June is usually the month in which schools are preparing for the opening of classes. But because of the pandemic caused by COVID-19, the opening of classes was pushed back to the end of August. Just today, June 8, 2020, the Department of Education announced that there will be no face to face classes until a vaccine is available. Schools like Central Philippine University are now preparing for fully online classes.
Going back to the time of Jesus, we can remember that He was called a Rabbi, a teacher. In the Great Commission, we can see that Jesus said Christians must teach the next generation of disciples to obey everything that Jesus has commanded the first batch of disciples.
What principle can we learn from the teaching ministry of Jesus?
Jesus put forward a “teaching them to obey” principle.
Indeed there is a big difference between teaching what is right and wrong, and teaching people not just to know but more importantly, to do what is right, and shun what is wrong.
Let us check our teaching perspective in the light of the principle that Jesus made. Let us not just teach people the knowledge but to empower them to do what they have learned. This is the perspective behind the American Baptist missionaries who put forward the vision of CPU that is “Exemplary Christian Education for Life.”
Over and above this teaching principle, Jesus is teaching us to obey what He commanded. Why can Jesus say this? Why can He command us to do what He said? Jesus can do so because He has all authority in heaven and on earth. And if you have this authority, then it simply means that Jesus is God. Jesus can command us because He is the King of kings, and Lord of lords.
The next question for us is, where can we find these commands? We can find the specific commands of Jesus in the Gospels. Let us continue to read, and re-read the Gospels. We should also read the whole Bible in the light of Jesus Christ.
Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on