What I Teach

ByJim Stephens

Scripture: John 18:19-24 (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)

19 Inside, the high priest began asking Jesus about his followers and what he had been teaching them. 20 Jesus replied, “Everyone knows what I teach. I have preached regularly in the synagogues and the Temple, where the people gather. I have not spoken in secret. 21 Why are you asking me this question? Ask those who heard me. They know what I said.” 22 Then one of the Temple guards standing nearby slapped Jesus across the face. “Is that the way to answer the high priest?” he demanded. 23 Jesus replied, “If I said anything wrong, you must prove it. But if I’m speaking the truth, why are you beating me?” 24 Then Annas bound Jesus and sent him to Caiaphas, the high priest. (John 18:19-24 NLT)

Jesus said, “Everyone knows what I teach!” Jesus had been clear, consistent, and public in his teaching. That prompted me to ask this question: Does everyone know what Jesus taught? Jesus said that “the world” would know that he was sent by God, and that what he taught was true, by listening to us and watching how we live and love. If that’s the case how clear is the message they’re getting from us?

  • Jesus declared his mission in Luke 4:18-19: “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.”
  • The core of Jesus’ teaching is in the Sermon on the Mount. (Matt 5-7).
  • Jesus’ commandments to us are: Love God, Love Your Neighbor (Matt 22:37-40), Love Each Other (John 13:34-35), and Love Your Enemies (Matt 5:43-48).
  • The prayer Jesus prayed for us is that we would become one as he and the Father are one so that the world would believe in him. (John 17:20-21)
  • The standard by which Jesus said our living would be measured is our behavior toward the poor, the hungry and thirsty, the sick, stranger, the prisoner. (Matt 25:31-46)

Perhaps part of the reason “the world” often seems so opposed to the church is that we are not in unity, that we are not visibly loving each other and our enemies, and that our message has drifted significantly from the message Jesus taught and preached. What do you think?

Prayer:

Father, May we teach and demonstrate what Jesus taught and demonstrated! Amen.