While the world celebrates
international Teacher’s Day on the 15th of October, India celebrates it on the
5th of September, which is also the birthday of the famous teacher, academic
philosopher and the second President of India, Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan,
who was a staunch believer of education, and was the well-known diplomat,
scholar, and above all a Teacher par excellence. Since 1962, 5th of September
has been celebrated as Teacher’s Day in India. Some of his students and friends
approached him and requested him to allow them to celebrate his birthday. In
reply, Dr, Radhakrishnan said, “Instead of celebrating my birthday separately,
it would be my proud privilege if September 5th is observed as Teacher’s day”.
The request showed Dr.Radhakrishnan’s love for the teaching profession. From
then onwards, his birthday is observed as Teacher’s Day in India.
Dr. Radhakrishnan was of the
opinion that only the right kind of education could solve many ills of the
society and the country. He wanted to bring in a change in the educational
system by improving the quality of education and building up a strong
relationship between the teacher and the taught. In his opinion, teachers
should be the best minds of the country; they should not merely instruct but
should gain the true affection of pupils, and the respect for teachers cannot
be ordered but it should be earned. Even as the president Sarvepalli remained a
humble man. It was an open house at the Rashtrapati Bhavan and people from all
sections of society were welcome to meet him. In addition he accepted only Rs.
2,500 out of his salary of Rs. 10,000 and donated the remaining amount to the
Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund every month. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who was one of his closest friends throughout,
said about Dr.Radhakrishnan: “He
has served his country in many capacities. But above all, he is a great Teacher
from whom all of us have learnt much and will continue to learn.
Socrates was an example of a good teacher. He
considered himself a learner as well as a teacher. For Socrates, love and
friendship were the proper contexts for the pursuit of wisdom and goodness.
Socrates saw himself only as a catalyst. He felt it was not his teaching, but
actually the power of the Divine which enabled the person he was talking with
to improve himself. Teachers change lives. Being the right person at the right
time may be enough to change a person's life forever. Human beings are
constantly changing. Whether for the good or for the bad, we do not stay the
same. Having a positive influence in the form of a teacher can make or break a
human being. Years after we are out of school, we remember the teachers that
changed our lives. In most cases these may have been the first people that
believed in us. That experience of having an authority figure believe that we
could succeed carries us forever.
Friends, to build a powerful Nation of our dreams, the first and foremost task before us is to improve the quality of value Education. In a nation whose demography is young-both in age and spirit, teachers have the responsibility of providing education which is rich in values and modern in content. Having been a Bible teacher myself, I have always drawn inspiration from these words of Lord Jesus Christ, “Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher.”(Luke 6:40) Jesus also became the best teacher and the wisest man ever to walk the earth. He would explain difficult things in ways that made people easy to understand. There has never been a teacher like the Lord Jesus. Every word that He spoke is true. His words are the words of God. It was said of Him, "Never man spoke like this man."Jesus was the greatest Teacher who ever lived. He taught the highest truths that were ever taught. He promoted the purest ideals that were ever presented. He gave the greatest wisdom that men ever heard. Why was Jesus such a Great Teacher? The teachings and example of Jesus Christ have inspired the greatest acts of generosity, hospitality, self-sacrifice and service to the poor, sick and needy over two thousand years. The positive impact of Jesus Christ on the world cannot be overstated. Everything from education to human rights, from public health to economic liberty – the things we cherish most and many of the blessings we take for granted – can be traced to the spiritual and the Cultural Revolution begun by Jesus Christ.
