As I sat and read a devotional today something struck me that I’ve never really thought about before. I love those moments when things are suddenly clear. I must confess that so many things are still very foggy for me but I’ll take any clarity that my “Teacher” wants to bring focus to. The funny thing is that the thing that comes into focus wasn’t necessarily a thing that I was even confused about or even thinking about yet it was an important knowledge of a much larger picture. I don’t know about you but I can be guilty of not seeing the forest for the trees. This was a zoom out to focus and not a zoom in.
The disciples were always students, perpetual learners. Most of the time they didn’t understand and Jesus would have to take them aside and explain. I began to think about the Jewish culture and what it meant to have a Rabbi. From a young age the rabbi would choose his students and tell them to follow him. They were to continually study and learn. They’re teaching included their study of course but it was also to mimic the thoughts, words and actions of their teacher. Think about it for a moment. For years they were tutored and trained. Many times they were taught to think because they were asked a question. Rabbi’s like to answer a question with a question. Do you ever feel like you have the question but are on a journey to the answer. I feel this way a lot. I ask the Lord a question and He answers me with a question. This is necessary however if we are ever to be in the position of training others as we ourselves are. You are a constant student who is ever learning. For example, Jesus would be approached by someone blind and He would ask him what do you want me to do for you. Seems kind of silly doesn’t it? Yet many times this was the case. Much of our learning comes from asking the right question.
This is how it should be for us, always knowing we have much to learn and to not get settled thinking that we are old enough now with a been there done that attitude and have it all figured out. Sadly, so much of what we think we know we know amiss. We see through a glass darkly as the word puts it. We see through our lens, through our experiences, culture and upbringing. It’s not easy to try to see through someone elses lens. Have you ever put on someone elses glasses and things were blurry to you? That’s my point. We must be ever learning from the one with perfect vision otherwise we could be the blind leading the blind. I don’t mean to say we can’t learn from each other. Of course we can but our study and our focus should be on “The teacher”. We should always be in the posture of a student eager to learn and follow the teachers example. I can see why it was so difficult for the disciples to grip that it would be better for Jesus their teacher to “go away” as He put it, than to stay with them physically. How would they learn? How would they know what to do? Who would explain things to them? So many questions…
This is a great place to be in, wanting to learn and know what He would do or what He would say. It’s not knowledge for knowledge sake but wanting to know truth. The search for truth is a remarkable one. Why? Because truth sets free. Jesus said come learn of me. He said Seek and you will find and knock and it will be opened to you. I’m so grateful He gave His Spirit to us and didn’t leave us alone. I can’t imagine how difficult navigating this life would be without Him. When I get focused on one thing it’s His spirit that adjusts my lenses. So be encouraged if you have many questions! He will be faithful to you to help you ask the right questions and then to receive those answers that grow you.
By Jaime Luce
