52
Evangelism
not be educated in the schools of the rabbis, neither in Greek philos-
[56]
ophy. Jesus uttered truth in a plain, direct manner, giving vital force
and impressiveness to all His utterances. Had He raised His voice to
an unnatural key, as is customary with many preachers in this day,
the pathos and melody of the human voice would have been lost, and
much of the force of the truth destroyed....
In His discourses Christ did not bring many things before them at
once, lest He might confuse their minds. He made every point clear
and distinct. He did not disdain the repetition of old and familiar truths
in prophecies if they would serve His purpose to inculcate ideas.—
Manuscript 25, 1890
.
He Charmed the Greatest Minds—Although the great truths ut-
tered by our Lord were given in simple language, they were clothed
with such beauty that they interested and charmed the greatest intel-
lects....
To give a true representation of the tender, loving, pitying care
exercised by His Father, Jesus gave the parable of the prodigal son.
Though His children err and stray from Him, if they repent and return,
He will receive them with the joy manifested by an earthly father in
receiving a long-lost son who in penitence returns.—
Manuscript 132,
1902
.
The Children Understood—Christ’s way of presenting truth can-
not be improved upon.... The words of life were presented in such
simplicity that a child could understand them. Men, women, and chil-
dren were so impressed with His manner of explaining the Scriptures
that they would catch the very intonation of His voice, place the same
emphasis on their words, and imitate His gestures. Youth caught His
spirit of ministry, and sought to pattern after His gracious ways by
seeking to assist those whom they saw needing help.—
Counsels on
Health, 498, 499
(1914).
[57]
He Reset Gems in the Framework of Truth—In His teachings
Christ did not sermonize as ministers do today. His work was to build
upon the framework of truth. He gathered up the precious gems of
truth which had been appropriated by the enemy and placed in the
framework of error, and reset them in the framework of truth, that all
who received the word might be enriched thereby.—
Manuscript 104,
1898
.