Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Education Sunday
Christ: The Great TeacherSt. John 13: 12-17
September 5, In India we celebrate this day as Teacher’s Day in remembrance of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan on his birthday. Christ is the greatest teacher we all know. As told by Swami Vivekananda “ Jesus was one of the great teacher in the world”. History teaches us that Mahatma Gandhi was fascinated by the Sermon on the Mount.
This passage leads us to see ‘CHRIST - The Great Teacher ’….
TEACHER : A MODEL
In V.12 Christ was washing the feet of his disciples and setting an example of exalted teaching. Here we can see that Christ was incisive to see if his disciples understood the meaning of what he was doing. Teaching is a commitment. We have built our lives inspired by the lives of many of our dedicated teacher’s but the reality is that such models are rarely seen in the field of education and Christian education today. We can see that Christ not only preaches education but also becomes it. For example; the word become flesh; the bread became his flesh and the wine became his blood… etc. Therefore, the goal of Christian education today is to create generation that embraces Christian values. The goal is for each disciple to ultimately become like the great teacher. Christ wanted this growth from his disciples. St. Pauls also mentions about this growth in his Epistle to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 3: 18, All of us , then, reflect the glory of the Lord with uncovered faces; and that same glory, coming from the Lord, who is the Spirit, transforms us into his likeness in an ever greater degree of glory.)
TRUE EDUCATION IS THE APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE.
Christian education is an invitation to realize the need of the society. The meaning of wisdom itself is to make the right use of knowledge. Jesus says “if you call me ‘Rabbi’, you must keep what I say”. By washing the feet of the disciples, He had washed their heart. By stooping to this menial service, He made them all ashamed of declining it. By this simple action He had turned a company of wrangling, angry, jealous men into a company of humbled and united disciples.
In this age of Corona, let us all stand together with a humble heart to help people who are in need. Thus, following the path of actions as preached by our great teacher CHRIST…
This passage leads us to see ‘CHRIST - The Great Teacher ’….
TEACHER : A MODEL
In V.12 Christ was washing the feet of his disciples and setting an example of exalted teaching. Here we can see that Christ was incisive to see if his disciples understood the meaning of what he was doing. Teaching is a commitment. We have built our lives inspired by the lives of many of our dedicated teacher’s but the reality is that such models are rarely seen in the field of education and Christian education today. We can see that Christ not only preaches education but also becomes it. For example; the word become flesh; the bread became his flesh and the wine became his blood… etc. Therefore, the goal of Christian education today is to create generation that embraces Christian values. The goal is for each disciple to ultimately become like the great teacher. Christ wanted this growth from his disciples. St. Pauls also mentions about this growth in his Epistle to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 3: 18, All of us , then, reflect the glory of the Lord with uncovered faces; and that same glory, coming from the Lord, who is the Spirit, transforms us into his likeness in an ever greater degree of glory.)
TRUE EDUCATION IS THE APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE.
Christian education is an invitation to realize the need of the society. The meaning of wisdom itself is to make the right use of knowledge. Jesus says “if you call me ‘Rabbi’, you must keep what I say”. By washing the feet of the disciples, He had washed their heart. By stooping to this menial service, He made them all ashamed of declining it. By this simple action He had turned a company of wrangling, angry, jealous men into a company of humbled and united disciples.
In this age of Corona, let us all stand together with a humble heart to help people who are in need. Thus, following the path of actions as preached by our great teacher CHRIST…
Prayer
O God, give us the generosity of heart to spend and utilize our time, wisdom, ability, and wealth to those in need. Amen.
Thought of the day
“The one who says he abides in Him, ought himself to walk in the same manner as he walked.” (1 John 2: 6)
O God, give us the generosity of heart to spend and utilize our time, wisdom, ability, and wealth to those in need. Amen.
Thought of the day
“The one who says he abides in Him, ought himself to walk in the same manner as he walked.” (1 John 2: 6)
Rev. Sibu Abraham Mathew,
Karthikapally Mar Thoma Syrian Church.
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church
Karthikapally Mar Thoma Syrian Church.
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church