When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,
for he taught with real authority – quite unlike their teachers of religious law.
Matthew 7:24 (NLT)
I once attended a seminar on autism that left me with more questions than answers. The speaker didn’t seem to fully understand the intricacies of Autism Spectrum Disorder and couldn’t even answer some of our questions at the end of the session. It was obvious she had studied the subject but hadn’t lived it. Consequently, her words held little weight for me.
Then I attended a conference with Temple Grandin. Everything she had to say was valuable because she has autism. She fully understands the challenges of sensory issues and the triggers that cause anxiety and fear. Because she lives it every single day.
Jesus is the one person who can teach us about love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. He understands heartache, pain, sorrow, rejection, and loss for He endured it all. God’s classroom is not just theory. It is practical and personal because the One who teaches it has first-hand experience.
Hebrews 4:15 says, “We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing. He has experienced it all – all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help” (MSG).
God’s classroom is about discipleship, it’s about learning from the One who has the experience and the authority. “We don’t have to rely on the world’s guesses and opinions. We didn’t learn this by reading books or going to school; we learned it from God, who taught us person-to-person through Jesus…” (1 Corinthians 2:13, MSG). If anyone can teach us about life it’s Him.
Thought: “Jesus called upon no one. He didn’t ask for help – he was the help. He sought no authority outside himself because he needed no authority but himself.” – Larry Hunstsperger, The Fisherman
For further reading:
- Matthew 11: 29
- Isaiah 8:20
- Isaiah 53:1-9
- Isaiah 63:9
Excerpt from my devotional, A Year in God’s Classroom