Did Jesus Really Say That? Teachings of Jesus [Part 1]

Introduction: The Types of Teachings

Because Jesus was a masterful teacher that taught in everything He did, there are two types of teachings:

Direct teachings: Lessons learned from instances where Jesus sat and taught.

Indirect teachings: Lessons learned from instances where Jesus was not “teaching” in a formal way, but was teaching by example.

This form of teaching can only be understood when we truly understand the idea of discipleship.

Discipleship is the process of devoting oneself to a teacher to learn from and become more like them. For the Christian, this refers to the process of learning the teachings of Jesus and following after his example in obedience through the power of the Holy Spirit. Discipleship not only involves the process of becoming a disciple but of making other disciples through teaching and evangelism.

[Disciple] A student, pupil, or learner. In the New Testament it is used for Jesus’ followers. Often references “the Twelve” but also indicates a wider group of followers.

Jesus makes His first disciples in John 1:35-51.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are expected to follow Jesus as modern-day disciples—patterning our lives and behaviors after the examples we find in Scripture of Jesus Christ. Our world desperately needs to return to Jesus. Yet, this is not simply a call to return to our Savior for forgiveness, but to our Lord for guidance.

The Gospel Accounts

Is Jesus worth following? Why? A.T. Robertson shows us how the gospel accounts express the grandeur of Jesus. Ultimately, it is John that grants us the compelling knowledge for why we should follow Jesus.

Luke alone follows the method of ancient historians in dedicating his Gospel, as also the Acts (1:1), to a patron who probably met the expense of publication. So Luke as a Gentile Christian writes an historical introduction in literary (Koiné) Greek after the fashion of Thucydides and Plutarch. Mark had no formal introduction. Matthew’s introduction is genealogical because he is writing for Jewish readers to prove that Jesus is the Messiah of Jewish hope. John, writing last of all, has a theological introduction to meet the Gnostic and philosophical misconceptions concerning the Person of Christ. Thus he pictures Christ as the Eternal Logos, with God in his pre-incarnate state, who became flesh and thus revealed the Father to men. -Robertson, A. T. (2009). A Harmony of the Gospels (Lk 1:1–4). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

So, there are two reasons we follow Jesus:

1. Jesus helps us see the world correctly.

John gives the most compelling introduction of Jesus Christ, which identifies why we should give Him our earnest attention and therefore, follow Him in total submission.

John 1:1–2 CSB

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.

Point to Consider: Jesus is the Expression and Idea of God.

If we want to live as God intended, we must follow Jesus.

2. Jesus helps us see how we should worship the Father correctly.

Jesus is shown running individuals out of the temple, immediately. It shows that worship is not right, and the truth is it had not been right for some time (John 2:13-22).

Fascinated by the Ministry of Jesus

The beginning of Jesus’s teaching ministry begins in Matthew 4:23-25, Mark 3:7-11, Luke 4:14-15, and John 6:1-2. There are a few observations that can be made from these passages:

The people were afflicted.

There were signs and wonders performed among them.

Large crowds gathered.

Jesus used the opportunity to teach.

Here are a few practical lessons we can learn from Jesus’s ministry approach.

Do something to serve afflicted populations.

Luke 4:15 shows us that a great deal of Jesus’s teaching

When’s the last time we offered the world something other than our religion?

Take every opportunity you have to provide a teaching environment for those who are oppressed and afflicted.

This allows those who are freed to stay free.

The principle is that we should have a ministry that torments hell and equip people.

Nicodemus and the Rebirth of Man

John 3 is a fascinating passage about the Pharisee who saw enough to go visit Jesus. Here are a few take aways from this passage:

Here’s a teacher that needs a teacher.

Never be too learned to be taught.

Rebirth (born again): to be or become refashioned by a supernatural source; understood as undergoing conception by a heavenly (paternal) source.

Baptism in the water and Spirit.

This is a reference to Christian baptism—not of water only, but of Spirit as well.

This is a way of recognizing the ministry of John the Baptist and Jesus.

John- water

Jesus- Spirit

Mark 1:7-8; Matthew 3:11-12; Luke 3:15-18.

Dichotomy between the flesh and the spirit

Flesh: a human being understood especially according to its physical nature; sometimes with the connotation of human flesh being tainted with sin.

Spirit: the transcendental, immaterial, rational existence that constitutes the essence of supernatural entities such as God, angels, and human souls.

Dichotomy between the earthly and the heavenly

There are two realms:

Earthly: terrestrial; worldly.

Heavenly: something originating from, relating to, or inhabiting heaven; celestial.

This could have been Jesus’s way of referring to himself in comparison to all other beings, i.e. He is from heaven and we are from earth. Therefore, we are naturally incompatible and Jesus not comprehensive.

Salvation through Jesus

Eternal life: sempiternal life- unchanging life.