This is the second of 3 blogs which will concentrate on 10 teaching techniques of Jesus. His teaching utilized techniques ranging from objects lessons to question/answer. These techniques allowed him to connect to his followers and address the skeptics. Let’s examine 3 more techniques below…..
Ask Questions Technique
Mark 2:8-9 8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’?In a crowded home people were gathered to hear Jesus preach the word to them. The audience was a mixture of common people, scribes and a paralytic who was lowered into the home by removing part of the roof.
Jesus turned his attention to the paralytic and the four men who lowered the paralytic from the roof. Jesus saw the faith of the four men and possibly of the paralytic and said to the paralytic, “Son your sins are forgiven.” The attending scribes questioned in their hearts how Jesus could speak like that to the paralytic. They understood this statement by Jesus to violate the law by his blasphemous assertion of the forgiven sin of the paralytic. His pedagogical method shifted to asking questions.
By asking questions not only does he engage his audience, but it cleverly serves to focus upon the big idea. His “Why,” question serves to discover the intention behind questions of the scribes. The following question of which is easier digs deeper into intention and the revelation of his deity. The scribes had every right to scrutinize the teaching of Jesus. Their pessimistic, closed minds obstructed their ability to clearly see the savior in the flesh. By asking questions, Jesus gave them something to contemplate. Obviously, it is easier to say someone’s sin is forgiven because in the natural you can’t prove it.
But Jesus then proves his authority to forgive sins by saying to the man, “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home. Jesus rhetorical questions stirred the audience to recognize the big idea, that Jesus had the authority to demonstrate the power of God.
Restate the Big Idea Technique
Mark 2:17 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”By rephrasing the big idea, you are creatively varying your big idea. This allows for a preacher to connect ideas to a diverse crowd.
As Jesus went out again, teaching by the sea he passed by Matthew and said to him, “Follow me” and Matthew rose and followed him. Later at dinner, Jesus along with his disciples, reclined at table with tax collectors and sinners. This table fellowship signaled that Jesus was unafraid to associate with the unclean and unrighteous. When the Pharisees saw Jesus eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples why he ate with such people.
Jesus cleverly restates the big idea of the gospel message by saying, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Jesus is proclaiming the message of the gospel in a different way. His creative rephrasing enhances the learning moment.
By using a different angle, with wellness and religious language he enhances the clarity of his message. When Jesus rephrased the big idea, he took the audience from the known to the unknown.
Argumentation/Contrast Technique
Mark 2:18-20 18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 19 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?
As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.Jesus presents his facts in relationship to the custom of a Jewish wedding. He is strategically presenting his facts to prove his redemptive point. The Pharisees present their argument by questioning why the disciples of Jesus weren’t fasting, but the disciples of John the Baptist were fasting. Jesus uses an ordinary illustration such as wedding guests fasting while the bridegroom is with them.
Jesus convincingly states if the guests have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast however when the bridegroom is taken away, they will fast. Jesus as the bridegroom employs his argumentative technique by weaving the similarities and contrast of fasting with his redemptive purpose.
By developing the contrasting contours of his argument, he is carefully binding the joy of the life through Christ at the wedding feast. This illustration painted the picture of the Israel’s relationship with Yahweh. Jesus is alluding to his death and resurrection, by setting the discussion in the framework of a wedding he was indicating that fasting will be appropriate at a future time.
Comments