I love teaching, and one of the main reasons I decided to go to graduate school was to work towards becoming a teaching professor. While I have really enjoyed my role in being an educator and a mentor so far, I know there is so still much to learn and grow in so I can better serve my students. To that end, it seemed natural for me to look at and learn from who I think is the greatest teacher in history - Jesus. There are five things (so far) that I have learned from Jesus that shapes the way I teach. As I read the Bible more and learn more about Jesus, I hope that this page will grow to have more observations. Importantly, these are not things that I claim to have mastered, but are rather characteristics that I strive for in my teaching. With that said, here are the pillars of my teaching philosophy:
1. Service
Two places in the Bible come to mind when I think about what Jesus says about service.
"...But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:43-45)
Here, Jesus describes his life as a life of service to others. He did not come to be served, but to serve. This is significant to me because if I choose to teach in a way where I would be served, then the burden will fall on my students or TAs. In my experience as a student, I had never considered an instructor who is disorganized, unreachable, and did not seem to care about his or her students to have had any significant impact in my life. In contrast, the few instructors whom I truly appreciated poured out their lives for their students. They were there for students, made it easier for them to learn (by being organized and eliminating needless hassles for students, or by being patient in explaining confusing material), and clearly put effort into teaching.
The second observation comes from John 13 when Jesus washes his disciples' feet.
"...'Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.' " (John 13:12-17)
The example of a master and his servant or the sender of the messenger and the messenger, to me, is analogous to a teacher and his students. Of course, this does not mean I need to physically wash my students' feet, nor do I think that it was Jesus' intention for his disciples to physically wash each others' feet. In the first century, people traveled with sandals. After a journey, their feet were sure to be pretty gross (think of dried mud, or poop from horses or cattle). It was then the job of the lowliest servant to clean off the feet of guests or his master, as it really was one of the most humiliating tasks. Think of it this way - if you are proud of yourself, cleaning off someone's feet is sure to humble you. Thus, I believe that Jesus is calling teachers to be humble in how they interact with their students. I don't think students can learn as well from an instructor who makes them think they are asking stupid questions or feel less confident about their abilities.
2. Using Stories or Analogies
Jesus made use of a lot of parables (stories/analogies) when he taught. While the people in Jesus’ day likely did not gain understanding to what he was talking about through these parables (though this was by intention), it certainly helps me today. Here are two parables that share the same message, which I find particularly useful in understand what it means to be a follower of Christ.
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. (Matthew 13:44)
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. (Matthew 13:45)
In both of these parables, Jesus is getting across the treasure that following him is to us. I enjoy these parables not because they are easy to practice, but on the contrary, these parables are especially challenging to me. I often ask myself, “Would I be willing to give up my earthly possessions and pursuits for the sake of Christ?” and depending on the day, the answer is different. That is a question I think Christians ought to ask themselves each day, as it is so easy to be caught up in the pursuits of the treasures of this world (fame, riches, success, power, etc). However, the parable makes it clear – we are not to give up everything to get nothing; we give up what we own to get an even greater reward! In any case, these parables were able to make clearer the message of Jesus on what it means to follow him.
In my classes, I often use stories and analogies to help deliver a point or help students think of a concept from a different perspective. I think this is especially useful when students are able to relate to the stories being used.
3. Seek Those in Need
Jesus in his day was well known, as you might expect someone to be when they perform miracles and teach a message that is radically different from the one religious leaders taught. Many came to Jesus as he traveled, hoping to get the help they need. However, Jesus did not just wait for people in need to seek him. He actively sought out those in need as well. Here’s an example that I love.
As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. (John 9:1-7)
Jesus saw someone in need and rather than judge (as his disciples did, since it was a common understanding in those days that those with physical disabilities were caused by sin), he went to the blind man and restored his sight.
My hope as a professor is to seek those who are in need rather than wait for them to come. There will be students who come to me in need of help, or even just for a listening pair of ears. However, there are many that I know will not do so. While from experience, I know some students do not want to be helped, there are also many who do want to be sought but for whatever reason (and most of the time, they are good reasons), do not.
4. Compassion
One would think with fame and success, that it will be natural to overlook people. Jesus did not do that. He had compassion for those who came to listen to him, even when they may not agree or accept his message. I love the story of Jesus feeding the masses. Here is one where he feeds the 5,000:
When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. (Matthew 14:14-21)
For context, before he saw the great crowd mentioned at the beginning of the passage above, Jesus was going away to mourn the death of his cousin John the Baptist. However, people saw him and started following him. In that moment, I think a very natural human response is anger or irritation – “Can’t you just leave me alone to grieve? Haven’t I already done enough for you people?” But rather than responding harshly, Jesus had compassion. He understood the needs of those who came to him, and sought to help them.
I know my students come to me from all walks of life. Some have had relatively easy paths to where they are, while some had obstacles after obstacles. I never want to assume why a student missed class, or why they did not do something they were supposed to. My hope is that I will have compassion for students who are going through hard issues, while adhering to the rules that are set for the course.
5. Humor
I think Jesus was a pretty funny guy and used humor well in his teaching. For example, to illustrate how ridiculous it is for someone to be ignorant of his own sins when pointing out the sins of others, Jesus said that's like someone who has a plank of wood (think two-by-four) sticking out of his eye trying to tell others about the speck of dust in their eyes. Imagine how ridiculous that is!
Elsewhere, a rich young ruler asks Jesus about how to gain eternal life. He tells Jesus that he has kept all the commandments from when he was a youth. However, Jesus tells him that there is one thing he lacks, and asks him to sell all that he has, to give the proceeds to the poor, and then to follow him. Jesus promises that he will then inherit eternal life. But upon hearing this, the rich young ruler walks away saddened, because he is very rich and did not desire to part with his possessions. Jesus then makes a comment, "it is easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle than it is for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." To me, it's like he's cracking a joke. Of course, the joke is not meant to put down the rich young ruler, but to illuminate truth to all who are present. Think about it - a camel, trying to go through a needle. I can't help but smile just thinking about it! Yet it is effective - because Jesus shows through that comment that it is in fact impossible for people to work their way into heaven. But it would be depressing if I just ended here - the good news is that Jesus says right after that "What is impossible with men is possible with God."
I believe Jesus used humor to keep his audience engaged. As a result, they learned more from him than if he was just serious all the time. Yet, he still did take teaching very seriously. My hope is that I can also incorporate humor into my classes. I think laughter is one of the greatest gifts God gave to us. Conveniently, when we find something to be funny, we tend to pay more attention to it. Thus, often laughing students are students who will be paying more attention, which is a definite plus for the classroom.