The Names Of Jesus - “Rabbi”

The Names Of Jesus - “Rabbi”

John 1:49

Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.”

The name “Rabbi” was spoken of Jesus 12 times in the New Testament. Rabbi is a Hebrew word that means teacher or master so the term never appears in the Old Testament or, interestingly, the Gospel of Luke.

Rabbi was a term of deep respect and it carried with it a significant amount of importance and authority. A rav was a teacher of the law but a rabbi was a teacher who had devoted followers. Rabbi means “My teacher”.

So, what’s the significance of this name for you and me? Jesus was a teacher but He was so much more than that. He was the greatest teacher that ever lived and He changed the way teaching was done.

Jesus didn’t just teach the law, He changed the way we look at the law. His Sermon On The Mount restructured the world. Jesus took the law and changed it from being a bunch of rules and regulations to being about your heart.

You see, for the people of God, the purpose of the law is not to produce behavior, it is to change our hearts. Adultery is not just about your actions, it’s about your heart. Murder is not just about violence, it’s about your heart.

Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you. Take care of your personal issues before you enter into worship. Blessed are the poor. Do not judge others. Where your treasure is, there is your heart, also.

These are the teachings of the greatest Rabbi the world has ever seen. That’s why He has about 3 billion followers 2000 years later.

John 3:2

[Nicodemus] came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”