July 11, 2023
Two Viewpoints of the Master-Teacher
“When she had said this, she went away and called Mary her sister, saying secretly, ‘The Teacher is here and is calling for you.’ And when she heard it, she got up quickly and was coming to Him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him.” John 11:28-30 (NASB)
As I study the Bible each day in preparation for these devotions, I take time to read in my own personal Bible time. I set time each day to sit down and read. Some is from the Old Testament, and then the New Testament. All things which are found in the New Testament, have a beginning in the Old Testament. This helps to have a good understanding of the fulfillment of Scripture, while also seeing God’s Word in its ultimate perfection and consistency. Then I begin reading and studying the passage(s) for the day’s devotion, and begin as the Lord leads. Each day with a blank page I ask the Lord to reveal what He chooses. Even in this writing today, I have re-written portions because I didn’t sense it was what the Lord wanted. Since I do enjoy reading and studying the Word of God, I have to be careful that it doesn’t become an intellectual study without the Holy Spirit’s leading. Otherwise my view of God in my time, becomes more of reading behind an expert in His field (obviously God). This is the tale of two women. One is springing to her feet to run and meet her Lord, and the other views Jesus as a Master-Teacher.
‘The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” Why did Martha use the word, “Teacher?” Other translations use the word “Master,” however all renderings of the word are the same. The word “Teacher” or “Master” here is the word didaskalos; which means to be an instructor.[1] This word is not a translation of the word “rabbi” which is used in verse 8 either. More clearly, the word teacher “is not just a teacher in general, but a man who teaches definite skills like reading, fighting or music, developing the aptitudes already present… The decisive point is that systematic instruction is given.[2] The person instructing, is a master at his subject or topic. He is the expert in his field and no one else can match Him. This how Martha viewed Jesus; an instructor or teacher in God’s Word. He was referred to as “Teacher” by others who loved using this word as well. Mary on the other hand viewed Jesus as “Lord” (verse 32). Martha’s view of Jesus is different than Mary’s. The viewpoints of the two women are much how the world divides Jesus today. “And when she heard it, she got up quickly and was coming to Him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him.” She ran to meet her Lord, looking for affection, assurance, and hope for her distressed spirit.
The same is true today for many. They view Jesus as one of these ladies did; Master-Teacher or Lord. It can be extremely frustrating for those who view Jesus as merely a Master-Teacher, but not Lord and Savior. If Jesus only had great teachings, and we still died and ended up “who knows where,” how does it benefit each of us in the next life? But if we view Him as both, Lord and Savior, who does expert teaching because He is the Word, life would be very different. So be careful how you view Jesus today. It could make an eternal difference.
[1] Thomas, R. L. (1998). In New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek dictionaries : updated edition. Foundation Publications, Inc.
[2] Rengstorf, K. H. (1964–). διδάσκω, διδάσκαλος, νομοδιδάσκαλος, καλοδιδάσκαλος, ψευδοδιδάσκαλος, διδασκαλία, ἑτεροδιδασκαλέω, διδαχή, διδακτός, διδακτικός. In G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley, & G. Friedrich (Eds.), Theological dictionary of the New Testament (electronic ed., Vol. 2, p. 149). Eerdmans.