No plagiarism
Jesus one time said, “My teaching is not mine.” He went on to say that his teaching was “his who sent me.” You may read the references below.
Savior of the World Job Description
I read this in John 7 this morning. What stood out to me was Jesus’ perspective. He could easily have claimed his learning to be his own, but he didn’t. He didn’t grasp and cling; he bowed to his assignment. Wow! The God-Man came to earth on assignment. The perfect Person didn’t cling to status and title. Just fulfilling his mission, maam; doing his rightful duty as Savior of the world; did what the Father said to do; said what the Father said to say.
Super-Servant
Beautiful, powerful submission as a work of love. He bowed to the task of providing the way to God.
So I think it is fair to ask “Is your teaching yours?” Or “Is my teaching mine?” How careful are we to acknowledge our source? And when we speak for God, how careful are we to “not put words in his mouth?”
“Liar, liar, pants on fire”
And when we are fighting over “truth,” whose truth are we fighting for? Our pet fancy or God’s eternal decree? When we refuse to accept and understand Scripture, whose truth are we holding to? We say we are standing up for God, but I’m thinking “liar, liar, pants on fire” may more accurately describe our actions.
“Cause”
When we cling to our teaching as opposed to God’s, we are seeking our own glory. What we say sounds less like a teachable servant and more like a child attempting to exert his way or explain her logic by spouting “cause, cause I say so.” We may be so self-deceived that we don’t see this but that’s the scoop, dude! If we are truly seeking God’s glory, then we too will bow to the task as servants of the Most High.
The Word is words
I have been amazed at the number of professing Christians who absolutely believe the Bible to be God’s word who refuse to listen, sometimes even look, at the words in the Word. Claiming the Word is one thing; bowing to the words can be quite another.
(John 7:15-16 ESV) The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.”
(John 7:17 ESV) If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.
(John 7:18 ESV) The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.
