Subscription Lists

The Series - Jesus, Unique & Unequaled Teacher (50/TBD)

Focus Text: John 14.1-3

Here are the reasons. You guess the situation that elicited them. The college administration changed its policy. The money available in the budget would not permit it. The transportation we had arranged failed to arrive as indicated. The weather just did not cooperate with us. There is a danger of infectious disease which makes the trip totally out of the question.

What you just read is a list of reasons why different teachers failed to keep promises made to students even though the students kept their part of the bargain. Every teacher either implicitly or explicitly makes commitments to his/her students. One thing that every student rightfully expects is to be treated fairly and with out biases. Sometimes teachers motivate their students with promises of reward based on student achievements or conduct. Jesus was a teacher who made promises like this. However, making promises is easy; keeping them is another story! Today, we will consider how Jesus is entirely different in this department.

Glancing back at the list of reasons given by the teachers in paragraph one, it is easy to see that every one of them failed to deliver due to things that happened which were beyond their control. Earthly teachers cannot control outbreaks of disease, the weather, administration changes, budget deficiencies, or scores of other circumstances that are under the governance of others. That is not the case with Jesus. It was not true with Him while He was here upon the earth; neither is it true now that He has ascended to the right hand of the Father. Consider one statement He made and be convinced that the principle applies to all that He said or did.

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14.1-3). Notice carefully how He assured His apostles that His promises literally could not fail. He said, “If it were not so, I would have told you.” He did not say, “If it were not so, I would not have told you.” In making this statement, Jesus in essence said that He would have corrected even the false inferences or beliefs that His disciples had. In point of fact, not only did He always tell the truth, He even promised to expose those things told by others that were not true. The promise of eternal reward did not originate during Jesus’ earthly ministry, but His assurance was that He would not have allowed such a promise to go uncorrected had it been based on anything other than truth.

Jesus is, in and of Himself, the guarantor of eternal blessings. No one, no thing, no circumstance can alter what He has decreed. There is nothing which He is unable to control in order that His promises might be realized. When He ascended to the Father’s right hand, He was given a name that was above every name (Philippians 2.9). Among other things, this means that His authority supersedes all other authority both now and forever. His will is fixed and will not change nor be changed! As disciples, we can be assured that He is the unique and unequalled teacher, “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen…” (2 Corinthians 1.20).

Questions:

1. Why did Jesus say that He was committed to correct false views even if originated by others? What circumstance would have caused Him to be compelled to act in this manner?

2. What assurance does such a commitment have for us?

3. Why did the Father give Him a name that is above every name? Who can change that decision, or the place that He occupies as a result of that decision?

4. Consider 2 Corinthians 1.20. Jesus being the very Son of God gives what assurance that His promises are true. Considering Titus 1.1-2 with this verse, just how sure are His promises?

"Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life" from Tom Kelley

What I Drive