Page 199 - That I May Know Him (1964)

Greatest Educator of All Time, July 2
The people were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as
one having authority, and not as the scribes. Matthew 7:28, 29.
The world’s men of learning are not easily reached by the practical
truths of God’s Word. The reason is, they trust to human wisdom and pride
themselves upon their intellectual superiority, and are unwilling to become
humble learners in the school of Christ.
Our Saviour did not ignore learning or despise education, yet He chose
unlearned fishermen for the work of the gospel because they had not been
schooled in the false customs and traditions of the world. They were men
of good natural ability and of a humble, teachable spirit, men whom He
could educate for His great work. In the ordinary walks of life there is
many a man patiently treading the round of daily toil, all unconscious
that he possesses power which if called into action would raise him to an
equality with the world’s most honored men. The touch of a skillful hand
is needed to arouse and develop those dormant faculties. It was such men
whom Jesus connected with Himself, and He gave them the advantages of
three years’ training under His own care. No course of study in the schools
of the rabbis or the halls of philosophy could have equaled this in value.
The Son of God was the greatest educator the world ever knew.
The learned lawyers, priests, and scribes scorned to be taught by Christ.
They desired to teach Him, and frequently made the attempt, only to be
defeated by the wisdom that laid bare their ignorance and rebuked their
folly.... They knew that He had not learned in the schools of the prophets,
and they could not discern the divine excellence of His character beneath
the lowly disguise of the Man of Nazareth. But the words and deeds of
the humble Teacher, recorded by the unlettered companions of His daily
life, have exerted a living power upon the minds of men from that day to
the present. Not merely the ignorant and humble, but men of education,
intellect, and genius reverently exclaim, with the wondering and delighted
listeners of old, “Never man spake like this man” (John 7:46).4 [190]
4 The Review and Herald, September 25, 1883 .
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