Mastery Teaching by the Master Teacher, Part IV

Learning to Teach as Jesus Taught

Please read John, chapters 13-17.

We are taking a look at the last conversation Jesus had with His disciples, at the Last Supper, and on the way to the Garden of Gethsemane. These chapters record the very important lessons that Christ wanted His followers to know before He left them. Throughout this conversation, we see Jesus, the Master Teacher, and how he treats questions from several different personality types.

We have discussed Peter, the Distracted Student. A natural leader, he was always losing focus, changing the subject, and making everything about himself, then Thomas, the Questioning Student, who had a question for every answer, then Philip, the Visual Learner. We finish our series today with a look at Judas (not Iscariot, the other Judas). Judas was the last disciple to ask a question in this conversation. He simply asked a “how” question.

THE “HOW?” OR “EXPLAIN IT FURTHER” STUDENT

John 20:22-24, “Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.”

 Judas wanted to know “how?” He simply did not yet understand, and he needed further explanation. This is the most common type of question, and every student is at that point at different times with different subjects. Most students will not understand the concept on the first explanation. A teacher knows that she will have to explain new topics many times, in different ways, for every student to understand. Jesus was introducing the subject of the Holy Spirit to His disciples, and they did not get it at first. “How?” Jesus was patient as He explained further.

John 16:17-19, “Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?”

As he spoke, some of the disciples did not understand; they may have been embarrassed to ask Him, so they asked each other, instead. This happens often in class. A student who is too shy to raise his hand whispers to another student, wanting more explanation. Jesus noticed what was happening, and He answered the question of the shy student without criticizing him.

John 16:29-30, “His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.”

Teaching is not simply spouting facts; it is a transfer of knowledge. If the knowledge is not transferred to the student, you must try again, and again, and yet again. Never be discouraged in the process of teaching. It is a long process. But, do not stop explaining until the topic is thoroughly understood by all students. Notice, at the end of this conversation, the disciples openly acknowledged that they “got it.”

Ahhhh, the “light bulb” moment is the best reward for a teacher! Jesus taught His students until they declared that they understood. He took no short-cuts. His lesson was too important! Teacher, do not be satisfied that you gave a lecture, taught material, checked off a lesson plan. No!! Your job is not done until your topic is understood completely. Teaching is not for the faint of heart.

 

If you are a Mom, you are a teacher. Most of the important lessons in life are learned at home, from parents. Please do not be lazy and send kids off to do a list. Show them, teach them, and train them. Your success is not how many checks marks on a paper are completed, how many chores done. No, your success is when your child understands how to do something, start to finish, without help. Your success is when your child understands why you have the rules and the standards you live by.

 

God bless every person who endeavors to teach another person, in any area of life. I thank God for the army of people from whom I have learned life lessons, scholastic lessons, and spiritual lessons. I owe it to others to pass on what I have learned. Let’s look to Jesus, the Master Teacher, and strive to be teachers, true teachers, as we love and influence those around us.