Friends, to build a powerful Nation of our dreams, the first and foremost task before us is to improve the quality of value Education. In a nation whose demography is young-both in age and spirit, teachers have the responsibility of providing education which is rich in values and modern in content. Having been a Bible teacher myself, I have always drawn inspiration from these words of Lord Jesus Christ, “Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher.”(Luke 6:40) Jesus also became the best teacher and the wisest man ever to walk the earth. He would explain difficult things in ways that made people easy to understand. There has never been a teacher like the Lord Jesus. Every word that He spoke is true. His words are the words of God. It was said of Him, "Never man spoke like this man."Jesus was the greatest Teacher who ever lived. He taught the highest truths that were ever taught. He promoted the purest ideals that were ever presented. He gave the greatest wisdom that men ever heard. Why was Jesus such a Great Teacher? The teachings and example of Jesus Christ have inspired the greatest acts of generosity, hospitality, self-sacrifice and service to the poor, sick and needy over two thousand years. The positive impact of Jesus Christ on the world cannot be overstated. Everything from education to human rights, from public health to economic liberty – the things we cherish most and many of the blessings we take for granted – can be traced to the spiritual and the Cultural Revolution begun by Jesus Christ.
He was born in a small village.
He never wrote a book.
He never held an office.
He never had a home.
He didn't go to college.
He never visited a big city.
He never travelled more than two hundred miles from the place where He was born.
He had no credentials but Himself.
He was only thirty-three when the tide of public opinion turned against Him.
His friends ran away.
One of them denied Him.
He was turned over to His enemies and went through the mockery of a trial.
He was nailed to a cross between two thieves.
While He was dying, His executioners gambled for His garments, the only property He had on earth. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.
Nineteen centuries have come and gone, and today He is the central figure of the human race.
All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not effected the life of man on this earth as much as that One Solitary Life."
He never wrote a book.
He never held an office.
He never had a home.
He didn't go to college.
He never visited a big city.
He never travelled more than two hundred miles from the place where He was born.
He had no credentials but Himself.
He was only thirty-three when the tide of public opinion turned against Him.
His friends ran away.
One of them denied Him.
He was turned over to His enemies and went through the mockery of a trial.
He was nailed to a cross between two thieves.
While He was dying, His executioners gambled for His garments, the only property He had on earth. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.
Nineteen centuries have come and gone, and today He is the central figure of the human race.
All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not effected the life of man on this earth as much as that One Solitary Life."
There is no doubt that Jesus Christ is the greatest
man who has ever lived in all of history. He changed the world forever. When He
was born, He transformed the very way we measure time. He turned aside the
river of the ages out of its course and lifted the centuries off their hinges.
His birthday, His Incarnation, touched and transformed time. Now the whole
world counts time as Before Christ (BC) and AD (Anno Domoni - in the year of
our Lord). Jesus Christ is the central figure of history. More books have
been written about Jesus Christ than any other person in history.
The Bible is the number one bestselling book in all
of history. The Bible has also been translated in to more languages than any other book in
history.
Jesus was the greatest Teacher who ever lived. He taught the highest truths that were ever taught. He promoted the purest ideals that were ever presented. He gave the greatest wisdom that men ever heard. He was the wisest of men and the greatest of men. His principles can be studied but never refuted. His lessons, if followed, will make people perfect. His instructions, if followed, will make people holy. His spiritual insights, if applied, will make for a healthier and happier person on the inside and a better person to be around on the outside! Jesus taught us everything we need to know to live a good life here and prepare for a great afterlife. There is no teacher in the history of the world that has come close to Jesus in power, purity, practicality, and purpose.
There is no culture in the world where the teachings of Christ have gone that has not been transformed or improved and the greater the teaching was applied the greater the improvement! There is not one single instance of someone practicing what Jesus taught and him becoming the worse for it. There is nothing that can be said about the teachings of Jesus but that following them makes for a better society, a safer neighborhood, and a more wholesome environment. Being a disciple of Christ not only improves the disciple, it improves the neighbor’s life too.
His Example was the Greatest Example. His Teachings were the Greatest Teachings. His Impact was the Greatest Impact. Jesus was not just a Teacher; he is, forever, THE TEACHER!!! Jesus was not just passing out knowledge; he was instilling WISDOM. While Moses gave rules, Jesus taught us relationships. His two great commandments were really two great heart attitudes: 1. " love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength:" 2. " love thy neighbor as thyself."
