Learning From the Best

Learning From the Best

I have a friend I like to learn with. She will be smiling as she reads this, and laughing out loud by the end of the paragraph. Years ago, we were looking at pictures and were both convinced that my head looked bigger than everyone else’s. But how to be sure? Out came the tape measure and I was happy to learn that our heads are exactly the same size! Since that evening there have been years of measurements, looking up words in the dictionary, finding answers in atlases, and various other kinds of research to enhance our knowledge. We are so characterized by our love of acquiring facts that our motto for years has been, “when we learn, everybody wins!”

Love of learning is the root of teaching. Many teachers I know like certain aisles at the bookstore or the smell of a library. I fall into both categories. Shocking, I know. But who better to appreciate good music than a musician? Who better to appreciate good food than a chef? So I submit that a teacher appreciates learning as much as any of her students – probably more. But can appreciation turn into criticism? I think we see examples of that among the Pharisees of Jesus’ time. And then there is a refreshing exception. Look at the following passage:

          28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

          29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

          32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

          34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions. (Mark 12:28 -34)

A teacher debating a teacher. How much would you pay for tickets to see that? I guess the answer depends on how much you like the smell of a library. Being a teacher myself, I’d love ringside seats. But this conversation has more to it than simply an intellectual tête-à-tête between religious scholars. I get the sense, based on Jesus’ response to the man, that the distance between his head and his heart was closing and that he recognized the real authority with which Jesus taught as coming from God Himself. Why do I believe this? Consider:

1)   In verses 32 and 33, the teacher of the law doesn’t simply parrot back to Jesus what He just said. He paraphrases, in what appears to be an attempt at understanding. When the teacher said, “you are right in saying….” I don’t believe he was telling Jesus, “good job!” In fact, what he seems to be saying is, “what you just said confirms what I’ve suspected. Not only are these the most important commandments, but I’m seeing that you are the person critical to my full understanding of God.” That’s huge! This teacher of the law is beginning to emerge from the bonds of slavery to the law!

2)   In verse 34, Jesus responds to the teacher’s comment by saying, “you are not far from the kingdom of God”. This implies that comprehension and assimilation of the values of God is a process. Learning the depths of anything, especially the truths of our Creator, takes time and effort. And this teacher is making progress.

3)   Finally, Jesus saw that the teacher of the law had answered wisely. Wisdom and revelation only come from God. And there are several examples in the gospels of Jesus calling out some Pharisee for what was going on in his head or his heart – sometimes without that person even realizing himself what his motivation may have been. But here we see only affirmation in Jesus’ interaction with this learned man. No rebuke, no exclamation marks, just patient listening and teaching. Jesus saw the light of comprehension in the man and shut down all future discussion by the end of the conversation. “And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions. Bam!

So what’s the difference between this man’s encounter with Jesus and the others we read about in the gospels? (See Matthew 15:1-20, Luke 10:25-37, and Luke 11:37-54 for a few examples.) The difference is found in Paul’s wise adage written to the Corinthian Christians: Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up (1 Corinthians 8:1). What was the motivation of the Pharisees and others who asked Jesus theological questions? They were to feel or look better before others by trying to trap Jesus and prove to the people that they were still the ones with power and authority. Their motivation was self-centered.

The teacher in the passage in Mark, on the other hand, comes from a different place. The passage begins by saying that he had seen how Jesus answered some other people who were debating Him and so he decided to engage, too. He sensed wisdom and authority in Jesus that was lacking among his peers – the other teachers and religious leaders. And he wanted to learn from the best. 

That’s the question for us. Do we want to have knowledge about God that puffs us up and makes us look important and smart to the people around us? Or are we truly seeking to have an encounter with Jesus? Are we trying to puff up or build up with what we learn? 

 

• Read Luke 11:37-54. Compare Jesus’ response to this Pharisee to the teacher of the law in Mark 12. How is Jesus’ heart different toward each of them? Why? What do you think motivated each of the men to engage Jesus?

• Do you consider yourself teachable? Take note of your attitude and thoughts as you approach Scripture or sermons or any learning opportunity this week. Do you ever think you’ve already learned this and it’s boring or a waste of time? What can you do to move your heart closer to the place of the teacher who sought a real encounter with God in learning?