From Praying the Names of Jesus Week Ten, Day Five
The Name
In Jesus' day, the name "rabbi" or "teacher" was normally reserved for someone who had studied under another rabbi for many years. Jesus offended the religious leaders of his day by ignoring this system. Instead of apprenticing himself to a rabbi, he simply laid down his carpenter tools and called twelve ordinary men to become his disciples. Unlike other rabbis, who merely passed on the teaching of the rabbi under whom they had studied, Jesus spoke with an authority that startled many of his listeners.
Two thousand years later, we are called to become his disciples, to stay as close to him as a disciple would to a rabbi, studying his life, examining his teaching, and allowing his Spirit to remake us in his image. When you pray to Rabbi Jesus, remember that you are praying to the only Teacher who is all-wise, all-good, and all-powerful, able to transform not only your mind but also your heart.
Key Scripture
[Jesus said to his disciples] "But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,' for you have only one Master." Matthew 23:8
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Friday
Promises Associated with His Name
Promises in Scripture
Every Christian is called to become a lifelong student of the greatest of all teachers. But following Jesus is far different from following some ancient teacher like Aristotle or Confucius. Our Teacher is still alive, still speaking, still writing his lessons into our lives. In addition to guiding us through Scripture, and through those who lead and teach in the body of Christ, he has also given us his Spirit to instruct us moment by moment, day by day. Advancing in wisdom and grace as his students requires no special aptitude, no remarkable intellectual gifting.
It requires only humility, faithfulness, and trust. With these, the least gifted among us may become greatest in the kingdom of God. "If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." >John 14:15-18
"Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?' Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief.
But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. . . .
"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you." John 16:5-7,12-15
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5
Continued Prayer and Praise
Pray that Christ will open your eyes. (Psalm 119:18)
Realize that following Jesus involves not merely learning his ways but doing his will. (>Matthew 7:21 - 29)
Make a complete commitment to your Teacher. (>Matthew 19:16 - 21)
Remember two things. (>Matthew 22:36 - 40)
Train yourself by reading Scripture. (2 Timothy 3:16)
For more from Ann Spangler, please visit her blogspot on Christianity.com. And be sure to check out Ann's newest books on AnnSpangler.com.
Meet your spiritual ancestors as they really were: Less Than Perfect: Broken Men and Women of the Bible and What We Can Learn from Them.
