The Learned Lord
As the
Jews listened to Jesus they got the impression he was an educated man. When our
Lord stood up and spoke, a crowd would gather. There was something about him
that compelled attention, though nobody could identify what it was. He was just
a carpenter from a small town in Galilee ; he
had never been in any school to become a Jewish Rabbi, and never graduated from
any university. Yet as people listened
to him, they recognized he had the knowledge and wisdom of the learned.
It is
also an amazing thing that the nearer people get to Jesus the more they
recognize his scholarly intellect. Some people can give the impression of being
educated, but when people get close to them they soon become disillusioned. But
nobody who came close to Christ was ever disappointed; instead they were overwhelmed
by his abilities. The Jews had given their lives to the study of the Scripture;
yet when they encountered Christ they recognize that they had met their Master.
When they questioned him, he would ask, "What? Have ye not read?" Then,
he would he give them understanding of what they had read. The greatest scholar among them was probably
convicted of his incompetence by this extraordinary teacher from Galilee .
The
Pharisee’s learning lacked originality or imagination, and usually consisted of
endless quotes from other authorities. They
were out of touch with reality with their meticulous details about the law which
offered no grace and was the despair of common people; but, our Lord didn’t
attempt to create a deep impression by any elaborate parade of knowledge. With
perfect and unfaltering ease He handled the most perplexing themes! With common
and familiar examples, he enlightened what was dark! Where others stumbled,
groping around for big-many-syllable words, our Lord communicated so a little
child could understand. There is such perfect mastery about Jesus, such ease of
conscious and complete power. He represents more that the excellent intellect; he
is the epitome of life. His intellectual processes are stunning, because His
life and character are. He unashamedly proclaims, "I come to do thy will,
O God."
Christ had the courage to be himself. Many a young preacher of the gospel who might
have had an admirable ministry soon begins imitating somebody else, and when
that happens that minister might as well quit. Jesus received his training at home, and in
the synagogue, and faced tremendous pressure from the elite of his day but he
refused to be overpowered by the traditions they touted. He
swept aside the status quo and went to the very heart of matters. He recognized
the truth that everyone else missed; therefore his revelations were refreshing.
No wonder that people who listened found their hearts beginning to burn within
them as He talked with them along the way.
Also,
everything the Lord gained from Scripture and from nature was obtained while
working. It is commonly supposed that
Joseph died when Jesus was still young, and he became the sole support of Mary
and the children, working from morning sun till its setting. There was not much
leisure time for him to spend studying, but
while he worked he undoubtedly stayed in touch with his heavenly Father
who taught him by his Holy Spirit what to know and how to live to God’s glory.
Then, when he went out to minister to the public, He was perfectly equipped intellectually
and spiritually. He yielded the sword of
the Lord from the very outset of His ministry, even when tempted by the devil
to worship him instead of his Father.
Some of us may be just like Jesus and have little
time or opportunity for a worldly education, but just remember to be yourself,
and do what Jesus did. Don’t forget that the One who was once a carpenter in Nazareth KJV ) The Master understands the temptations we face, but we can learn
obedience just like Jesus by listening for our Father’s still small voice.
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