He did not give a long list of do’s and don’ts but rather taught in parables. More than giving precepts, he was giving concepts. His aim was to transform behavior by transforming the inner man. His teachings were not legal as much as philosophical. He was not leading his disciples to comply with laws as much as he was concerned with fixing flaws! He said "It is what comes out of the heart that defiles a man". Fix the heart and you fix the man!
Today, Jesus' words are our source of truth. His teachings serve to give us a better way to think and a better way to live. To fail to learn the teachings of Jesus is to fail entirely in one’s education. Even if there were no heaven to gain; even if there were no hell to shun; if this life were the only life we had, the world would be a better place if everyone thought like Jesus taught us to think and lived like Jesus taught us to live.
The world before Christ was a world without
hospitals, a world without charity, a world without respect for the sanctity of
life. Hospitals were an innovation of Christianity. Hence the healing symbol of
a cross represents hospitals. The nursing profession was founded by Christians
such as Florence Nightingale out of devotion for Christ. One of history's
greatest humanitarian movements, the International Red Cross, was founded by
Christians in response to the Scriptural injunctions to care for the sick and
the suffering. Christians such as Dr. Louis Pasteur have fuelled some of the
greatest practical advances in medicine. Pasteur has probably saved more lives
than any other individual in history through his inventions.
The whole concept of charity was a Christian
innovation. Benevolence to strangers was unknown before Christ. The
teachings and example of Jesus Christ have inspired the greatest acts of
generosity, hospitality, self-sacrifice and service for the poor, sick and
needy over two thousand years. The positive impact of Jesus Christ on the world
cannot be overstated. Everything from education to human rights, from public
health to economic liberty - the things we cherish most and many of the
blessings we take for granted - all can be traced to the spiritual and the Cultural
Revolution begun by Jesus Christ.
The irrefutable fact is that Christianity gave birth
to modern science. The scientific revolution began with the Protestant Reformation
and the Bible played a vital part in the development of scientific
discovery. Every major branch of science was developed by a Bible
believing Christian. The Bible essentially created science. When we get
into a car, start the engine, turn on the lights, drive to a hospital, receive
an anaesthetic before an operation, and have an effective operation done in a
germ-free environment, we need to remember that we owe it all to Jesus Christ.
"Every school you see - public or private,
religious or secular - is a visible reminder of the religion of Jesus Christ.
So is every college and university." The phenomenon of education for
the masses has its roots in Christianity. The pursuit of the knowledge of God
in a systematic, philosophical and in-depth way gave rise to the phenomenon of
universities all around the world. It was the Christian faith that gave
rise to the very idea of higher learning.
Most of the languages of the world were first set to
writing by Christian missionaries. The first book in most languages of the
world has been the Bible. Christianity has been the greatest force for
promoting literacy worldwide throughout history.
The Christian missionary movement in the 19th
Century pioneered tens of thousands of schools throughout Africa, Asia and the
Pacific Islands - providing education for countless millions, even in the
remotest jungles, giving the gift of literacy to tribes which had never before
had a written language.
There is no doubt that Jesus Christ was the
greatest Teacher the world has ever known. When He spoke, "They
were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having
authority…" Mark 1:22. The life, teachings and example of Jesus
Christ have profoundly influenced the whole development of education worldwide.
The Great Commission of our Lord Jesus was to "make disciples of all
nations…teaching them…" Matthew 28:19-20.
From the very beginning Christians were establishing
schools. Amongst the many innovations in Christian Education was that these
Christian schools taught everybody, including girls and women. Formally
educating both sexes was a Christian innovation. The Greeks and Romans before
the birth of Christ did not formally educate girls. Only boys from the
privileged classes obtained an education. Christianity revolutionized
education by making it available to all classes and both genders.
Every branch and level of education was pioneered by
Christians missionaries. The concept of graded levels of education was first
introduced by a German Lutheran, Johan Sturm in the 16th Century. Another
Lutheran, Frederick Froebel introduced kindergartens. Education for the deaf
was also pioneered by Christians.
