Thurs 30 April – Jesus – our teacher and life shaper

DAILY BYTE

In one resurrection appearance, Mary calls Jesus ‘Rabboni’ which means teacher. Jesus was often called teacher on other occasions during his ministry. Today, we tend to see teachers as people who teach us how to spell and add, but the ancient Hebrews had a far more comprehensive view of teachers. This is because they understood very well the impact a good teacher would have on your life – how they could dramatically shape and alter you for the better.

There is a beautiful legend about a king who decided to set aside a special day to honour the greatest person in his kingdom. When the big day arrived, four finalists had been selected and the king was due to personally choose the winner from these.

The first was a wealthy philanthropist. The king was told this man was highly deserving of this honour because of his humanitarian efforts. He had donated most of his wealth to ingenious and sustainable projects for the poor. The second was a celebrated and brilliant physician. The king was told that this doctor was also highly deserving of this honour because she had rendered inspiring and self-sacrificial service to the poor for many years.

The third person was a distinguished judge who was noted for the courageous way he had served the cause of justice to even the most powerless and downtrodden. The fourth person presented, however, was an elderly woman whose manner and dress was very humble indeed. She hardly looked the part of someone about to be honoured as the greatest in the kingdom.

The king was surprised to see her there and wondered what possible chance she could have against the other three who had accomplished so much. Even so, there was something about her that struck the king for there was a look of love on her face, an understanding in her eyes, and a quiet confidence about her.

The king was so intrigued and puzzled by her presence that he asked his Chief Minister who she was. The answer came, “You see the philanthropist, the doctor and the judge? Well, she was their teacher.”

It really, really matters what or WHO we place our faith in – who we allow to shape and form us and to be our life’s teacher – because that will dramatically impact our own personal transformation.

This is what Jesus was trying to make clear to these Emmaus disciples – don’t live with inadequate versions of God because it really will take you nowhere! This is exactly what Luke’s Gospel is trying to make clear to us as well.

So ask yourself the question – do I live with inadequate versions of God? How can I allow Jesus to become my life’s teacher in this regard?
PRAY AS YOU GO
Gracious God, I invite you to shape and form me. I recognise how often my faith becomes selfish, and so I pray you would continually challenge me to follow Jesus and allow his presence to transform me utterly. Amen.
FOCUS READING
John 20.10-16 NIV

Then the disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?"
"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?"
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."
Jesus said to her, "Mary."
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).