Walk with Jesus: Listen to Jesus

[0:00] Let's share our prayer together. Heavenly Father, we humbly bow in your presence. May your word be our rule, your spirit our teacher, and your great glory our supreme concern.

[0:18] ! Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. It has been well said that a disciple is someone who walks so closely behind their teacher that they get covered in the dust which the teacher's feet kick up on the pathway.

[0:45] Disciples and teachers belong closely together. Now I know that in the book of Acts we read there of when the followers of Jesus were first called by the word Christians.

[1:00] And I don't in any way want to lose that identifier of the people of God. But sometimes in 2026 the word Christian sounds like a badge that people can wear sometimes and then take off some other times.

[1:16] Think if we identify as disciples of Jesus. We are seeing something more. Something we can't change.

[1:29] Like our jacket or a badge on our lapel. We are expressing an intimate dependent relationship. Disciples of Jesus. Which at the same time is transformative.

[1:45] Disciples are not yet who they will be. But neither are they who once they were. Discipleship commits us to a journey.

[1:58] A walking with the teacher. A journey which results in our whole lives being renewed and restored.

[2:12] You just can't follow Jesus the teacher and remain unchanged. Teaching is transformation.

[2:24] You can't walk with Jesus and remain where you were. Walking requires movement which implies change.

[2:38] Some days it seems like we are moving and walking but we're not getting anywhere. Some days it feels like we've been listening to Jesus for years and we're not seeing any transformation.

[2:54] Those are the days when we need to carve out some time to engage in some reflective thinking. We need to look inside and see just how much Jesus has changed us.

[3:15] We need to look behind us and see just how far Jesus has brought us. We are disciples of Jesus.

[3:27] Jesus is our teacher. When we walk with Jesus, let's make sure the dust from his feet sticks to us.

[3:38] There are some people who try to walk with Jesus without letting Jesus be a teacher.

[3:51] Now the only reason you don't need a teacher is if you think you're already perfect. Any takers? Anyone want to come and claim that they're already perfect and don't need a teacher?

[4:10] Jesus said to them a parable. Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher. But everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.

[4:29] The idea in the parable is that two disciples without a teacher are like two blind people going for a walk. There is no one to guide them.

[4:40] No one to lead them. They're going to walk straight into the first wall they come across. Or trip over the first kerb stone that's in their way.

[4:52] There is a proper relationship between a disciple and a teacher. The disciple doesn't get to teach the teacher. The disciple is still growing.

[5:08] Still learning. If the disciple continues to learn from the teacher. And only if they continue to learn from the teacher.

[5:19] Then one day they will be fully trained. That's the purpose of a teacher. To fully train others.

[5:30] This training is not just about an exchange of information. Remember the way we used to learn history.

[5:43] You got lists of kings or queens. Or dates of battles and famous things that had happened. And the information was with the teacher. And they wrote it on the blackboard.

[5:56] That's me showing my age. And tried to transfer it into our heads. That can happen without in any way changing us.

[6:08] We might be better informed. But we're none the wiser. The point of teaching history is not to exchange information.

[6:22] But that we might learn. From our mothers and fathers and grandparents before us. And be informed about how we should live today.

[6:32] A master carpenter for example. Will not take his apprentice. And give him information about the manufacture of nails or screws.

[6:46] Or hammers or saws. He will hand him a piece of wood. And train him how to feel the grain of the wood.

[6:56] To know what can be made out of that wood. And how to shape it. How to work with the timber. And the tools in his box.

[7:09] We can imagine. That this might be the example. The Lord Jesus. Joseph's son. Had in mind when crafting his parable. If you want to grow as a disciple.

[7:24] If you want to be fully trained as a disciple. You need to learn from Jesus the teacher. His purpose as a teacher.

[7:36] Is to fully train you. To renew and restore you. As a child of God. We learn from Jesus.

[7:48] By listening to his word. Reading the Bible. Talking with others about Jesus. We learn from Jesus. By fellowship with others. Worshipping together.

[8:00] Sharing in small groups. We learn from Jesus. By serving in God's mission. Caring for the needy. Looking out for the stranger.

[8:12] And welcoming them. Jesus is our teacher. He is God with us. In effect. We are being taught by God.

[8:26] Jesus expects us to learn. To hunger for his teaching. To seek out his lessons. So that we might grow more like him. Jesus teaches us.

[8:42] So that we can be fully trained. Now if I were to try and teach anyone. About car mechanics. Or particiory baking. You might be right to doubt.

