Part 9: Master-Teacher (6:12-49)

September 8, 2013

Half-Jesus Christianity
Our goal for our series is to know Jesus more. That it's about him, not about us. At kapag nakikilala natin siya nang buungbuo, mas lumalalim ang relasyon natin sa kanya. Mahalagang buong-buo ang pagkakilala natin kay Jesus dahil maraming tao ngayon ang naniniwala na kapag tinanggap mo si Jesus bilang Tagapagligtas ay ligtas ka na. But that's only half of the story. He is not just a Savior. He is both Savior and Lord. If you accept Jesus as Savior, but not follow him as Lord, you are accepting only a half-Jesus that is not the true Jesus at all. It is a package deal. Accepting a half-Jesus does not make you a half-Christian. It makes you not a Christian at all! Let me explain from the intent of Luke's story. Sa puntong ito, katatapos lang ng conflict ni Jesus sa mga religious leaders. Ito yung mga taong ayaw tanggapin ang sinasabi niya, ayaw maniwala sa kanya, at mga nagpaplano kung paano siya papatayin. Obviously, they rejected Jesus. Pero may mga tao naman - at maraming tao! - ang sumusunod sa kanya para

makinig sa mga turo niya at mapagaling sila at makita kung paano niya pagalingin ang iba. Ang tawag sa kanila ay mga "disciples" (hindi ibig sabihing lahat ay true disciples of Jesus) o mga students or learners na sumusunod kung saan magpunta si Jesus. Mula sa maraming ito, pumili siya ng 12 lalaki na tinawag niyang apostol (6:12-16). Pagkatapos noon:
And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all (6:17-19).

Sa mga nakakaraang stories natin, madalas na nating nakita ito kung paano pinakilala ni Jesus na siya ay may kapangyarihan at may malaking habag na magpagaling. Naparito siya para iligtas tayo sa ating mga kasalanan, pagalingin hindi lang ang pisikal na karamdaman natin kundi pati espirituwal na karamdaman. He is Savior and Healer. Maliwanag iyon. Pero ang tanong, Lahat ba ng lumalapit kay Jesus na mga tao para makinig sa turo niya at mapagaling sa kanilang sakit, lahat ba sila ay totoong nakabalik sa relasyon sa Diyos? We must remember that true salvation is a restored relationship with God. Iyon ang totoong Christianity. Ang tanong sa atin, "Lahat ba ng naririto ngayon ay totoong nakabalik na sa malapit na relasyon sa Diyos? Lahat ba ng narito ay totoong Christian?" O ang iba sinasabi lang, "Gusto kong gumaling sa sakit ko. Gusto kong makaahon sa kahirapan. Gusto kong bumalik ang asawa ko. Gusto kong mabawasan ang mga problema ko sa buhay. Gusto kong makatakas sa apoy ng impiyerno."

Jesus Our Master-Teacher

Kung iyon lang ang gusto mo, malamang you only know a halfJesus. It's time now to get to really know him. He's not just Savior-Healer. He's also Master-Teacher. And I believe, that's the burden of our passage today. And if he is Master-Teacher, how should we then relate to him as our Master-Teacher.

That's the personal application. Medyo mahaba itong Luke 6:12-49. We will not look into all the details. But I'll try to give you the basic message. Jesus Our Teacher. Sa verse 13 at verse 17, ang salitang ginamit para sa mga taong sumusunod kay Jesus ay "his disciples." Ang literal na kahulugan nito ay learner o student. Ibig sabihin, si Jesus ang Teacher. Siya ang pinakikinggan, pinaniniwalaan. Kung ganoon, what's our goal? Sabi ni Jesus sa sermon niya, "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher" (40). So we recognize that we are under him and we will always be under him as our Teacher. Hindi tulad ko na dating Sunday School teacher ko si Ate Lisa, pero last week nandito siya at ako na ang teacher niya. There will never come a time that we are the ones teaching Jesus. Our goal is to be under him and to be like him. Iyon ang "fully trained" - to be like him in every way. Sinasabi natin hindi lang, "I want to be saved. I want to be healed." Kundi, "I want to be like Jesus in every way." Jesus Our Master. Malinaw ito sa mga actions na ginagawa niya. "He called...he chose" (13). He's the Master. Tinawag ang 12 na "apostles" (sent-ones) (v. 13). Ibig sabihin, si Jesus ang "sender" magbibigay sa kanila ng misyon kung ano ang gagawin. Si Simon pinangalanan niyang "Pedro" (v. 14), a clear indication of his authority over him. People called him "Lord" and what's the implication? "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you" (6:46)? Say "yes" to everything he tells us to do. Everything! There are too many commands in his sermon, asserting that he's the commander. Including your love life. Including your finances. Including what to watch on TV. "A disciple is not above his teacher, or a slave above his master" (Matt. 10:24 HCSB). We are not just his students, we are his slaves. If you don't want that deal, you don't really want Jesus. Remember that Jesus is calling us to a relationship. Kung ang tingin mo lang sa kanya ay doctor (tulad ng illustration niya sa Luke 5:31-32), oo lalapit ka sa kanya, pero kung magaling ka na feeling mo hindi mo na siya kailangan. Pero kung siya ang

