CHRIST THE TRUE EDUCATOR.
By Elder S. N. Haskell
THE greatest and only perfect educator the world ever saw was Jesus Christ. The more his life and methods are studied the more the true principles of teaching will be understood. There were no high-sounding titles attached to his name signifying the attainments he had reached. He had only inherited the name of his Father, but that was above every name. But his name expressed his character. "And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation." Ex. 34: 5-7. This is the name of God. This is his character. That is the name he bears. The object of Christ's life was to inculcate these principles into the lives of others. He exemplified them in his life, and taught them by example and180precept to all of his followers. These principles are the light of the world,—the only moral light that ever shone in the darkness that covers the earth and the gross darkness which covers the people. Had Christ lived at the present day and followed the customs of this world in acquiring distinguished titles as a teacher, he would have all the D.D.'s, M.D.'s, Ph.D.'s and professorships there are in the entire catalogue; for in him "are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." The examination of the scholars generally shows the proficiency of the teacher. If we look to the results of Christ's teaching on the earth, with his humble followers, he is seen to be the greatest teacher the world ever saw. He chose to be with him humble fishermen, who had no experience in instructing others. To them he said, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." They had no stereotyped method of teaching. He might have chosen the scribes, lawyers, and doctors, who had an education, but they knew so much, and had become so stereotyped in their methods and ways, that they could not receive so readily the divine mould. Grace was as freely offered to them as to any. Christ came to save them, and of them, on a certain occasion, he speaks very encouragingly: "Every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven, is like unto a man that is a householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old." Matt. 13: 52. The Saviour was in no sense of the word partial in his selection of disciples to instruct. His instruction was for all, rich and poor. He mingled with all classes and selected whoever would listen to his voice. None were rejected, not even Judas, whom he knew from the beginning was a wicked man and the one who would betray him. But Christ brought even him in connection with himself, and gave him the advantages of the other disciples. He might have received the divine mould and have been one who would have had his name immortalized as educated by our Lord Jesus, and, as a representative of Christ's holy life, sent forth to leave an influence that would reach into eternity. But he chose to follow his own inclinations, yield to his natural traits of character, and took the mould of Satan rather than Christ. He had the lessons of Christ, but he did not receive them in his heart. There was a conflict in his soul, but he finally yielded to his corrupt heart's covetousness. He loved money, and finally sold his Lord for thirty pieces of silver. To learn of Christ it is necessary to sit at his feet, as did Mary, and receive his words as he speaks them. "The rich and educated among the Jews were exalted by their own worldly wisdom and self-righteousness. Feeling sufficiency in themselves, they realized no special need of a Redeemer. Their characters were fixed, and they would not receive the teachings of Christ. But the humble fishermen were rejoiced to be connected with the Saviour, and become colaborers with him." Jesus never opposed education. Some of the brightest lights, both in sacred and profane history, were those of education and culture. But whether men possess education or no, it does not matter with Christ if they will learn of him. He is an instructor of all. He mingled with all classes, he dined with the rich and the poor, the educated and the uneducated. And no one can say that the poor fishermen were so very ignorant after they had been receiving lessons from Christ for three and a half years. No class of men has left a wider and more extensive influence than those who gave the Gospels and Epistles to the world. There is no nation on the earth but, to a greater or less extent, has been influenced by them. They received their education from Christ. They learned of him. It was his words and the effect of his life upon their lives that instructed them. He sent them forth to preach, and when they returned, he took them aside and gave them instruction. He pointed out to them their mistakes, and taught them how to labor. They received his instruction as from the divine Son of God. He often chose the open fields to instruct them, where he could draw from nature spiritual lessons; for God has revealed himself in nature as well as in his word. They both alike reveal the wondrous power and love of God. He did not appeal to human philosophy or heathen authors for gems of thought to enrich his lessons, but to the word which he himself had inspired, to show how the word and nature harmonized in the great truths relating to man's redemption. And this plan was not an abstract theory, something to be preached as a theological treatise, but it embraced everything that was good. "Godliness is profitable for all things, having the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come." To him who forsook all to become one of Christ's disciples, he held out the following promise: "He shall receive a hundred-fold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life." Mark 10: 30. While the teachings of Christ are not a treatise on any of the so-called sciences, the science of redemption is the greatest of all sciences. It will be the science and song of the redeemed through all eternity. It embraces wisdom to enable men to live in this world, and in so doing they would fit themselves for a life in the world to come. He is the embodiment of all wisdom, and desires that his people shall possess it, as shown by the following prayer, which he inspired: "That ye might be filled with a knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing [or pleasing the Lord in all things], being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father, who has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son." Col. 1: 9-13. This is the wisdom that Christ taught. It takes hold on both worlds. It fits men for this life, and so doing it fits men for eternal life. This point is not always appreciated. Education is looked upon as an abstract thing. Doubtless this arises, in part, from the fact that the Christian religion is not dependent upon a worldly education. It is not absolutely necessary that man should have book knowledge in order for men to be Christians, but the Christian religion embraces all. The words and works of Christ furnish food for the most illiterate, and at the same time the mightiest intellect can find thought for meditation. They refine the character, and elevate the soul, and connect man with heaven. It may be truthfully said we do not see it in that light. But we should never forget that it is "through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." Heb. 11: 3. In wisdom he hath made them all. He was the author of every law of nature. He formed the ear, and shall he not hear? He that formed the eye, shall he not see? "Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him?" All the perfection of the Deity was in Christ. "For in him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily."