Education has become the touchstone of success in our modern world. Many employers require degrees or even advanced degrees for even entry level unskilled jobs. It doesn’t matter the skills or experience you have unless you have the letters from a university to validate your worth.

In John 7:14-15 we read: Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?”

Jesus hadn’t attended any of their schools, or sat at the feet of any of their Masters. He did not have any degrees or recognition of scholastic accomplishment, but still He spoke and impressed all who heard including those who had studied and earned their degrees. What He spoke rang true and passed the test of the Jewish leaders. They didn’t fault what He was saying at least at this session.

A few years later two of Jesus’ disciples would be brought before the Jewish council. In Acts 4:13 we find recorded: Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. Once again the uneducated and untrained impressed the learned and recognized.

Jesus taught God’s word and Peter and John taught God’s word. That is what is needed today. Men and women who will be with Jesus and teach God’s word with boldness, impressing those who can’t believe that the unlearned could teach so well. More importantly, bringing people to Christ by lifting His name up wherever we can.