What Have We Learned Today?

Jesus called people to follow him—literally walk behind him and follow his lead

(Jump to word families)

We’ve all attended the same school. The School of Hard Knocks.
The day we were born, we were learning. Who feeds us, and what to do to get them to feed us. How to walk, how to talk, how to feed ourselves. How to play, how to get things done, how to rest.
And we were curious! That ant, where’s it going? That dog looks soft, is it? I want that thing on the shelf and—ouch!—it hurts to fall down!

We watched as the older people in our family interacted with each other, with their friends, with neighbors and strangers. When they interacted with us, we heard them and saw them and felt them. And we figured that’s how it’s done. That’s how things work.
We're still in the School of Hard Knocks. We’re still learning how life works—by experience.
This is how Jesus taught.

He didn't come to teach us a different way to learn. He came to teach us a different way to live. God’s way. He didn’t start a school. He called people to follow him—literally walk behind him and follow his lead. That’s how Jesus taught. The world was his classroom, and everyone who followed were his disciples, his students, his learners.
Here’s how Jesus put it:

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28–30 (NIV)

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” – Matthew 16:24–25 (NIV)

Here are a few things I’ve learned from following Jesus.

Storms. One night, Jesus and his disciples were sailing across Lake Galilee. A nasty storm came up, and the boats nearly sank. Jesus was sleeping through the whole thing. When his disciples woke him up, Jesus calmed the storm with his words! Then he asked his followers why they didn’t trust. (Mark 4:35-41) In every storm in my life, at some point I realize that Jesus can keep me safe—even in his sleep. I learn to trust him more, and trust him sooner, each time.

Food. Jesus spoke to a huge crowd all day. He was telling them how to live God’s way. When it got late, the people were hungry, but there was nowhere to get food. Jesus fed 5,000 people with a sack lunch. (Mark 6:34-44) Jesus cares about our bodies and our souls. When I’m about to set someone straight, I get too concerned with the issue at hand. I need to think about eating with that person, feeding them. It reminds me to treat them as a human being, loved by God.

Interruptions. On the way to heal an important person’s teenage daughter, Jesus was interrupted by a poor woman who snuck a healing from him. He stopped the whole parade to tell her “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” Then, even though he was too late—the teenager had died—Jesus raised her from the dead! (Mark 5:22-43) I often get interrupted on the way to something. But those interruptions are from people who need God’s attention, too! Every time it’s worth it for me to stop and show them I care. That shows them Jesus cares.

How about you, fellow disciple of Jesus? What have you been learning from Jesus lately? What has he taught you in the School of Hard Knocks?
Keep learning from Jesus. Keep living what you learn. Graduation day is coming.
- Kristofer

Word families

learn:

μανθάνω manthano ~ verb: learn. G3129.
ἀμαθής amathes ~ adj: unlearned. G261.
καταμανθάνω katamanthano ~ verb: learn from. G2648.

disciple, student, learner:

μαθητεύω matheteuo ~ verb: make disciple. G3100.
μαθητής mathetes ~ noun: disciple (m). G3101.
μαθήτρια mathetria ~ noun: disciple (f). G3102.
συμμαθητής summathetes ~ noun: fellow disciple. G4827.