RABBI

This is a Hebrew title of honour meaning ‘master’, reserved by Jews for their teachers. It is an equivalent of the Greek didaskalos or teacher, John 1. 38; 20.16. Used once of the Baptist, John 3. 26, it is commonly used of the supreme teacher, who alone deserves the title, Matt. 23. 8. If Christ is the teacher, how are we as His students? Superficial students? Sincere? Serious?

With treachery Judas called Him teacher, Matt. 26. 25, 49. However, Nicodemus humbly approached Christ with this title, John 3. 2, and received the life-changing teaching of new birth. How easy, and spiritually fruitless, to come to Scripture searching for something to teach; how much better to come and be taught! Humbly, like supple clay in the Master’s hands! The Lord highlighted this idea in John 13. 13. The disciples called Him ‘Master [didaskalos] and Lord [kwrios]’, emphasizing His teaching; He said He was ‘Lord and Master’, implying that the first step to learning from Him is submitting to Him.

The masses addressed Christ thus, but their motives were flawed. From the teacher they wanted food for their stomachs, instead of food for their spirits, John 6.26-28. Three times the disciples called Him teacher, but showed how different they were from the master whom they should have been emulating. They were tragically distant from the Samaritan woman, more interested in Jesus’ lunch, John 4. 31; they were painfully aloof from the suffering of their fellowman, wondering only whose sin had made the man blind, John 9. 2; they were unfortunately ignorant of the purpose of Christ in going to Jerusalem to suffer, John 11.8.

Some noteworthy students in today’s passage illustrate two valuable principles of being a student. The two disciples want to know where the Rabbi is staying. Presumably they want to be with Him. With worship, Nathanael discovers the teacher to be much more: He is God’s Son and Israel’s King!

‘Light of the world! Shine on our souls;
Thy grace to us afford;
And while we meet to learn Thy truth,
Be Thou our Teacher, Lord!’ [Edward Bickersteth]