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Great Teacher
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His home duties; and the early morning hours, instead of being spent
in bed, often found Him in a retired place, searching the Scriptures
and praying to His heavenly Father.
All the prophecies concerning His work and mediation were
familiar to Him, especially those having reference to His humiliation,
atonement, and intercession. The object of His life on earth was ever
before Him, and He rejoiced to think that the gracious purpose of
the Lord should prosper in His hands.
Of Christ’s teaching it is said, “The common people heard Him
gladly.”
Mark 12:37
. “Never man spake like this Man” (
John 7:46
),
declared the officers who were sent to take Him. His words com-
forted, strengthened, and blessed those who were longing for the
peace that He alone could give. There was in His words that which
lifted His hearers to a high plane of thought and action. If these
words, instead of the words of men, were given to the learner today,
we should see evidences of higher intelligence, a clearer comprehen-
sion of heavenly things, a deeper knowledge of God, a purer, more
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vigorous Christian life.
Christ’s illustrations were taken from the things of daily life, and
although they were simple, they had in them a wonderful depth of
meaning. The birds of the air, the lilies of the field, the growing
seed, the shepherd and the sheep—with these things Christ illustrated
immortal truth; and ever afterward, when His hearers chanced to
see these objects, they recalled His words. Thus the truth became a
living reality; the scenes of nature and the daily affairs of life were
ever repeating to them the Saviour’s teaching.
Christ always used simple language, yet His words tested the
knowledge of deep, unprejudiced thinkers. His manner of teaching
should be followed by teachers of today. Spiritual truths should
always be presented in simple language, that they may be compre-
hended and find lodgment in the heart. Thus Christ addressed the
crowds that pressed and thronged about Him; and all, learned and
unlearned, were able to comprehend His lessons.
In every school the instruction given should be as easy to under-
stand as was that given by Christ. The use of long words confuses
the mind and eclipses the beauty of the thought presented. There
is need of teachers who will come close to their students and who