Lesson 43. The Heavenly Teacher

Jesus is the Name that attracts millions of minds desiring to comprehend the mystery of redemption, the mystery of the soul’s salvation, and the mystery of God’s love and grace.

How many people He brings to astonishment and silence when He gives them the opportunity to know Him and discover a new world of the Divine presence within a human being.

Our Lord Jesus is very tender and gentle. He communicates with every human soul so carefully and treats every person with such delicacy, regarding each soul as immeasurably precious and unique, that it never ceases to amaze me. At times I try with my human mind to understand God and imagine His essence, but I realize only that I am humanizing Him through my limited concepts, attempting to contain the immeasurable within myself. God is great! Great and marvelous are His works.

The character of the Creator, His true attitude toward people, and His infinite love are vividly reflected in the life of Jesus.

There was a time when I did not know Jesus. I did not even understand what this Name or the title “Christ” meant. I thought it was part of the slang used by beggars to obtain money for food.

Soviet culture attempted to degrade the Name of God so greatly that people began writing it with a lowercase letter and using it as an interjection between words. What a disgrace! And this was the culture in which I grew up. I was great in my own eyes, while God had a lowercase letter in my life.

But the time came when I also learned more about Christ—about His power, His love, and His wisdom. The book The Great Controversy greatly helped me in this knowledge. The love of Jesus began to attract me. I learned more and more about Him. New discoveries about the beauty of Christ’s character amazed me. If any person were asked what kind of friend they would like to have, and if all the answers describing the qualities of a true friend were gathered together, they would all point to the character of Jesus. Everyone dreams of Jesus but wants to have Him in the form of a person who can be seen, heard, and touched. Yet all earthly friends are imperfect, and even true friends are very few. Friends remain somewhere in our dreams.

But our Heavenly Friend is the same yesterday, today, and forever. When I ask Him to become my Friend, He immediately agrees and takes this place in my heart. It is remarkable that Jesus always remains that faithful and true Friend of Whom I could not even have dreamed. His devotion to friendship amazes and delights me. He studies my characteristics and habits, never condemns me, but adapts to the way of life and thoughts I choose for myself. If I change my daily routine, Jesus accepts this and participates in my life as I desire. If I decide to take up a sport, He teaches me the secrets and mysteries of that art. If I begin studying a branch of knowledge, He gives me wisdom there as well to comprehend its depths, mysteries, characteristics, and laws. If I want to build a house, the wisdom of Christ accompanies me in this too, prompting me what is best to do and in what order. I am amazed at how perfectly Jesus understands every sphere of human activity. Everywhere He is the unsurpassed Master and Teacher.

The most fascinating discoveries, however, occur when I begin studying the science of the soul’s Salvation. All my investigations in this matter lead me to the Bible, to its history, and to the eternal truths set forth upon its pages. I begin to comprehend this Book, and a new, unexplored world opens before me. The Lord Himself enlightens my mind, drawing in my imagination the images and symbols about which I read in the Bible. It seems that I am studying theory alone, but this theory becomes my practical activity, changing my consciousness, habits, and lifestyle. I become different. In all these changes, I see the invisible Hand of my Heavenly Friend.

I begin to understand very clearly that He loves me—always, continually, unchangingly, and faithfully. Jesus does not reveal my secrets, gossip about me, laugh at my weaknesses and shortcomings, scold me for my mistakes, or find fault with me. He respects my freedom and my choice and always takes into account what I choose for myself. Even if I set foot upon the wrong path and stubbornly continue along it, Jesus corrects me very gently. But sometimes He must raise His voice in order to save me from destruction and approaching danger.

The nearer I come to Jesus, the more clearly I hear the voice of His Spirit, Who teaches me everything good and useful.

Very often my Lord Jesus arranges a “cold shower” for my soul. When He sees my sin or error, He does not reconcile Himself to such a condition but sends me a trial or a message that sobers me and helps me come to my senses.

Jesus cares deeply about my spiritual purity. He never grows weary of cleansing my heart and always does so with great enthusiasm, using different methods and means.

He is my Friend—the very best Friend, the greatest and closest Friend. He is better than anyone in the world.

I share all my secrets with Jesus, and He reveals them to no one else. I ask Him for counsel, and He gives me a wise solution to every question. Sometimes I express dissatisfaction with His silence and apparent lack of involvement, but He shows me how much He has done for me. Then I feel ashamed because I simply failed to see His care.

Jesus also knows how to reveal my sins to me and expose the vices and unattractive sides of my life. Afterward He awaits my decision. I fall into despair and repent. I go to the Father, ask forgiveness in the Name of Jesus, and receive an answer.

I cast all my cares upon Him, for He cares for us. I receive deliverance. I ask for love, and Jesus begins teaching me.

He does everything so that I may become very much like Him in love; therefore, He personally teaches me this science. And I learn. As I comprehend it, I begin noticing within myself the manifestation of many qualities of Christ’s character. It is so fascinating and joyful! I long so greatly to share it.

The love of Christ is amazing and beautiful. But while it belongs only to Him, it remains merely a mystery and theory to me. When love becomes mine, the most amazing lifelong adventure begins. I change; the laws of Eternity begin operating within me; I become entirely different. God’s peace takes possession of my heart, and I find it very pleasant to live this way. Although storms and trials become ever stronger and fiercer, I am in an ark whose Captain is my Friend.

In knowing love, I become so united with Jesus that I rejoice in having become part of the Vine, even though I am only a small branch grafted into it by faith. Our love for one another has joined us so closely that without Him I simply do not desire to live—and indeed cannot.

He continues teaching me, revealing profound mysteries of love that I can apply in my life and thereby bring joy to His heart. Complete harmony reigns between us. I love, I am learning to love, and I am so happy. I understand that such a relationship with Jesus is available to every one of you, but for me it remains our personal relationship, and no one can take away this closeness. Perhaps someone does not understand this, but so it is. Jesus is my Friend, my Heavenly Teacher, and my Lord God.

1. Please read Isaiah 52:13–15 and 53:1–12.

2. Please tell something very good about Jesus. Who is He to you?

3. Did you hear anything new in this lesson? Did you receive any revelations or make any discoveries?

4. What did you understand from this subject?

5. Do you believe that Jesus desires to become your very best Friend?

6. What can you do to begin a friendship with Christ?

7. Do you understand who you are to Christ?