Written by Jibrael Jos
As a teacher myself I used to look at the teaching style of Jesus to draw
inspiration. Most of the content below is based on my reading of books and
resources and I don’t claim any scholarship in the matter. Content was prepared
while teaching Catechism in Our Lady of Sacred Heart, Harlur Road.
This year I was teaching students
of class 7. The course plan was planned around Gospel according to Mark. Jesus
is portrayed as man of Action and Authority by St Mark but it made me wonder
how effective was Jesus as a Teacher. Once the 16 chapters were over, I did a
session on Jesus’s style of teaching. This article is based on the same.
Jesus used an indirect form of
communication. He asked lot of questions. He used metaphors, analogies,
aphorisms and similes. At times he used shocking examples so that audience gets
the message and does not forget. Jesus was a story teller and knew how to get the
attention of his audience. He used parables which were stories with a deeper
meaning which the audience had to think about and digest it with time. He made
people “think” for a change.
Examples Set 1
·
Parables (around 40 of them): Prodigal Son,
Good Samaritan
·
Metaphors: Kingdom of God value is like a man who
found a pearl
·
Similies:
"The
Lord is my shepherd"
“The day of
the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”
"I am
the bread of life."
“I am the
way and the truth and the light.”
“The
kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.”
"You
are the salt of the earth."
·
Questions
"Whose
likeness and inscription is this?" They said, "Caesar's." Then
he said to them, "Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's,
and to God the things that are God's."
·
Shocking Extreme Example:
And if
someone takes you to court to sue you for your shirt, let him have your coat as
well.
So if your
right eye causes you to sin, take it out and throw it away!
·
Figurative Labels: Peter Rock; Pharisees Brood of
Vipers
·
Aphorisms
"Man shall not live on
bread alone."
"No prophet is
acceptable in his own country."
"Where your treasure
is, there also will your heart be."
"If the blind leads the
blind, both will fall into a pit."
"What shall it profit a
man if he gains the whole world, but loses his life."
"Salt is good, but if
the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you season it?"
·
Riddles:
“For those
who have more will be given
And those
who have nothing,
Even what
they have will be taken away”
Mark 4:25
Teaching style included use of pauses which made people think.
At times he talks in riddles but he does explain in detail too. A passionate teacher
who taught with intensity. Whenever he got a chance he would teach. While walking,
in a boat, during a meal, to large crowds, one to one. Jesus connected with
audience with things they would see in daily life like fishing, farming, family
etc. He compared God with a Father, Vineyard Owner, Shepherd etc
Example Set 2
·
Explaining in Detail: Explaining Parable of Sower
·
Teaching in Boat: Luke 5:3
·
Teaching while Walking: with two disciples on the way
to Emmaus
·
Discussing One to One: with Nicodemus (John 3:1–21)
Jesus crafted memorable lines because he realized not many
were taking notes in his class. So he must have prepared these verses so that
they remain embedded in their minds. He used repetitions to make the point sink
in.
Example Set 3
·
Memorable
Lines:
“Ask, and
you will receive;
seek, and
you will find;
knock, and
the door will be opened to you”
Mathew 7:7
“Judge not,
and you will not be judged;
condemn
not, and you will not be condemned;
forgive,
and you will be forgiven;
give, and
it will be given to you.”
Luke
6:37-38.
·
Repetition : about his death and resurrection over and over
again (Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33–34),
Jesus led by example and definitely was a man who practice
what he preached. He followed his preaching along with significant action. He
never used PowerPoint presentation but he did use visual illustrations. He
questioned people in authority on one side but still suggested that people pay
taxes. He cleared all the business happening in the synagogue even at the cost
of antagonizing the priest and religious. Jesus cared about the people around
him and he dealt people with compassion and was not quick to judge but keen
that people repent.
Example Set 4
·
Significant Action: Washing feet of disciples, Picking
children up, riding a donkey
·
Visual Illustration: Widow dropping two coins, Washing
feet of disciples
·
Compassion: Healing the sick
·
Not quick to judge: John 7:53
How was
Jesus as a person, did he listen to his parents, did he lose his temper, did he
get frustrated, did he cry, did he pray, did he listen, did he speak, create
poetry and short stories, did he sing hymns …. well yes. But there is a lot we don’t
know for instance did he dance, I wonder. Once I asked in class why did Jesus
have to pray if he was God! I got a flurry of answers and one child in class
answered that he is talking to his Father in heaven (what a simple yet wonderful
answer).
Example Set 5
·
Righteous Anger: In the temple, Mark 11:15-19
·
Crying: Garden of Gethsemene, When Lazarus died
·
Listening to parents: Wedding at Cana
·
Praying: 19 occurrences in Gospel [5]: Garden of Gethsemene,
On the cross, Before Raising Lazarus
·
Listening: Mark 5:34
·
Singing: After Last Supper, Mark 14:26
Authors Note: This is an article in progress and I am
learning as years move on last edit in Jan 2020 my third year of teaching
catechism.
References/Further
Reading
1.
Bible: Gospels
2.
Jesus A very short introduction by Richard Backhaum
3.
New Testament
4.
New Jerome Bible Commentary, Raymond Brown, Jospeh
Fitzmyer, Roland Murphy
5.
Haley’s Bible Handbook
6.
Jesus of Nazareth, Joseph Ratzinger
