What did He look like as a child or grown man? Isaiah 53:2 leads one to believe He had no remarkable, distinguishing physical characteristics. What earthly interests did He have? What was His favorite subject in school? Who did He spend time with the first 30 years of His life? Was He tall or short? How did He sound when He laughed?
These questions have long fascinated man, but they matter little. If they mattered to His contemporaries, they would have written about them. If they mattered to God, surely there would be a record of them. Yet, the physical things about Jesus tell one little about who He is. When little children sit on His knee, when the poor and hurting find comfort from Him, and when the enemies of truth are on the scorched end of His rebukes, He is teaching the things about Himself that mattered most. As we seek to know Jesus, here is what we learn.
He is Our Teacher
On 12 separate occasions, the gospels record somebody calling Jesus “rabbi”–never in jest or ridicule. In John 20:16, He is called “Rabboni.” The former term meant “my master” and the latter meant “my great master.” The terms were meant to rank a person’s ability and proficiency as a teacher of the Law. People marveled at Jesus’ teaching ability (cf. Luke 20:26; John 7:46; Matthew 7:29). He taught with so many different methods, whether object lessons, parables, questions and answers, or through questions. His teaching changed lives, from the apostles to strangers to even enemies. People may have debated Christ’s claims and doubted the power behind His miracles, but they could never answer His teaching.
Jesus is our teacher, too. Certainly, He teaches us through the Scripture (cf. 2 Peter 1:3). He left us everything we need to go to heaven, and He is holding us accountable for it (John 12:48).
But He also teaches us with His example. He practiced perfectly the things He taught, so that even His enemies could find no fault in Him (Luke 23:4; John 8:46). He had the perfect attitude toward truth, so that while He was never abusive or unkind He did set forth truth in plain, simple terms to make clear that if the shoe fit His listener should wear it. He loved His students with a perfect degree of love. He loved truth, but He also loved everyone. When people rejected truth, He sorrowed for them. He wanted all saved, even those who crucified Him.
He further teaches us with His approach. He had the widest of vision, intending everyone of every race and nation to hear the gospel (Matthew 28:18-20). He had the clearest of insight into His students. He set an incomparable moral standard. He did not just condemn sinful acts, but also the hearts behind such actions and so emphasized that we should act out of perfect love and faith.
He had a perfect method of teaching, teaching, as Franklin Camp might say, “old truths in new robes.” He adapted His methods to His audience, and He utilized the common things of life they knew. Jesus came to show us the Father. But, He also came to show us ourselves. His teaching also showed us so much about who He is!
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