My dermatology resident was excited to show me an observation he discovered on a series of recent cases of a common diagnosis. Placing the set of microscope slides next to my microscope, he eagerly asked me, “What do you think?”

I examined the microscope slides that he collected, acknowledging the findings he described. I smiled and nodded, “I think you are absolutely correct. This is a great discovery! All these years of seeing this type of case and I have never noted what you have observed! We need to write a paper!” My resident beamed but not more than me. It is always a proud moment when the student becomes the teacher. 

The incident reminded me of many great teacher-student relationships described in the Bible. It is a long list that includes such saints as Moses and Joshua and Elijah and Elisha. There is one additional relationship that changed after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Gamaliel was a Pharisee, an esteemed expert in religious law and respected by his peers. The Jewish community was alarmed by the claims of the followers of Jesus Christ. As Gamaliel listened to the heated debate, he cautioned the members of the Jewish high council that they should be careful how they deal with the followers of Jesus Christ. 

So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!

Acts 5:38-39 (NLT)

Years later, one of his most famous students, Saul of Tarsus, converted to Christianity after meeting Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. Saul, who became the Apostle Paul, was also a devout Jew, an acknowledged Pharisee of Pharisees. After all, he trained under the great rabbi, Gamaliel. 

Then Paul said, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today. 

Acts 22:3 (NLT)

Gamaliel knew what happened to Saul and his conversion to Christianity, to become the Apostle Paul, one of the greatest missionaries of the early Church. One wonders if Gamaliel remembered his own words which he spoke to the high council many years earlier. Did he realize this was not a heretical movement to overthrow the Jews? Did he ever come to the full realization that everything that happened was truly from God? Did he ever acknowledge that Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah the Jews had been waiting for thousands of years. 

Did Gamaliel ever become the student and learn from the Apostle Paul in the same manner that Paul learned from him? Only God knows the answer. Gamaliel wondered if Jesus Christ was from God. We do not have to wonder. We know Jesus Christ is from God and He is Lord and Savior over all Creation.

Amen!

Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.

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