Teacher, you will remain a student until you graduate. Kelan ang graduation? Kung siya ang Master, you will remain a slave until he released you. Kelan iyon? He wants a relationship with us for a lifetime, forever and ever. Na ilapit tayo sa Diyos. kaya nga sabi niya sa sermon niya na gagawin natin ang sinasabi niya dahil tayo ay "sons of the Most High," that God is "your Father" (6:35-36). Kaya nga habang nagsasalita siya nasa harap niya ang "great crowd...great multitude of people" from all places (v. 17). He's calling everyone of us, kahit sino ka pa, tinatawag ka ni Jesus. Alam n'yo kung ano ang ginawa ni Jesus bago niya piliin ang 12 apostol? "...he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God" (6:12). Para ano? Oo, para ipakitang dependent siya sa Ama. Bukod doon, para ipakita ang kanyang desire to call disciples who will follow him. Kung buong gabi kang nananalangin para sa isang bagay, ibig sabihin, ito ang nasa puso mo. Personal na gusto niyang marinig mo (tulad ng kay Simon at kay Levi), "Follow me." Not just as Savior-Healer but also Master-Teacher. Para kay Jesus, sino ang totoong disciple? "Everyone who comes to me (as Savior and Healer) and hears my words (as Teacher) and does them (as Master or Lord)? (v. 47). Now, as Master-Teacher, Jesus was teaching us in his sermon two dimensions of true discipleship.

Vertical Dimension Relationship with God

A true disciple of Jesus is defined by a new relationship with God. Hindi na ito tungkol sa kung ano ang meron tayo, kung mayaman ba tayo o mahirap, kung nagugutom tayo o nabubusog, kung umiiyak tayo o tumatawa, kung maganda ang reputasyon natin sa ibang tao o hindi. It is now about our relationship with God. Kung paanong ang Diyos mismo ang naglapit ng kanyang sarili sa atin, siya mismo ang gumawa ng paraan para maibigay sa atin ang tunay na kailangan natin. Sabi ni Jesus: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you

shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh" (vv. 20-21). Tayo ang pinakamasayang tao sa buong mundo (kahit walang pera!) dahil nasa atin ang "kaharian ng Diyos". Higit tayong pinagpala. Eventhough we have nothing, we know we have everything because we have God. Hindi na ang reputasyon natin ang mahalaga kundi ang reputasyon ni Jesus. Hindi na pangalan natin ang itinataas natin kundi ang pangalan na ng Panginoong Jesus. "Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man" (v. 22)! Kahit binubugbog tayo ng panlalait ng mga tao, kahit iniiwan tayo ng mga dati nating kaibigan at mahal sa buhay, there is enough (more than enough) reason to rejoice. "Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets" (v. 23). Masaya kasi sinasabi natin sa Diyos na, "I have everything I need because I have you." Tulad ni Jesus, lumaki siya sa pamilyang mahirap lang. Pero siya ang pinakamasayang tao na nabuhay sa mundo. Tulad ng mga piniling apostol ni Jesus (si Simon o si Levi, halimbawa). Iniwan nila ang lahat pero natuklasan nila ang totoong kagalakan sa pagsunod kay Jesus. Nawala man ang negosyo nila, reputasyon sa ibang tao, mga kaibigan, but they have Jesus. Eventhough we have nothing, we have Everything in Jesus. If you consider Jesus as your greatest Treasure, your relationship with him your most important relationship, the kingdom of God your highest ambition, then you are a true disciple of Jesus. Now, are you?

