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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Teacher (10/26/06)
The Greatest Teacher Known to Man

The greatest teacher known to man no longer walks this earth
But in His day had much to say about our spiritual birth.

His name was not Confucius or Socrates or Buddha
Mohammed, Zoroaster or even Hari Krishna.

Though similar their teachings, all claimed their words were truth
But teachers needed students and students needed proof.

Yet proof is hard to come by when trust is put in man
A house not built on solid ground will sink into the sand

The greatest teacher known to man had much to say on this
It isn’t that surprising that others took His gist.

To remove a speck from someone’s eye, first take the beam from yours
In other words don’t judge unless you’re absolutely sure.

Confucius had disciples called People of the Ren
The greatest teacher known to man would rid the world of sin.

Buddha said that other’s faults are easier to see
The greatest teacher known to man would die at Calvary.

The lives that others taught of, ended in the grave
The greatest teacher known to man was after three days, raised.

Socrates reported, its wisdom that we lack
Acknowledging the shortage is a way to get it back.

The greatest teacher known to man will never be outdone
His creation has the choice to determine right from wrong.

The greatest teacher known to man, a title well-deserved
He was the greatest teacher . . . yet He was a student first.
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This article has been read 1260 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Stephen Paynter
11/04/06
I am completely not competent to comment on the quality of any poetry - but I will say I found this fun and interesting. I found the parallels and contrasts fascinating. I particularly found the end unexpected, and hence thought provoking. A student first? Hmmm. Yes, Jesus was a student in all kinds of ways ... of the Scriptures ... of obedience, through suffering ... What an interesting point to place such great emphasis on! I want to ask a thousand questions about what you meant, what you had in mind, why the emphasis on this point ... etc. I'm not suggesting the poem should have answered them. It has certainly provoked thought, and I guess that is more than most of our entries can boast!! Well done.

God bless,
Steve
Marilyn Schnepp 
11/05/06
creative, with some very good thoughts throughout.
Helen Paynter
11/05/06
I'm with Stephen - I loved the last line of this and the thoughts that has stirred in me, and I'd have liked to see that thought developed more throughout. Several interesting thoughts in this poem.
Jan Ackerson
11/06/06
I love this--the couplets contrasting Jesus and the other "teachers" were particularly thought-provoking and full of truth.
Betty Castleberry
11/06/06
This has excellent meter and good rhyme. The last line, as others have pointed out, is indeed, intriguing.
Good work!
Joanne Sher 
11/06/06
Definitely intriguing! I think I need to read it again - there seems to be so much to "study" here - and the last line is so VERY wise!!
Sharlyn Guthrie
11/07/06
Thanks for the inspiring poem. It was well worth the read!
Sara Harricharan
11/08/06
Ohhh! This was wonderful! I toally LOVED this! The flow of the words, the way everything just came together, it brought your message across loud and clear. Excellent, excellent job! :)
Catrina Bradley
11/08/06
Another case of goosebumps here - a sign to me that the Spirit is moving through your writing. Excellent.
Monique Fox
11/13/06
Please post more of your poems at Poetry and Poets of God: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/poetryandpoetsofgod/