In a rehabilitation center, there are three kinds of teachers, each representing a different approach to addressing addiction.
The first Teacher
This teacher is a former drug user, now transformed and renewed. He speaks from personal experience, sharing how addiction gripped him and how he overcame it. He understands the allure of getting high and the ease of falling into the trap of addiction. More importantly, he knows the pain of trying to quit—the countless times you promise yourself it’s the last day, only to relapse and spiral further.
This teacher doesn’t judge because he has walked in your shoes. Instead, he empathizes, seeing his own struggles reflected in you. His message is simple: You can overcome, just as I did. He reminds you that the enemy—your addiction—does not have the power you think it does. Though he too once thought, “It’s too hard; I can’t do it,” he stands before you now as living proof that victory is possible.
The Second Teacher
This teacher, however, is still entangled in his addiction. He uses drugs regularly, even as he tells you to stop. Picture a man puffing on a cigarette while lecturing about the dangers of smoking—his message is hollow and contradictory.
The phrase “preaching water but drinking wine” captures his hypocrisy. For students, his actions undermine his words. You might think, If the teacher is doing it, why shouldn’t I? This is the voice of the enemy in moments of weakness, whispering, “Cheki, ni leo tu—just once. After all, even the teacher does it. Kwani iko nini?”
The Third Teacher
The third teacher has never used drugs. He has neither touched nor seen them, but he has read about addiction and speaks from second-hand knowledge. He addresses the issue from an intellectual perspective, not from lived experience.
This teacher says things like, “If you want to stop, just stop. It’s that simple.” But, of course, it isn’t. He cannot understand the crushing burden you feel—the tightness in your chest, the choking grip of temptation that claws at you every single day. He speaks of addiction but lacks the insight to grasp the depth of its struggle.
The Ultimate Teacher
Now, most people would likely choose the first teacher as the most effective, and they’d be right. He understands the pain and has conquered it. Yet, there is a greater teacher—Jesus Christ.
Jesus embodies the strengths of all three teachers:
- The First Teacher: He endured every form of trial and temptation, yet He remained steadfast in God’s will.
- The Second Teacher: He lived a life of purity, practicing what He preached.
- The Third Teacher: Though He was without sin, He understands the struggles of humanity and speaks with divine wisdom.
Hebrews 4:15 reminds us:
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.”
Jesus is not just a teacher; He is the Word itself. Unlike earthly teachers who filter messages through their imperfections, He is the source of truth. He does not simply speak about the Word—He is the Word. He does not preach water while drinking wine; He is the Living Water.
The Call to Follow the Ultimate Teacher
As we reflect on these teachers, we must strive to emulate Jesus—the Ultimate Teacher. Let us not merely preach what we think but practice what we teach. Let us be living examples of the Word, just as He was.
Look inward and see the shortcomings of earthly teachers, but remember the perfection of Christ. He is the model of what we should aspire to be: consistent, compassionate, and unwavering in truth.
What teacher would you follow??
