Jesus is the greatest teacher

I have been blessed by a number of people who poured themselves into my life in different ways and exerted a great influence on me. Hopefully all of us have been blessed by other people at key moments as well.
One group of people who impacted me were teachers. I enjoyed the educational experience as I worked my way through the various schools in my hometown of Moberly. I loved so much about school! Being able to come to a building five days a week where all the focus was on learning things and accumulating information - what was there not to love? I had so many teachers who were great guides and givers of wisdom as well. In elementary school, there were several who, besides being good at teaching, were encouraging and even loving toward the other students and me.
Their names have faded over the years, but not my gratitude for their influence. In junior high, one outstanding teacher was Mr. Nelson. Besides teaching his math students well, he taught us about life. There were a number of times when the topic of the day was not square roots or hypotenuses, but common sense life lessons.
Some of what he taught I carry with me and practice to this day. In high school, one teacher who impacted me was Mrs. Eads. She taught American Literature and excelled at taking books from 100 or 200 years ago and making them live. She confirmed and encouraged in me a lifelong love of learning which I still carry with me today. In college, I had several classes with Dr. McLaren.
More than any other professor, he formed and shaped who I am as a pastor. In seminary, one professor among many who put their mark on me was Dr. Oswalt. He modeled what it meant to be an outstanding scholar, a powerful preacher, and a caring pastor, all in one. And in library school, Dr. Allen was the best example of a scholar and teacher.
These are just a few of the people who have made a great difference in my life. But there is one more teacher I have had who has taught me so much that I truly needed to know. He has been personally invested in every part of my life, and still is. That teacher is Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.
Jesus taught great compassion. One example of this is found in John 4 and his encounter with the Samaritan woman.

You may have heard your pastor state, as I have before, that Jesus broke several barriers with this woman. A good Jew had nothing to do with a Samaritan, and Jesus broke that rule. In the time of the New Testament, Jewish men did not talk with women of any kind, and Jesus ignored that barrier. Jesus was a rabbi, a teacher, and rabbis did not often speak with those who were not their students. Jesus spoke with her anyway. But what about the fact that this woman was a great sinner?
She had been through five husbands and was living with a man she was not married to. Jesus set the example of great compassion with her. I have had to learn that lesson more than once in my life, and I suspect I will have to learn it in the future.
But thankfully Jesus, the master teacher, is faithful to teach me the lesson of compassion. I am trying to be a good student, and I hope you are too.
In John 14, Jesus is teaching his disciples. These were the 12 men that he worked so hard to build up and shape into the leaders of the early church. Oh, what a privilege it would have been to be in the room personally when Jesus was teaching! Can you imagine? But here in John 14, Jesus says something that probably made his disciples write down a lot of notes and maybe caused some jaws to drop. He said in verse 6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Of all the great teachers I have had, and I have had many, Jesus was saying when it came to the great issues of life, when it came to eternity, when it came to God and he wants to do in my life and what kind of relationship I need to have with him, Jesus is it!
He us the only teacher I need, the only teacher I want, the only teacher I should listen to. Will you join me in going to this school? Class is in session. Let’s go!
Kevin Barron is the pastor of Perryville and Crossroads United Methodist churches. He can be reached by phone at 573-547-5200 or via email at kdbarron@gmail.com.