Jesus: My Teacher and Guide

MARK 1:22 – They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Jesus was indeed a teacher – but he was not like the teachers of the time. There was something different. What was it?

This passage tells us it was his authority. There was something in the claim that his teaching made that had an authority beyond compare. Jesus' teachings are certainly striking and powerful – but if that becomes our primary point of focus we can easily miss what is most unique about his teaching – the level of authority.


JOHN 14:6. I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

When you are looking for a destination, most good teachers would give you directions, explaining the route. Jesus points to...himself...as he says “I am the way.” The Gospel of John is noted for the many different “I Am” statements that Jesus makes:

I am the living bread...
I am the light of the world...
I am the gate for the sheep...
I am the good shepherd...
I am the resurrection and the life...
I am the true vine...

Jesus repeatedly points to himself...and claims an authority that forces you to make a decision about who he is.


MATTHEW 11:28-30. Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

This passage helps us understand what kind of teacher and guide Jesus really is.


John Bowen shares these words to help us understand what "taking his yoke" upon ourselves really means:

Before we came to Canada twenty-something years ago, I thought I understood this image. Jesus was saying he is the farmer, I am the ox, I submit to his yoke, and as I pull the plough he follows behind and directs me. Right? Probably not. Soon after we came to Canada, we went to one of those living museums where everything is done as it was 100 years ago. And I saw there something that completely changed my understanding of Jesus' words: an ox-cart pulled by two oxen yoked together. And it was explained to us that one use of the double yoke was to train young oxen. The farmer would link together an experienced ox and a young ox, and, as they pulled the plough together, the older ox would demonstrate how it was done: the discipline, the patience, the obedience, the stick-to-itiveness.

That's what Jesus is saying by this picture. He is saying, I am already wearing the yoke of being God's person in God's world. Come and walk alongside me, share the yoke I'm already carrying, and I will teach you what I know.

What a wonderful teaching!


Look at what Bill Donahoe says about the authority of Jesus' teaching:

No one ever divided a room more quickly than this prophet from Nazareth. His presence was unmistakable. Some loved him – some hated him – but they never ignored him – and neither can you.


The great writer C. S. Lewis, in his book Mere Christianity, shares these challenging words:

A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic - on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg - or he would be the devil of hell. You must take your choice. Either this was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us.