Jesus, the Good Master!

SPEAKER 01 : 0:00

It is often said of one, he or she has mastered their craft, meaning one is exceptionally good at what they do. But you know, friends, when we think of one who mastered all, the good master, Jesus Christ, well, let’s say, what an awesome study ahead. From the International Gospel Hour, stay right here.

SPEAKER 02 : 0:24

Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. We’re so glad you’ve decided to listen to our program today. In a world of challenges, we need God’s Word to help us face those challenges. Thank you for joining us in this period of Bible study with our speaker, Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, a broadcast of the Churches of Christ. So let’s listen today.

SPEAKER 01 : 0:47

Here’s Jeff. Thank you to our J-Web. Greetings to all of you. Great having you with us once again for our studies from International Gospel Hour. Hey, let’s start quickly with a free online tool that you can use. That’s right, another free gift from International Gospel Hour. Go to our friends at gospelgazette.com. That’s gospelgazette, one Z, two Ts, gospelgazette.com. Now, when you get to gospelgazette.com, click on the Archive tab. You’ll see access to over 25 years of articles by Christian men and women. You’ll probably find some material about a subject of which you are curious of, and if so, we hope it will be of help to you. Please check them out at gospelgazette.com. Friends, from the Gospel accounts, Matthew 19, verses 16-22, Mark 10, verses 17-22, and Luke 18, 18-24, we read about one who is commonly called the rich young ruler. Now, for whatever the reason, he addressed Jesus with the profound truth he called him good master. As the second person of the Godhead, Jesus is inherently good. As a teacher of righteousness, he was preeminently good. The biblical record declares that Jesus went about doing good, Acts 10.38, and he himself declared, I am the good shepherd, John 10.14. Now the word master is a word that means teacher. So here is our question. Is Jesus the good master of my life? Does he master my attitudes, actions, and abilities? Does he master my time, talents, and treasures? Does he master heart, mind, and soul? Wow, that’s a lot to think about. And we’re going to consider Jesus the good master today. But first… A very special thanks to my friend and brother Mark Posey for this idea today via his exceptional work called Pulpit Preview. Now we mention and use this material from time to time and we are honored for Mark’s encouragement for our work at International Gospel Hour and the honor of using his studies of which we can share. He is an elder, a shepherd, as well as the evangelist for the Winfield Church of Christ in Winfield, Alabama. So, Mark, we thank you. Next, here is some information about the International Gospel Hour app. Here is our Jay Webb.

SPEAKER 02 : 3:58

Please download the International Gospel Hour app today.

