The writers of the Christian letters in the Bible, had Christ as their mentor. The apostle Peter wrote that Christ is a model to follow his steps closely (1 Peter 2:21). But did Christ have a mentor? Yes, he did: « Therefore, in response Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to you, the Son cannot do a single thing of his own initiative, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things that One does, these things the Son does also in like manner. (…) I cannot do a single thing of my own initiative. Just as I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous because I seek, not my own will, but the will of him who sent me » (John 5:19,30). Jesus Christ recognized that his Teacher was his Heavenly Father, Jehovah God, the Great Teacher. As the apostle Paul wrote, God used his Son, Jesus Christ, to explain his thoughts (1 Corinthians 2:16). Let us take two examples to show how Jesus Christ explained a teaching of the Heavenly Father, already written in the Old Testament.
In reading the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Christ explained some aspects of the commandments of the Mosaic Law, given by God to Moses for the people of Israel. However, he broadened the understanding of certain commandments. For example, after stating a commandment, he added, “For I say to you” (Matthew 5:18,20,28,32,34,39…). Does this mean that Jesus Christ added new thoughts to the Law of his Heavenly Father? While remaining in the realm of God’s mind, written in the Old Testament, he broadened the understanding of it.
For example, on the two commandments which condemn murder and adultery, Jesus Christ said that a simple formalistic obedience to these commandments was not enough. He added the notions of motives and intentions which may not always be in line with this apparent obedience to the Law. For example, regarding the law prohibiting adultery, here is what Jesus Christ said to those who apparently would respect this commandment: « But I say to you that everyone who keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). Committing adultery in one’s heart is not visible; it is the domain of the unseen motives and intentions of the heart. Concerning the law prohibiting murder, Jesus Christ added this point of understanding: “However, I say to you that everyone who continues wrathful with his brother will be accountable to the court of justice; and whoever addresses his brother with an unspeakable word of contempt will be accountable to the Supreme Court; whereas whoever says, ‘You despicable fool!’ will be liable to the fiery Gehenna » (Matthew 5:22). Someone who is angry or insults others has not committed murder per se. Nevertheless, Jesus Christ went upstream (in the reasoning) of what could lead to intentional homicide, that is to say hatred and prolonged anger. By these two examples, Jesus Christ added nothing to the thoughts or to the mind of Jehovah God, but he broadened the understanding it.
Jesus Christ helped us to better understand the mind of his Father regarding the prophecies, based on the book of Daniel (in the Old Testament). He explained some aspects of it in his prophecy of the last days which can be read in Matthew 24 and 25, Mark 13 and Luke 21. Here is what Jesus Christ declared concerning the destruction of the city of Jerusalem: “Therefore, when you catch sight of the disgusting thing that causes desolation, as spoken about by Daniel the prophet, standing in a holy place (let the reader use discernment), then let those in Judea begin fleeing to the mountains. Let the man on the housetop not come down to take the goods out of his house, and let the man in the field not return to pick up his outer garment. Woe to the pregnant women and those nursing a baby in those days! Keep praying that your flight may not occur in wintertime nor on the Sabbath day; for then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again” (Matthew 24:15-21).
« When you catch sight of the disgusting thing that causes desolation, as spoken about by Daniel the prophet, standing in a holy place (let the reader use discernment) »: This prophecy mentioned by Christ is based on the passage of Daniel 9:27b: « And upon the wing of disgusting things there will be the one causing desolation; and until an extermination, the very thing decided upon will go pouring out also upon the one lying desolate ». The first fulfillment (not mentioned in the Bible), happened in the year 66 CE. The Roman general Cestius Gallus, during the first siege of Jerusalem, partially came into the city by destroying part of the outer wall of the great temple. However, for unexplained reasons Cestus Gallus left without completing this siege. This unprecedented situation allowed the Christians of Jerusalem (the chosen ones), to flee the city, before its destruction in the year 70 CE, by the Roman general Titus. These are two examples of how Jesus Christ based himself entirely on the teaching of his Heavenly Father Jehovah God, written in the Bible.
In what sense Jehovah God is the Great Teacher? It is very difficult to answer this question succinctly. We can simply say that the Bible is a fine example of Jehovah God’s way of teaching. First of all, He was concerned to make his thoughts accessible to humans for understanding by ensuring that men wrote them. Furthermore, the forty writers were from different social strata. The Bible contains historical, geographical, demographic, economic, poetic, behavioral and prophetic teachings…
In Job chapters 38 to 41, Jehovah God uses the description of some aspects of his creation to teach and discipline Job. Through a few selected examples, God will invite Job to be a little more modest, being aware of his smallness and his great vulnerability, in view of the immensity and power of Creation of God. Let us look at some biblical quotes, mainly using the verses references: In Job chapters 38 to 41, Jehovah God uses the description of some aspects of his creation to teach and discipline Job. Through a few selected examples, God will invite Job to be a little more modest, being aware of his smallness and his great vulnerability, in view of the immensity and power of Creation of God. Let us look at some biblical quotes, mainly using the verses references: First, Jehovah introduces his teaching by firmly asking Job to listen to him: « Who is this that is obscuring counsel By words without knowledge? Gird up your loins, please, like an able-bodied man, And let me question you, and you inform me. Where did you happen to be when I founded the earth? Tell me, if you do know understanding » (Job 38:2-4). Indeed, one need only look up to see thousands of stars and galaxies created millions and billions of years ago (Psalms 8:3,4). At Job 38:31-37, Jehovah points out to Job that he has no power over the stars, over the atmosphere composed of clouds of different kinds, that he is not able to direct them, nor even the energy of lightning. In chapter 39, Jehovah draws the attention of Job to the animal world, especially the wild one that does not need humans to live. Jehovah tells Job that humans cannot tame zebras, much less wild bulls (5-12).
We can continue this reading until chapter 41, where Jehovah makes it clear, by many examples of creation, the smallness of the human, and that as such, he must remain humble and modest. What we can learn from this dialogue is that the extent of the mind of Jehovah’ is comparable to the immensity of the ocean, both in its horizontality and its depth. Which means that whatever the level of knowledge a human being could have regarding the mind of God, it remains in the order of the infinitesimal. It is poetically written in the book Job: « Look! These are just the fringes of his ways; Only a faint whisper has been heard of him! So who can understand his mighty thunder? » (Job 26:14).
In the manner of Jesus Christ, if a Christian teacher wants to be renewed in his way of teaching both outside and within the congregation, he must be inspired by the wisdom of Jehovah God, by regularly reading the Bible and meditating on it daily, praying for wisdom to acquire the art of teaching (Psalm 1:2,3). He must also be aware that the source of the wisdom of Jesus Christ comes from his Heavenly Father. Thus, to imitate Christ is to imitate Jehovah God the Heavenly Father.
It is important to constantly bear in mind that whatever we teach, we must do it with brotherly love for those who receive this teaching and to give glory to our Heavenly Father, Jehovah God, the Great Teacher: « O the depth of God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How unsearchable his judgments are and beyond tracing out his ways are! For “who has come to know Jehovah’s mind, or who has become his adviser?” Or, “who has first given to him, so that it must be repaid to him?” Because from him and by him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen » (Romans 11:33-36).
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Achieving Spiritual Maturity (Hebrews 6:1)
Table of contents of the http://yomelyah.fr/ website
Reading the Bible daily, this table of contents contains informative Bible articles (Please click on the link above to view it)…
Table of languages of more than seventy languages, with six important biblical articles, written in each of these languages…
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