Teachers. I learn so much from others. The things they say, the things they do, and the example they allow me to see. To teach is to impart knowledge or a skill to another person. It is to give instruction, to inform, enlighten, train, and educate. Just as we learn from others, we are also teaching others by our words, by our example that others follow, and by our testimony—which is what others see.
Jesus Christ is our example of a teacher. He taught the multitudes in the temple, in the cities, and in the villages, and His Word was with power. Jesus called His disciples apart and giving them the Word of God, instructed them in the way they should live and trained them for the ministry He wanted them to fulfill. Jesus imparted unto them the meaning of God's Word, further explained the parables, and questioned their understanding of what they had been taught.
Jesus was a Teacher to the individual. He expounded all the Scriptures concerning Himself to the two disciples going to Emmaus. He instructed the rich young ruler and the lawyer by answering their inquiries regarding salvation. He allowed Mary to do the needful thing and to sit at His feet and hear His Word. And questioning His love and desire to do what he was taught, Jesus instructed Peter to follow Him.
Jesus also taught by example. As He was praying, His disciples asked Him to teach them to pray. In being a Servant and washing the apostles' feet, Jesus showed them that they also should serve as He had done. The testimony of Jesus, in doing good and by His miracles, enlightened Nicodemus to believe that Jesus was a Teacher come from God because he saw that God was with Him. Also, Jesus, in laying down His life and going to the cross for our sins, is still today teaching us that we too must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him.
In following Jesus we become teachers also. We are to teach our children just as Joshua prepared to do when he set the twelve stones in the midst of Jordan as a remembrance for the future generations from which would see and learn. As Lois and Eunice did by training up Timothy in unfeigned faith and the Holy Scriptures. We are to teach one another as Paul exhorted Timothy to commit what he had heard to faithful men, who then would be able to teach others. We can do as Aquila and Priscilla did when they took Apollos unto them and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly, which enabled Apollos to preach Christ mightily. Or we can be as Philip, who guided the Eunuch in understanding the Scriptures unto salvation. Or as Paul and Barnabas, when educating the church in the way of God, inspired others to have a testimony that was so like Christ that they were called Christians first at Antioch.
Let us be watchful in our teaching that we do not lead another astray as did Herodias in instructing her daughter to dance before the men and then request the head of John the Baptist. Or with the counsel of Diotrephes, who instructed the church not to receive John or the brethren and cast out those of the church who would.
Let us strive to teach by example as Paul did when he admonished that we should do those things that ye have both learned and received, and heard and seen in him. And remember that the true source of our strength, success and ability to teach good things comes from the Lord.
