Feb 13: A Perfect Student.

Lk 6:40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.

Jesus did more than healings and miracles. He was the greatest teacher of all times. He taught great truths and mysteries of the kingdom of God through powerful stories and parables. Many of Jesus’ teachings have inspired people to establish great charitable organizations, be it hospitals, schools or missions. No one can ever beat the legacy and positive influence left by Jesus Christ. Yet that does not mean that Christians can’t be like him. In fact, that was his expectation for his students.

In today’s verse Jesus reminds his disciples that they too can be like him, provided they are perfectly trained. The choice of words on how to be trained is worth pondering upon. It’s one thing to be trained, it’s another thing to be “perfectly” trained. There are various forms of training, short ones, long ones, intensives, casual etc. I remember going for a short ‘crash course’ for 2-3 months in order to write the medical entrance exam (to pursue Bachelors of Medicine) after high school. The course was packed with content focused on getting through the exam, and was pretty intense albeit for a short duration. Was it a perfect training? I don’t think so. In that context, a perfect course would be something that lasted longer, and the student had the time to learn the fundamentals of biology and all medical associated topics. Not only that you needed to be taught by a teacher that knew the subject well and had the ability to communicate that. Such a  training will not only help you succeed in the exam, but also make you a successful doctor.

Similarly, if one wants to walk like Jesus did, he or she has to undergo perfect training.

What does perfect look like? Here’s a few thoughts:

• You need to be taught by the best teacher – the Holy Spirit.

• You need to spend your prime time with God – early morning hours, late at night.

• You need to know what’s in the Bible – cover to cover

• You need to be willing to suffer persecution – just like Jesus did.

• You cannot give up half way through – the end is more important than the start.

As you are perfectly trained, you will be able to:

1. Preach like did Jesus did

2. Teach like Jesus did

3. Heal like Jesus did, and

4. Love like Jesus did

That is Jesus’ expectation for his disciples. Just like a good early teacher wants to see his student succeed and do well in her area of study, Jesus too wants to see His reflection on His followers. God does not want us to settle to second best. God wants His children and more importantly His followers to truly reflect their Teacher. In word, in deed and in power.

Let me close with the words of the apostle Peter:

10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.[1]

Oh, and one more thing. You did not chose to be a student of Jesus Christ. He himself chose you to be His student (read John 15:16). So, He must have seen something special inside of you. Don’t let Him down.

[1] The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), 1 Pe 5:10.