THE GOOD TEACHER
Mr. E. L. Ephraim
October 5th is the World Teachers ' Day. Socrates, Aristotle, Plato, Einstein, Newton, Radhakrishnan, Ramanujam are some of the unforgettable popular teachers. Even our former president late Dr. Abdul Kalam has remarked that the reason for his success was his teachers. The teacher who is lauded by the people of the whole world as the ' Good Teacher ' is our Lord Jesus Christ! Here are some of His exceptional teaching methods.
Illustrations
To state a principle and then to give illustration is one method( Ruleg). Instead, to give the illustration first and explain the principle is another method( Egrule). Learned people say that the second method is the better one.
Note the words of our Lord:
“ Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin. And yet 1 say that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these( Mat 6:26-29). Jesus beautifully brought out an eternal truth from this illustration. As God ' s children we need not worry about everyday needs. God takes care of His children. How sweet and excellent are His approaches!
Nature An old proverb says that nature is the best
teacher. The way our Lord presented many truths through the eyes of Nature astonishes us. They are thought- provoking and inspiring. Note for example how He differentiated different people in the parable of the sower( Mat 13:3-8). When questioned about fasting, Jesus compared His disciples as the friends of the bridegroom( Lk 5:35). The way he explained the principles of the Kingdom of God comparing it to the elements of nature made an everlasting impact on the minds of His disciples.
Authority
Though people who complete their postgraduation are called ' Masters.' yet they will not be capable enough to answer all questions pertaining to their subject. They need to rely on references and other researches. But Jesus taught with all authority. He needed no reference-points. He needed no quotations. He is the author of life. Hence His teachings were surprising.“ They were astonished at His teaching for His word was with authority”( Lk 4:32).
Revolution
In the world that glorified traditions, the Lord boldly stressed the need for change and transformation! Note how often He repeated the phrase,“ But I say to you...” in the Sermon on the Mount( Mat 5:22,28,32,34,39,44). This is what a revolutionary does. He redefined people ' s perception about anger, adultery, divorce, swearing, revenge and so on. He wonderfully brought out the interpretation of the Old Testament law without nullifying it. This earned Him the hatred of the religious figures of His day. But He was unflinching.
Completeness
Everyone insists on a balanced diet. Even for our souls, we need wholesome truths. And Jesus taught on a wide range of subjects. He not only taught on how to relate to our fellow-beings but also to the Governmental authorities( Mat 17:27). The Sermon on the Mount, that our Father of the Nation, Gandhiji read and loved, touched all the aspects of human life- individual, family and social( Mat 5,6,7, chapters). What a surprise that these golden sayings are engraved on the stone monuments of the Gandhi Memorial Building at Guindy, Chennai!
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