights you have received recently. Speak, or sing, back to him who you have discovered him to be.
Close by singing these hymn verses:
Savior, teach me, day by day, love’s sweet lesson to obey;
Sweeter lesson cannot be, loving him who first loved me.
Teach me thus thy steps to trace, strong to follow in thy grace,
Learning how to love from thee, loving him who first loved me.
Love in loving finds employ, in obedience all her joy;
Ever new that joy will be, loving him who first loved me.
Jane Leeson. Savior, Teach Me, Day by Day. 1842.
LISTEN TO TODAY'S HYMN
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