Horizontal Dimension Our Relationship with Others

Anong klaseng relasyon meron ang isang tagasunod ni Jesus sa ibang tao? If you love others and are doing good to others, you are a true disciples. Amen? Don't say "amen" to that. Why? "If

you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount" (vv. 32-34). Sinners do that! It's not about love or doing good, but what kind of love and goodness. Ito iyong love na nanggagaling sa pusong nakaranas din ng pagmamahal ng Diyos, na nanggagaling sa relasyon natin sa Diyos. Vertical dimension flows toward horizontal relationships. "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful" (vv. 35-36). Bakit ito mahalaga sa mga disciples ng Panginoon? Sa 12 pangalang binanggit sa vv. 14-16, sinong dalawa diyan ang maituturing na magkaaway? Si Matthew na isang tax collector na naglilingkod sa gobyerno ng Roma at si Simon the Zealot (hindi Simon Peter) na kabilang sa grupo ng mga "Zealots", mga revolutionaries or activists na ang misyon ay mapatalsik ang ang mga Romano. Jesus was calling disciples not only for a reconciled relationship with God, but also a reconciled relationship with other people. We are created and redeemed to love God and to love others - kahit sa mga ayaw nating mahalin, lalo na sa mga ayaw nating mahalin. If you are a true disciple, you will treat others as God has treated you. Paano ba tayo minahal ng Diyos? Inibig niya tayo noong panahong tayo ay nagbago na at mga kaibig-ibig na? Hindi! "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us...while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son" (Romans 5:8, 10). Kung ganoon pala, ano dapat ang response natin bilang mga disciples? Sabi ni Jesus, "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on

the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back" (Luke 6:27-30). Masasabi ba natin ito (repeat after me): "Dahil inibig ako ng Diyos, iibigin ko rin ang mga nagtraydor sa akin...bibigyan ko ng ulam ang kapitbahay kong masama ang ugali...itetext ko ng God Bless You ang nanlalait at naninira sa akin...ipagpepray ko ang umabuso sa akin noong ako ay bata pa...kapag sinampal ako (sasampalin ko rin?) hindi ko gagantihan, kapag may nanghihingi ng tulong sa akin, bibigyan ko sa abot ng aking makakaya at sasabihin ko, 'Kung makakabayad ka, OK. Kung hindi naman, sa iyo na iyan, tulong ko na sa iyo iyan." Treat others as you want to be treated. "And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them" (v. 31). "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you" (vv. 37-38). Kapag gumawa tayo ng mabuti, oo nga't nangako ang Diyos na may gantimpala siya sa atin, pero hindi ibig sabihin mageexpect tayo sa iba na tumanaw ng utang na loob sa atin. Kaya nga sabi ni Jesus sa v. 35, "expecting nothing in return." Ibinigay ng Diyos sa atin ang kanyang biyaya ng libre, si Jesus ang nagbayad. We do the same sa ibang tao. Treat other disciples as a fellow sinner. "Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye" (vv. 41-42). Oo makasalanan ang mga taong nakapaligid sa atin. Pero makasalanan din naman tayo. Tumanggap tayo ng "grace" (undeserved goodness) ng Panginoon. Kailangan din

nila iyon. Treat others as fellow sinners in need of God's grace. Tulad din naman natin.

How can this happen?

That's the vertical dimension and horizontal dimensions of discipleship. Restored relationship with God. Restored relationship with others. Paano mangyayari iyon? Madaling sabihin, alam natin na mahirap gawin. Bakit?
"For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks" (Luke 6:43-45).

Ang good fruit na binabanggit dito ay ang napag-usapan na nating good relationship with God and good relationship with others. At ang good tree ay ang "good heart" natin. Paano mangyayari iyong magkakaroon tayo ng good heart samantalang natural na "bad" ang heart natin? Mula sa simula ng story, "The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Gen. 6:5), hanggang sa mga huling araw ngayon,"...in the last days...people will be lovers of self, lovers of money...not loving good...lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God..." (2 Tim. 3:1-5). That's who we were. Paano nagkaroon ng goodness, ng joy, ng peace? Dahil ba sa sarili nating gawa? Hindi ba't iyan ay "bunga ng Espiritu" (Gal. 5:22-23)? Not because of what we have done to change ourselves, but because of God's promise of the New Covenant, "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules" (Ezek. 36:26-27).