SPEAKER 01 : 4:02

Let’s talk about Jesus, the good master teacher. You know, in John chapter 3 and verse 2, Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, he recognized Jesus and his teaching and his miracles. As we noted earlier or mentioned in Mark 19 and verse 16, the rich young ruler, he asked Jesus what good thing he should do to have eternal life. He was asking the master or the teacher, instruct me. Now, when we consider the word teacher, you find it 29 times in the gospel. 90 times in the Bible, it’s in its noun phrase and verb, which means teach or teachers. And so when you find a number of times that this is a word of teacher to instruct or to use things in instruction. Jesus taught in such a way that amazed those who heard him, and the reason being Jesus taught with authority which was lacking in the other teachers of his day. They only quoted other rabbis. But Jesus spoke with inherent authority, the authority of God’s revealed word, Matthew 7, 28 and 29. Therefore the character, the conduct, and charisma of Jesus was manifested in that he practiced what he preached. He taught with authority. He cared enough to sacrifice himself for the world. Thus multitudes flocked to his side. They hung on to every word that he would speak. In Mark 12, 37 it says how the common people heard him gladly. So friends, when we listen to the good master, the good master teacher, and obey him, our lives will be better and blessed. How about second? Jesus the good master builder. In 1 Corinthians 3, 10 and 11, Paul said, According to the grace of God which was given to me as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it, for no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Jesus is the foundation like none other. That is the most essential element of a building. The chief cornerstone is Jesus Christ, 1 Peter 2 and verse 6. You know, I love the way that our friend Mark Posey presents Jesus as the master builder. For example, he has built the faith home, Matthew 16, 18, where he promised to build his church, and he did it. He is the builder of the family home, Psalm 127, verse 1. And he is building our future home, John 14, verses 1 and following. And heaven is described as having a firm foundation whose builder and maker is God. Hebrews 11, verses 8 through 10. I love that. I’m indebted to Mark for sharing that within this study. How Jesus has built the faith home, the church, the family home, and our future home He is building. One more time, friends. You know, Jesus built the universe, as we note from Colossians 1 through 16. He is one through whom God created all. His Word is truth, and His Word He built. The Bible, John 1 and verse 1. In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, the Word was God, and He built the church, Matthew 16, 18, and is building a city, Revelation 21, 2. Oh, friends, that by itself is a worthy study, is it not? Jesus, the good master teacher, the good master builder, I’ll give you a third one. Jesus is the master healer, the good master healer. Isaiah 53, 4 and 5, the prophecy of the Christ. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement for our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed. He healed us from sin. Peter in 1 Peter 2, 24 and 25, who himself bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness, by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls. Friends, we can say without hesitation or reservation that perfect, total, complete healing is God’s promise to every Christian, paid for by the stripes of Jesus and the totality of His work for us. But friends, we must also say that it is not promised to every believer right now, just as the totality of our salvation is not promised to us right now. Now, listen carefully. The Bible says that the Christian is saved, Ephesians 2 and verse 8, that the Christian is being saved, 1 Corinthians 1.18, and that every Christian will be saved, 1 Corinthians 3.15. Even so, friends, there is a sense in which we have been healed, are being healed, and one day will be healed. God’s ultimate healing is called resurrection. It’s a glorious promise to every Christian. Every patch-up, if you will, healing in this present age anticipates the ultimate healing that will come. Thus the healing of our minds, hearts, souls strengthens our hope for a land free from pain, sickness, and dying. Now friends, when I read that and thought on that a little bit, it caught me at first. But I understand from whence our brother Posey is presenting this material in light of Scripture. Jesus is the healer. And one day there will be a tremendous healing when this world ends and we can live with Him. Is Jesus the good master of your life? We are told to confess that Jesus is Lord of the glory of God the Father, Philippians 2 and verse 11. and that from the mouth confession is made unto salvation, Romans 10, 9 and 10. He is the Lord and God, as Thomas declared in John 20 and verse 28, My Lord and my God. My friends, Jesus teaches the importance of faith in Him, as we note from John 8, 24 and John 3, 16. He teaches the importance of repentance, Luke 13, 3, Confession, Matthew 10, 32, and Baptism, into His name as we know it in Acts 2 verse 38. So friends, when we do that, He builds our lives, He places us in the church, and He heals us from sin. Friends, would you like to think on this a little more? Would you like to study further about the Master Jesus? Here is our J-Web with our well-received Bible course that people have asked, and we’re willing to send it to you absolutely free. Then I’ll come back and wrap up our broadcast.

SPEAKER 02 : 11:25

Our well-received Bible study course by mail is available to everyone absolutely free. Would you like to try it? All you do is call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say, Home Study. That’s it. That’s all you have to do. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com. Click on the Contact tab and leave us the same information, name, address, and type Home Study in the message box. At your own pace, you can study the Bible in your own home. Again, it’s free. Give it a try. And it’s from your friends here at International Gospel Hour.

SPEAKER 01 : 12:05

What a blessing to study Jesus, the good master, the good master teacher, the builder, and healer. We hope this study has been profitable for you, and we’ll do more at another time. But for now, thank you for joining me on the International Gospel Hour broadcast. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.

SPEAKER 02 : 12:27

Thank you for listening today. May this study prompt your search of God’s Word for His will in your life. To assist you in your study or to listen to our other programs, please visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com. To God be the glory.