Before Jesus Christ, human life in the Greek and
Roman world was extremely cheap. Infants born with physical defects such as blindness,
were commonly abandoned to die in the wilderness. In Greece, blind babies were
cast into the sea. Those who survived their blind infancy, or became blind
later in childhood usually became galley slaves, and blind girls were commonly
assigned to a life of prostitution.
However, Jesus Christ showed particular compassion
for the blind, healing many blind individuals during His ministry on earth.
When the Roman persecution of the Church ended, in the 4th Century, Christians
established asylums for the blind. In the 19th Century, Louis Braille, a
dedicated Christian who lost his eyesight at age three, developed the worlds
first alphabet that enabled blind people to read with their fingers.
Sunday schools were begun by Robert Raikes in 1780
to provide boys and girls from the poorest homes with the gift of literacy and
the riches of the Scriptures. The first universities grew out of the monastic
missionary centers, which had discipled Europe. The first university lecturers
were the missionary monks who had collected books, accumulated libraries and
copied manuscripts. They were uniquely equipped for advanced academic study.
Most universities began as Christian schools, including Harvard, Yale,
Princeton, Oxford, Cambridge, Heidelberg and Basel.
The greatest invention in the field of learning, the
printing press, by Johannes Gutenberg, was also a fruit of the Christian
faith. The first book to be printed was the Bible.
The very name "university" testifies to
its Christian origins. University means "One Truth". Isn't it time
that teachers, lecturers and professors took an in depth look at the greatest
Teacher the world has ever known, the greatest Book ever produced and the Faith
which inspired and pioneered every major branch of education and science?.
Just consider some of the every-day things, which
have been inspired by the Bible. The word "breakfast" comes from the
concept of breaking the fast.
The word "restaurant" comes from
Jesus' promise in Matthew 11:28 "Come to Me, all you who labour and
are heavy laden and I will give you rest." The first restaurant
founded in Paris in 1766 placed that verse from Matthew 11:28 in bold letters
outside this first public establishment dedicated to providing meals in a
pleasant atmosphere.
The fact that our week consists of seven days is a
testimony to the fact of God creating the world in six days, resting on the
seventh.
The practice of Sunday being a Day of rest dates
back to the Christian tradition of honouring the first day of the week as the
Lord's Day, a testimony to the fact that Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the
first day of the week.
Every time a newspaper publishes the date, it is a
testimony to the centrality of Christ. When we call this the year 2013, we are
acknowledging that Jesus Christ is the central focus of history. This is the
year 2013 AD, 'in the year of our Lord'.
The very word "goodbye" comes from a
parting prayer: God be with ye.
The word "holiday" comes from holy day.
The Bible, particularly the Ten Commandments, laid
the framework and legal foundations of Western civilization. The very first
statute, the first written restriction on the powers of government was the
Magna Carta of 1215. It was written by a pastor and thoroughly saturated with
Scriptural principles.
The Bible has inspired the greatest literature, the
greatest art, the greatest examples of architecture, the age of exploration,
world missions, the rule of law, the separation of powers, checks and balances,
representative government, the sanctity of life, and so much more that we take
for granted.
Christianity introduced a respect for life and
liberty that was completely unknown before the coming of Jesus Christ.In the
ancient world, the teachings of Jesus Christ halted infanticide, liberated
women, abolished slavery, inspired the first charities and religious organizations,
created hospitals, established orphanages and founded schools.In the medieval
times, Christianity built libraries, invented colleges and universities,
dignified labour and transformed the barbarians.In the modern era, Christian
teaching has advanced science, inspired political, social and economic freedom,
promoted justice and provided the greatest inspiration for the most magnificent
achievements in art, architecture, music and literature. Lord Jesus Christ has
been the most powerful person in transforming society for the better across
2000 years. No other teacher, philosophy, teaching, nation or movement has
changed the world for the better as Christ has done. Beyond a shadow of a doubt
we can conclude that Jesus Christ is the greatest teacher who has ever lived.
