Greatest Educator of All Time
The people
were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one having authority,
and not as the scribes. Matt. 7:28, 29.
The world's men
of learning are not easily reached by the practical truths of God's Word. The
reason is, they trust to human wisdom and pride themselves upon their
intellectual superiority, and are unwilling to become humble learners in the
school of Christ.
Our Saviour did
not ignore learning or despise education, yet He chose unlearned fishermen for
the work of the gospel because they had not been schooled in the false customs
and traditions of the world. They were men of good natural ability and of a humble,
teachable spirit, men whom He could educate for His great work. In the ordinary
walks of life there is many a man patiently treading the round of daily toil,
all unconscious that he possesses power which if called into action would raise
him to an equality with the world's most honored men. The touch of a skillful
hand is needed to arouse and develop those dormant faculties. It was such men
whom Jesus connected with Himself, and He gave them the advantages of three
years' training under His own care. No course of study in the schools of the
rabbis or the halls of philosophy could have equaled this in value. The Son of
God was the greatest educator the world ever knew.
The learned
lawyers, priests, and scribes scorned to be taught by Christ. They desired to
teach Him, and frequently made the attempt, only to be defeated by the wisdom
that laid bare their ignorance and rebuked their folly. . . . They knew that He
had not learned in the schools of the prophets, and they could not discern the
divine excellence of His character beneath the lowly disguise of the Man of
Nazareth. But the words and deeds of the humble Teacher, recorded by the
unlettered companions of His daily life, have exerted a living power upon the
minds of men from that day to the present. Not merely the ignorant and humble,
but men of education, intellect, and genius reverently exclaim, with the
wondering and delighted listeners of old, "Never man spake like this
man" (John 7:46).
From That I May Know Him - Page 189