[8:54] Whether I could teach you anything. So how do we know. That Jesus is a good teacher. And is able to fully train his disciples.

[9:06] Why do you see the speck in your brother's eye. But don't notice the log in your own. How can you say to your brother. Let me take the speck out of your eye.

[9:16] When you don't see the log in your own. Take first the log out of your own eye. Then you will see clearly. To take the speck out of your brother's eye. Amongst other things.

[9:30] These verses teach us. That you can't teach someone. Something that you don't already know. You can't fix someone else's eyes.

[9:44] Until you've first fixed your own eyes. All I know about fancy French cakes. Is how to eat them. And I don't think there's anyone here.

[9:54] Needs lessons on that. Jesus isn't teaching us. About baking. Or about car mechanicing. Or about managing your finances.

[10:05] Or building houses. Or tables or chairs. Or any of that. Jesus is teaching us. Training us. To live together with God.

[10:18] To serve God. In his mission. There are too many so called teachers. Who presume to tell others. Don't do this.

[10:29] And don't do that. Who will stand up and say. Your faith is wrong here. Your misunderstanding there. Too many with reduced vision.

[10:41] Claiming to see what is wrong. In my life and yours. All the while blind. To what is wrong. In their lives. Living together with God.

[10:54] Is too important a lesson. To leave to a teacher. Who is blind in themselves. The Lord Jesus Christ. The captain of our salvation.

[11:07] The author and perfecter. Of our salvation. The only one. Who has come from heaven to earth. The one of a kind. Son of the eternal father. He has perfect vision.

[11:20] He can see everything clearly. Because there is no speck. In his eye. He is the one. Completely free.

[11:31] From the stain of sin. There is no hint. Of rebellion against our God. In Jesus. He is the only one. Who can teach us.

[11:42] How to live together with God. Because he alone is. God with us. God with us. The character of this teacher. Is irreproachable.

[11:55] Without blemish. Or flaw. Because he is God. Our teacher Jesus knows. And sees our lives.

[12:06] All the way through. He knows perfectly. The lesson we need. That we might become fully trained. The way he leads us.

[12:18] Is the perfect way. For us to go. This teacher. The Lord Jesus Christ. Does not need.

[12:29] Any letter of recommendation. To us. Or from us. We would not think. Of sending our children. To a school.

[12:40] Staffed by unqualified teachers. Teachers. Jesus. Jesus. Our teacher. Has not been qualified. By any university degree.

[12:52] But he is qualified. By his nature. By who he is. In himself. He is God. And that is all.

[13:02] The qualification. He needs. To be our perfect teacher. Father. Not only. Does Jesus know. What it is. To live together.

[13:13] With God. Jesus. Practices this. This is one of the blessings. Of the incarnation. We get to see. God.

[13:24] Being God. With us. And living with God. At the same time. Jesus. Assumes. Our human lives. He lives.

[13:34] As a human. Among us. And yet. Is without sin. He submits. To the will of our father. Even to death. On a cross.

[13:45] His life. Shared with us. Is a model. For us. Of compassion. And generosity. And welcome. And patience.

[13:56] And grace. Jesus. The teacher. Says to us. Learn what I know. And he also says. Do what I do.

[14:09] A perfect coming together. In one person. Of knowledge. And action. What better teacher. Could you wish for.

[14:22] Throw away any doubts. You may have. Jesus is your perfect teacher. Listen to him. Jesus has. From all eternity.

[14:32] Lived in the presence. Of God. He alone. Can teach you. What it is. To live together. With God. Listen to him. Jesus cares.

[14:42] For the sick. The lonely. He has compassion. On the needy. And the vulnerable. He is gracious. To all. And his teaching. Will transform.

[14:53] Our lives. Until they are like. His life. Not only. Should we listen. To Jesus. We should live.

[15:03] Like Jesus. And this is what. Jesus the teacher. Achieves. In us. Many years ago now.

[15:16] My dad worked. In the Rolls Royce factory. In Hillington. Maybe some of you. Remember. That big factory. On the south side. Of Glasgow. Dad's job. Was to take. A piece of metal.

[15:28] And make it. Into a component. For an. Aeroplane engine. He started. With. A raw material. And he. Ended up. With an.

[15:38] End product. I was thinking. About that. Preparing this week. Because I remember. One parents night. When I was at school. Dad was trying. To persuade.

