Was Jesus Really Just a Good Teacher? Then Why Don't You Follow What He Taught?

This one is less for the church...OK, it's also for the church because we often don't listen to Him too. Without a doubt, Jesus is widely recognized the world over as a good teacher, at the very least. Some see Him as a mere prophet. OK, let's work with that. Jesus was a teacher, sure and very wise. I don't think anyone would disagree.

But I would bet that any of you who say this would be hard pressed to repeat anything that He actually taught. I know I can't recall 100% accurately some of the things He taught and I've been a Christian for more than ten years. Let's start with some easy teachings that everyone should know.

Turn the other cheek. If someone asks for your coat, also give them the shirt. Give to Caesar what is Caesar's. Go the extra mile. We've turned many of these great lesson's into cliche's. Stripped them of their depth, to some extent, if that were possible. But yes, these are some things that Jesus taught.

But what else? The sermon on the mount of course. But what was that about? Let's take just a small piece.

http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Mat&c=5&v=1#1

From that, this comes out.

Matthew 5:17 - 20

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."


Which causes me to ask, how can a mere teacher fulfil the law? There's no way a mere person could fulfill the Law.

He also said that the law, the Torah, the "Old Testament" was still valid, and would continue to be relevant, basically until the last chapter of Revelation. So, that means you and I are subject to the law and held accountable to it.

Or as Paul explains in Galatians, the law is still valid for showing us what is sinful, and to help us judge what is right and wrong. Lying, stealing, adultery, witchraft, homosexuality, etc. etc. are still sin. When we read the law, I think we are supposed to see in it where we fall short, and confess to God that we sinned by not measuring up. It's sort of our diagnostic tool to see where we are with God.

That's interesting to note in light of the ordination of gay clergy in Lutheran and Presbyterian denominations, and the Church's general laissez faire attitude to sin in general.

Even more, Jesus teaches us who He is.

John 5:16 - 47

"And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.

But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth [them]; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

That all [men] should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.

There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.

Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.

But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.

He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

But I have greater witness than [that] of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.

And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

I receive not honour from men.

But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.

I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that [cometh] from God only?

Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is [one] that accuseth you, [even] Moses, in whom ye trust.

For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.

But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?"

http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Jhn&c=5&v=17#17


John 14:6 - 12

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou [then], Shew us the Father?

Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Believe me that I [am] in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. "

http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Jhn&c=14&v=1&t=KJV#1


These statements go way beyond mere teaching, Jesus taught who He is, which is the Son of God! He's not just a wise teacher, He is God's Son! Fully God and fully human! God, so He can be infinitely sufficient to atone for us (and more probably) and fully human so that we humans can become saved.

He also taught on the road Emmaus that He fulfilled the scriptures by suffering and dying on the cross for our sin, and being raised up. (Luke 24:27 (read it all, but pay close attention to v 27. http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Luk&c=24&t=KJV#13 ) )

Maybe He covered Psalm 22, which describes crucifixion hundreds of years before it was even invented! Maybe He covered something else.

Following is a link that outlines more than 300 prophecies of the Old Testament that Jesus fulfilled. Keep in mind that the Old Testament was written by several different authors across hundreds of years by people (most of whom never knew each other). The Holy Spirit worked in them to predict the coming of Jesus the Messiah, and as Chuck Missler says, embedded consistent symbolism to foreshadow the coming of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

Here's the link:

http://www.accordingtothescriptures.org/prophecy/353prophecies.html


Perhaps Jesus didn't address each one of these on the road with the disciples, but you can bet He did a large number, His disciples were quite impressed afterwards. I don't think anyone would forget. I personally hope that God explains that to us in eternity. Then i can see how wrong I am on many points.

So, Jesus taught that He is the Son of God, that He would fulfil the scriptures (He often predicted His own death and resurrection, like in Luke 9:22) that those who believed in Him would have eternal life (John 3). He taught that Hell was a real place that people who reject God's salvation will go to (Luke 16). He taught after His resurrection that He had fulfilled the scriptures and He taught before His death that He would return one day like a thief (Matthew 24), that is, when we least expect it.

Does this sound like someone who is merely a good teacher? He is either or He said He is and taught who He was, or He wasn't. If you think that Jesus was merely an enlightened teacher, or very wise, you miss the entire point of what He taught.

How can you say He was a good teacher, then not accept what He said about Himself, and the scriptures, that He fulfilled them?

So if you acccept that Jesus is a good teacher, heed His teaching. Accept Him as Lord and Savior and accept His payment for your sins. Believe that He now lives! Believe that He is coming soon! Believe that He has overcome death, and allowed us to spend eternity with Him.

After all, Jesus taught these things.



Appendix

How to get saved, and have a relationship with Jesus.

"that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." -Romans 10:9

http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/how_to_be_saved.html


Did Jesus exist? Non-Biblical evidence that He did:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ffvyroYH3g