Rabbi

     Rabbi is a term of respect and honor for teachers. A Rabbi was considered to have spent a lot of time studying and gaining knowledge. The word literally means "my great one." A person got the name "Rabbi" from their previous teachers who gave him authority. The Jewish leaders didn't like Jesus being called Rabbi because He did not have authority from them to be a Rabbi, and they didn't understand where His authority came from.

     Others were called Rabbi, but Jesus was the true teacher. John 3:22 says, "He came to Jesus at night, 'Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God for no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with Him.'" In this passage Nicodemus, who himself was a teacher of Israel, called Jesus a Rabbi, meaning he understood where Jesus' authority came from.

     Jesus' disciples also called Him Rabbi, meaning they had a lot of respect for Him and understood He had a great depth of knowledge and wisdom. It seems like the disciples called Him Rabbi when they realized He was trying to teach them something. Mark 11:21 says, "Peter remembered and said to Jesus, 'Rabbi, look! The fig tree You cursed has withered!'" In this passage Jesus had previously tried to teach them something about the fig tree, but the disciples did not understand. It was only later when they came by the same tree again that Peter calls Jesus Rabbi, showing he understood what Jesus was trying to say earlier. Another instance that a disciple used the term Rabbi was when Judas called Jesus Rabbi to show who he was betraying. Mark 14:45 says, "Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, 'Rabbi!' and kissed Him." Using the term Rabbi to identify Jesus was an even deeper level of betrayal and disrespect.

     By understanding what it means for Jesus to be Rabbi, we can learn to honor Jesus as a teacher. As we try to be more like Christ, we grow in our understanding of what the concept meant. This comes with a great responsibility to be well studied and be the best teacher we can be, just as Jesus was. It is also a privilege that we get to learn and study under the best teacher there ever was. We learn that with Christ as our teacher, He know how our lives ought to be lived, meaning that He knows our future better than we do. In summary Jesus being a Rabbi means we need to honor Him as our teacher and follow His example of how to teach others.

By Karla Nyhuis