Teacher of the Word
“And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly, that, in receiving the word of God from hearing us, you received not a human word but, as it truly is, the word of God,
which is now at work in you who believe.”1 Thes 2:13
Have you ever heard a story that you feel you heard before but maybe in a slightly different context or fashion? Sometimes there are similar stories from different cultures. For example, the Great Flood in the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Genesis account of Noah’s Ark and the flood. In modern time, perhaps we have seen people take old stories or old ideas and rebrand it as their own with a slight change. In fact, I have come to observe that many non-Christians would say things that really come from Scripture without even knowing it! Although there are many stories and books out there, there is only one that is inerrant and that can save, and that is the Bible, authored by God Himself.
For Christians, we believe that the Bible is the Word of God, the living Word of God. The Word that comes not from man, but from God Himself. This Word has the power to save us and this Word has taken flesh in the Person of Jesus Christ. He is the Word made flesh, and by His blood our sins have been washed away, and by His Paschal Mystery, we have the gift of eternal life. It is God who is the Author of the Bible, and it is Jesus Christ who is the Master Teacher. But there are many people in our world today who, though they may not do so explicitly, claim this title for themselves and teach with the authority that belongs to Christ alone.
In the Gospels, Jesus tells His disciples that they have but ONE teacher and that they are all brothers and sisters (Matthew 23:8). But, of course we know there are many teachers in the world, so what was Jesus saying? I believe that Jesus was trying to teach a lesson on humility. Jesus made specific references to the teachers of the day saying they teach but they do not practice what they teach. They lay heavy burdens on people but when push comes to shove, they do not lend a helping hand. They seek honor and glory for themselves and crave to be in the spotlight and to be seen by others. Those were the teachers of the Law at the time of Jesus. So, Jesus told the people to listen to what they had to say, but to not imitate their behaviors. This message is as relevant today as it was in the time of Jesus.
Of course Jesus did not mean there should not be other teachers when He said there is but one teacher. What He did mean is that these teachers should teach the Truth and practice the Truth, and that all truly good and effective teachers know that they are not all knowing and all powerful, but instead know that their knowledge and authority comes from above. In other words, teachers ought to be humble, teach only the Truth, and practice what they preach. When teachers deviate from this, they are becoming a teacher for themselves and not for others. Similarly, all Christians are called to share in the teaching office of Christ, but if we make it all about us, we have lost sight of our calling.
So, what is the story that we will tell? What is the message that we will pass on? Will it be the message that comes from God, or will it be the message that points to ourselves? Will our lives tell the story of the love and mercy of God and that leads others to Him or will our lives aim to bring ourselves fame and glory?
