Christian Living

The Great Teacher

by Thomas Kirkpatrick
07/01/22
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"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29)

As this was a verse in our opening prayer this morning, it is in the New Covenant Church age teaching us that our rest is not in a day or the Sabbath, but we find our rest in our Lord Jesus. Therefore, this verse is fundamental to the New Covenant, which the Old Testament prophets spoke about. The blood of animals could not be pure enough to wash away the sins of any human. The blood of creation is just as fractured by sin, and only faith in God’s complete revelation was the key component of salvation for the Saints of the era. In the New Testament, only the blood of the Creator, Jesus the Son of God, was pure enough to wash away the sins of humanity. Today we have come to the house of the Lord to find rest for our souls.

We will look at John 1:38-39 this morning, but first, I must place this verse in context. John the Baptist was the first and last prophet of the New Testament, as it had been four hundred years since the last prophet of the Old Testament. John the Baptist was standing with two disciples, John and Andrew. Jesus came into their presence, and John the Baptist said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" The disciples knew this proclamation meant Jesus was the Messiah. When Jesus left them, John and Andrew followed Him. "And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, 'What do you seek?' They said to Him, 'Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?' He said to them, 'Come, and you will see.'" (John 1:38-39)

John and Andrew found Jesus when they were with the last human prophet, John the Baptist, and met Jesus, the final Spiritual Prophet. I find it interesting that John had asked where Jesus was staying and Jesus replied Come, and you will see. The disciples followed Jesus and the adventure of a lifetime began for them. They not only saw where Jesus was staying that night, but they followed Him and now are where Jesus truly stays, in the Kingdom of God.

There is no argument that Jesus was more than an exceptional man. He was God in the flesh who came to dwell for a season. Jesus holds many titles humans cannot achieve. He is God’s Word, the Word of God. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1) The Pharisees challenged His power to show signs and wonders no other could do. Jesus’ answer was simple, "I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." (John 5:30) Jesus is the greatest teacher, as His word was before the beginning and therefore, all-powerful and absolute truth. "So Jesus answered them and said, 'My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me.'" (John 7:16)

The Heavenly Father had a plan and purpose for His begotten son to establish a New Covenant to provide a way for humanity to receive salvation through His Son Jesus. His mission was a call for repentance, "From that time Jesus began to preach and say, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" (Matthew 4:17) Proclaim the Kingdom of God, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose." (Luke 4:43) Present the gospel of the Kingdom of God to every ear that would hear. "Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people." (Matthew 4:23)

The word Jesus was teaching was powerful, even radical from the teaching in the synagogues, and they flocked to hear Him as He taught about the Kingdom of heaven. Jesus chose twelve to become His disciples and invested most of His time with them. Jesus sent the twelve out at times to preach the Kingdom of God. "And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" (Matthew 10:7)

It was His Father’s will to establish a New Covenant worship system. Jesus was going to replace the Temple worship with the Church. The Church was not in a building, but God’s Spirit is indwelling the faithful and restoring them as His children. Jesus began to prepare His disciples to be the builders of His Spiritual Body, the Church. Jesus asked His disciples who they thought He was. They gave many answers, and Jesus narrowed it to who Peter thought He was.  And, "Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'" (Luke 16:16) Peter’s answer was a revelation only God could have given Him. Peter had always been the leader of the disciples, but this revelation made Peter the foremost disciple. Upon Peter’s testimony, Jesus said, "Upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it." (Luke4 16-19)

Jesus as the “Lamb of God” is the only pure sacrifice for your sin and mine. Humanity has not witnessed a greater act of love than our Creator sacrificing His life so that we may find life through Him. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16) The Apostle Peter further testified. "For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls." (1 Peter 2:21-25)

After Jesus’ resurrection and before His ascension, Jesus commissioned His dispels as Apostles to be sent out to continue the mission Jesus had started. He gave them the great commission of the Church. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)

As followers of Jesus, we are His disciples today, carrying on the Great Commission of the Church established two thousand years ago. On Pentecost, the promised Holy Spirit fell upon the Apostles, empowering them. The disciples went onward preaching the Kingdom of Heaven, and their message reached worldwide.

Jesus has empowered His body, the Church, with the Holy Spirit dwelling within His Church. "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you." (John 14:26) As His body listens with spiritual ears open, we will not be at a loss for speaking His truth. "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come." (John 16:13)

As the body of His Church, we are His disciples carrying on the mission of the Church, freeing all who have an ear to hear from God’s destruction of the wrath. It is the purpose the Lord Jesus prepared the good work that we walk in His Kingdom’s purpose. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)

We have the convicting power of His word to share with those who need salvation. Let us pick up the cross of service to further the mission of repentance for the gift of eternal life. His message, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23). All are sinners as we are, yet, Jesus loves us all and paid the price of all sin. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) Help us, Lord, carry the gospel to every ear that will hear so Your truth will be near their hearts. "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart"--that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:8-9)

How can one lost in their sin call on Jesus as the only way to salvation from their sin debt if they have never heard the promise of the gospel message? How will they know your name if we hide the testimony of Your love? "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved." How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!" (Romans 10:13-15)

Jesus, God in the likeness of man, is the Greatest Teacher ever known by humanity. He had complete trust in the will of His Father and obeyed in complete faith of His Father’s plan and purpose. We, the followers of Jesus, are called to carry on the mission He started two thousand years ago. Initiated by His chosen Apostles and duplicated to this day by His disciples. We cling to the truth of God’s promises and live in the faith of the Word of God. The followers of Jesus are empowered by His Spirit to go and teach the promises of His Kingdom’s gospel. We must be His message of hope in a hopeless world of dying darkness. The value of life is the blood shed on the cross for their sin. We cannot deny any the opportunity to choose or reject God’s gift of salvation. Are we good teachers speaking His promises to every ear that will hear? "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

Thomas N Kirkpatrick

First Baptist Church of Durant, June 12, 2022