Originally posted on refugesanger.wordpress.com
As we have been studying
through the Gospel of John, we continue to find the Jews arguing about who
Jesus is. In their arguments though one thing they never argue about:
Whether He is a good teacher or not!
Why
do I point that out? Because in today's society there is a belief out there
that says something like this: "I follow some of Jesus' teachings because
I think they are good, but I don't really follow Him". And then they
will go on to discuss how they also follow Ghandi, Budha and other teachings.
But there is a major problem along this line of thinking and it revolves
around if Jesus could simply be a good teacher and if His teachings could
actually be good.
Now
before you get up in arms and wonder how I could question His teachings being
good or not, I do say they are good but they couldn't be if you don't believe
He is who He said He was.
See
throughout the Scriptures Jesus states He is God - He doesn't blur the line or
sort of hint at it; He is bold in declaring it thus the reasons the Jewish
leaders want to kill Him. Now a man who claims to be divine cannot be a
good teacher and His teachings can't be good unless in fact He was divine.
Let's
put it in modern day perspective. You have a good job and a good boss.
You like your boss - in fact your boss is a very friendly person.
But let's say your boss one day comes in and declares that he/she is in
fact God. That he/she will rise from the dead and will also one day judge
the earth. Would you continue to be okay with whatever else comes out of
the mouth of your boss? Would you say he/she is a little crazy but I
still choose to follow other stuff my boss says. What about if one of
your kids had a teacher who claimed to be God? Would you still want your
kids sitting under that teacher? Would he/she still be a good teacher?
See
Jesus can't just be a good teacher. He is either a liar, a lunatic or He
is Lord. We have too much evidence to show He certainly was who He said
He was (rose from the dead, performed miracles, etc) so He cannot be a liar or
a lunatic and therefore must be Lord. Since He is Lord, His teachings are
good and we should follow them.
That
is why the Jews argued whether He was the Messiah or a crazy person but never
if He was simply a good teacher whose teachings we should follow. He
didn't leave room for them to have that argument. Next time someone you
know uses that argument, ask them why they would view Him as a good teacher or
His teachings good since He claimed to be omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient,
and the Messiah.
This blog post comes from the thoughts of the sermon on John 10:1-21 titled “The Good Shepherd”
which can be found by clicking here or
simply visiting http://www.refugesanger.com/teachings