Responsibilities of Parents and Teachers
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absorbing realities of the eternal future, the things of this perishing
world were eclipsed. How eagerly did those who had been praying for
light receive the truth. But the proud and self-righteous refused His
message.
How to Teach
How important are the lessons that may be given to the children
and youth in unfolding the Scriptures in the simplicity of Christ! Let
the teacher leave all his hard, high-sounding words at home, and take
only the simplest words, that will be readily comprehended by the
minds of the young. But in order to be a successful teacher, not only
should the methods of teaching be simple, but you must take sympathy
and love with you into the Sabbath-school. The children will recognize
this element and be influenced by it. Men and women are only grown-
up children. Do we not respond to words and looks of real sympathy
and love? Jesus, the divine Teacher, assured His disciples of His love
toward them. He assumed human nature for no other purpose than
to display to men the mercy, the love, and the goodness of God in
providing for the salvation and happiness of His creatures. It was for
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this end that He died. While uttering His tenderest words of sympathy,
He rejoiced in the consciousness that He intended to do “exceedingly
abundantly,” above what they were able to ask or think. Daily He
exhibited before them, in works of blessing to man, how great was
His tenderness and love to the fallen race. His heart was a fountain
of inexhaustible compassion, from which the longing heart could be
supplied with the water of life.
When Jesus spoke to the people, they were astonished at His
doctrine; for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the
scribes. The scribes had labored to establish their theories, and they had
to labor to sustain them, and to keep their influence over the minds of
the people, by endless repetition of fables and childish traditions. The
loftiest models of public instruction consisted largely in going through
heartless rounds of unmeaning ceremonies, and in the repetition of
frivolous opinions. The teaching of Jesus inculcated the weightiest
ideas and the most sublime truths in the most comprehensible and
simple manner, and “the common people heard Him gladly.” This is
the kind of instruction that should be given in our Sabbath-schools.