This is a question posed by Roy Zuck in chapter 1 of Teaching as Jesus Taught (originally published by Baker Book House in 1995).

Here are some objections, together with some responses.

1. Jesus was divine; we are not

Jesus was the unique Son of God, possessor of the full range of divine attributes, perfect in holiness, majesty, righteousness, grace love and mercy.  He is Creator, Forgiver of Sins, Miracle-worker, and the Object of our worship.

How then can we model our teaching on his?  The answer is found when we set our Lord’s true humanness alongside his perfect divinity.  He who was in very nature God (Phil 2:6) was made in human likeness (Phil 2:7):

‘As a human being, Jesus grew (Luke 2:52), he became tired (John 4:6), he was hungry and thirsty (John 4:7-8), he was tempted (Matt. 4:1-10; Luke 4:1-12; Heb. 4:15), he grieved (John 11:35, 38), and he experi-enced anger (Mark 3:5), sorrow (Matt. 26:37-38), joy (John 15:11; 17:13), and death (John 19:30). And because of that humanity, he taught in ways we can emulate.’

2. Jesus had supernatural knowledge; we do not

Similarly, it might be argued that Jesus had supernatural knowledge.  Yes, his knowledge was complete, his wisdom perfect.  Insights that we acquire with difficulty, if at all, came to him intuitively.

‘Balancing the truth of our limited knowledge, however, are the facts that believers have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16) and that the Holy Spirit is our Teacher (John 14:26; 16:12-19; 1 Cor. 2:10-16). We do not have perfect knowledge of the Scriptures, complete wisdom, or full in-sight into the human heart, but we can grow in spiritual wisdom. The Book of Proverbs repeatedly challenges believers to be wise. It stands replete with numerous statements about how to become wise in God’s eyes and about the lasting benefits of growing in spiritual wisdom. As we obey Jesus, we, like Stephen, can be “full of the Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6:3). The apostle Paul wrote that he was “admonishing and teach-ing everyone with all wisdom” (Col. 1:28). Therefore it is no surprise that he urged believers to “teach and admonish one another with all wisdom” (3:16).’

3. Jesus’ teaching situation was entirely different

It might also be objected that Jesus’ teaching situations differed from ours.  He had no set curriculum, no formal classroom.  He did not stipulate required reading or set exams.  He had no access to the educational technology that most modern teachers take for granted.  He did much of his teaching in the open air, or around the meal table.

‘But do these facts mean we cannot learn from how he taught? Al-though our teaching environment, instructional situations, educational tools, and social milieu differ, much can be gained from the way he taught. How he gained interest, how he stimulated thinking, involved students, told stories, applied truths, answered questions, dealt with in-dividuals of varying personalities and differing attitudes toward him, motivated and corrected students—these are a few of the many areas where we can learn from his style.’

Conclusion

Yes, we can teach as Jesus taught.  Not in every way, but in a number of very important ways.