Kung ikaw ay nakay Cristo, you now have a new heart, you have God's Spirit within you. Kung hindi pa, bakit hindi mo hilingin sa Diyos ngayon, "Panginoon, bigyan mo po ako ng bagong puso. Para ibigin ka. Para ibigin ang kapwa ko." Hindi lahat ng hiling natin sa Panginoon binibigay niya, pero ginagarantiya ko sa inyo na ipinangako niyang kapag ganito ang hiling natin, tiyak na ibibigay niya. We have a merciful Father (Luke 6:36).

Who do you want to be like?

Sino ba ang gusto mong tularan? Sabi ni Jesus, 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 when he is fully trained will be like his teacher" (6:39-40). If you are a Christian, do you really want to be like Jesus? O baka naman, gusto mong tularan ang isang bulag na sumusunod din sa isang bulag? It's your choice. Tandaan mo na hindi lahat ng tinatawag na "disciples" ay totoong disciples. Sa 12 apostol, merong "Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor" (v. 16). Siyempre, sino bang magsasabing "I want to be like Judas"? Wala! Pero tandaan n'yo na si Judas ang representative ng lahat ng mga nakikinig kay Jesus, na tumatawag sa kanyang "Lord" pero hindi naman sumusunod, iyong mga nakasama niyang kumain, tumanggap ng blessings mula sa kanya, pero mas gusto ang blessings kaysa sa Nagbigay. Lahat naman sa atin learners or students - pipili ka nga lang kung sino ang magtuturo sa iyo. Lahat naman sa atin slaves pipili ka lang kung sino ang master mo. Kung sino ang teacher at master mo, matutulad ka sa kanya.

How do you want your life to end?

Matutulad ka din sa ending ng life story niya. Paano mo gustong magtapos ang buhay mo? You have two choices:
Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not

shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great (6:4649).

We're talking about the ending here. Hindi ito yung choice kung gusto mo bang walang baha, bagyo o anumang troubles sa buhay mo. This is not a choice between a troublesome and a trouble-free life. Christian ka man o hindi, we will have troubles in this life. Pero ang kaibahan, kung ikaw ay hindi tagapakinig lang kundi sumusunod kay Jesus as your MasterTeacher, anumang bagyo ang dumating sa buhay mo, mananatili kang nakatayo. No one and nothing could shake you, your faith and your love relationship with God. May mawawala sa iyo - kayamanan o mahal sa buhay, but your faith will remain unshakeable. You are "blessed" and can "rejoice and leap for joy...your reward is great in heaven" (vv. 20-23, 35). It is "great" (mega) because it is none other than our great God himself! Do you want that ending? Or do you want this? "But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great" (v. 49). The one who submits to Jesus as MasterTeacher has great reward. Those who don't has great ruin. Ang salitang "ruin" sa Greek ay dito lang ginamit sa NT. Ibig sabihin (kung titingnan din ang Greek OT sa Amos 9:11), hindi lang bumagsak, kundi completely destroyed. Durug-durog, wasak na wasak, sirang-sira. Ganyan ang sasapitin ng sinumang nakikinig lang pero hindi sumusunod. Kaya nga sabi ni Jesus sa verses 23-26, "Woe..." an expression of lament, horror and terrible pain. Yun bang parang nakakita ka ng pusang nasagasaan ng kotse, higit pa dun parang nakakita ka ng batang nasagasaan at namatay at lumabas ang bituka. Unimaginable horror! Iyan ang sinabi ni Jesus tungkol kay Judas, "Woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he

had not been born" (Mark 14:21). Paano ang ending ng story ni Judas? "Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out" (Acts 1:18). Ganito akong magsalita sa inyo ngayon kasi ayaw ko (at ayaw ng Diyos!) na sapitin n'yo ang sinapit ni Judas. Nagkapera nga siya, nakikinig nga siya sa mga turo ni Jesus, pero hanggang doon lang. He did not love Jesus! He loves money and his life more than Jesus! I want you (and I pray hard for that) to be like Jesus. Oo lumaki siyang mahirap, itinakwil ng mga tao pati ng sarili niyang kaibigan, dinuraan ng mga tao, ipinako, hiniya, pinatay. Oo mararanasan n'yo iyon, pero tulad din ni Jesus na binuhay na muli at umakyat sa kaluwalhatian ng Diyos sa langit, iyon din ang sasapitin natin. Kung...nagtitiwala tayo kay Jesus as Savior-Healer at sumusunod bilang Master-Teacher.