[15:49] The teacher. That I. The pupil. Was. His raw material. And my. Finishing. My education. Would be. The end product. And the teacher. Wasn't getting it. Didn't seem to want.

[16:01] To know. I don't think. He thought. The raw material. Was very good. But that idea. Of raw material. And end product. What do you think.

[16:12] The end product. Of teaching. And training. Should be. If we first. Come to Jesus. And begin. To follow him.

[16:23] We are like. The raw material. We are not yet. Like the end product. And yet. It constantly. Shocks me. How many.

[16:34] Disciples. Of Jesus. From day one. Have decided. That they don't need. To learn anything else. They don't need. To be taught. Anything else. They are already.

[16:45] As perfect. As they are ever. Going to be. Or need to be. But we are not yet. The end product. Jesus said.

[16:57] No good tree. Bears bad fruit. And a bad tree. Doesn't bear good fruit. Each tree. Is known. By its fruit. The good person. Out of his good treasure.

[17:08] Produces good. And the evil person. Out of his evil treasure. Produces evil. The disciples. Of Jesus. Are to be trained.

[17:18] And transformed. Until they are like Jesus. The word of life. Which Jesus is. The word of life.

[17:29] Which Jesus speaks. Is an active. Transforming word. Those who receive it. And are changed by it. Become agents of mission.

[17:40] In our families. In our streets. In our city. In our workplace. And in our world. Shaped by Jesus teaching. And the example.

[17:51] Of generous living. We share what we have. With others. We bring good fruit. From our transformed lives. We give to those.

[18:04] Who are in need. Food. And shelter. Shaped by the teaching. Of Jesus. And the example. Of welcome. Which Jesus displays.

[18:15] We bring out. The good fruit. Of welcoming others. From our transformed lives. The refugee. And the stranger. Who has with nothing.

[18:27] But the clothes. On their back. Come here. Fleeing from violence. And hunger. And poverty. Seeking a better life. Among us. And we get the opportunity.

[18:38] To welcome them in. Shaped by Jesus teaching. And the example. Of his kindness. We wrestle. With ourselves. Against our anger.

[18:50] Against our impatience. We long. To show kindness. To one another. And to all people. To the weary shop assistant.

[19:03] Who longs for someone. To smile at them. Rather than complain. About the queue. Shaped by Jesus teaching. And the example.

[19:13] Of faith. Faithfulness of Jesus. Which he displayed. Towards God. His father. We learn. What it is. To live together. With God. As Jesus spent time.

[19:26] In prayer. So we learn. To pray. As Jesus knew. And trusted the Bible. So we learn. To know. And trust our Bibles. As Jesus spoke. To others. The good news.

[19:37] Of the kingdom of God. So we learn. To speak to others. The good news. Which we have heard. The good news. Which is changing. Our lives. We share.

[19:48] With others. What Jesus. Has been teaching us. We bring. Good fruit. From the good things. That Jesus. Has been growing. In our lives. As he teaches us.

[20:00] And transforms us. The end product. Of Jesus teaching. Is our transformed lives. The evidence. That Jesus.

[20:10] Is a good. And effective teacher. Is our renewed. And restored lives. We do not recognize. Jesus. As a good teacher.

[20:22] Because he said. Things that are clever. And wise. There are lots. Of people today. Saying things. That are clever. And wise. But they are not transforming.

[20:32] Anyone's lives. Jesus. Is a good teacher. Because he changes us. Jesus. Is the best teacher.

[20:43] Because of the effect. His teaching. Has upon us. Because of the impact. Of his teaching. And example. To renew.

[20:55] And transform. Our communities. Our society. The whole of creation. We listen. To Jesus. Our teacher. And in the living power.

[21:07] Of his being. God with us. Jesus. Remakes us. And fully trains us. To be the children. Of God. To live.

[21:17] For Christ. Alone. We walk. With Jesus. As we listen. To Jesus. And as we become. More like him.

[21:28] Amen. Let's pray together. Father. We are humbled. Before you. That you would be. Willing to come in Jesus.

[21:40] To be our teacher. That your word. Has power. To renew. And remake. Our lives. That this is your goal.

[21:52] That we should grow. Like Jesus. Open our ears. Fill our hearts. With all that Jesus would see to us.

[22:07] Be at work within us. That the teaching of Jesus. Might have its way among us. Let us in this we pray.

[22:20] Amen Now we sing together Lord for the years your love has kept and guided