Back to school with Jesus

With school starting for children, I started thinking about how Jesus taught the disciples. He was their school teacher. He was their guide. He was the way. Truth. And life. He was their Savior.

I pray children will take Jesus back to school this year with them. He is the ultimate teacher, storyteller, and instructor. He often asked questions to see if the disciples were listening or learning.

Once, he asked the disciples a simple question we find in Matthew 16: 13-15, “Who do people say that I am?”

What would you say? What would your child say? I wonder, isn’t that a question people still struggle with today?

It sounds like an easy question. One said, “You’re John Baptist.” Another piped in with, “Elijah. You are Elijah.” A third disciple raised his hand, ready with his answer.

Goodness, gracious. God chooses twelve men to further the Gospel; at this point, they are like kindergarten kids scrambling for answers.

It’s like a school teacher facing her class and her children raise their hands in hopes of having the answer. So here’s Jesus, and He’s quizzing his followers, and they don’t get it right.

Sure the disciples are saying what people think, but are they sure they know who Jesus is? Personally? Spiritually?

Then it happened; Jesus asked them the same question, repeating his question. “Who do you say that I am?”

A teacher in school will go over the lesson and then pose the question to see if the students understand. To see if they know the answers.

It’s like, I can see Peter jumping up from his school stone seat, dropping his scroll, and yelling out the answer. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Now, doesn’t that make you want to jump up? To shout? To raise your hand and say, I have the answer?

To everyone who can say without a doubt, Jesus is my Lord; I applaud your answer. But don’t stop there; share your hope in the Savior with others.

In verse 17 in Matthew of the same chapter, Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.”

What a great classroom scene. Twelve student disciples sat with the living Christ, and they walked with Him and learned about God. Their backpacks were hung on the classroom wall so to speak, the chalkboard of life, the living Christ in front of them.

Jesus is the best teacher. He always has been, always will be. And we can help our children take Jesus back to school. We can take Him with us anywhere and everywhere too, letting our life shine with a peace found only in Christ. He doesn’t need to hide inside a backpack, but instead let’s allow Him a ride in our hearts so that He shows up in actions, words, and deeds.

So who is Jesus to you? Could you share a verse with your child before they ride the school bus? Or while you drive them to school? Say a prayer together and seek God early as you rise. Give the young ones the hope they need to walk with victory in this world. They can be lights on the playground for Jesus.

Be a voice for the Savior too. Pass this on to your children. Let’s tell the world, “Jesus is the Christ of the Living God.” If you do your part, I promise you’ll get an A+ today! And yes, you’ll make future followers of Jesus as they go to school! Are we ready? Let’s go!