We can learn by being told something, or we can learn by being shown something. Often, the latter is far more powerful. The human mind has difficulty grasping something entirely new or unfamiliar when it cannot form a picture of it. Words communicate information, but illustrations give information a shape that the mind can recognize and remember.
Consider an ordinary conversation. Someone tells you that they have purchased a new outfit. Almost immediately, you want to know what kind, what color, and perhaps what style. Why? Because you are trying to form a mental picture. You want to see what the words are describing. A picture gives meaning to information and makes an impression that words alone sometimes cannot accomplish.
One reason the teaching of Jesus was so powerful was His remarkable use of parables and word pictures. He understood the power of taking a great spiritual truth and placing it within the familiar experiences of everyday life.
When Jesus wanted to teach about the kingdom of heaven, He spoke of a mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32). When He described the importance of hearing and receiving God’s word, He told the story of a sower scattering seed (Matthew 13:3-9). When He wanted to illustrate God’s concern for the lost, He spoke of a shepherd searching for one missing sheep (Luke 15:3-7).
These were not merely interesting stories. They were windows through which people could see spiritual realities.
PICTURES MAKE TRUTH UNDERSTANDABLE.
Jesus took invisible spiritual principles and connected them to visible, everyday experiences. His listeners understood farming, fishing, sheep, bread, and vineyards. Through these familiar things, He taught unfamiliar truths.
PICTURES MAKE TRUTH MEMORABLE.
Long after a conversation has been forgotten, a powerful illustration can remain in the mind. A prodigal son returning home, a good Samaritan showing mercy, or a shepherd leaving ninety-nine sheep to find one can stay with us for a lifetime.
PICTURES MAKE TRUTH PERSONAL.
A good illustration does more than inform the mind; it examines the heart. We begin to recognize ourselves in the story and see how God’s truth applies to our own lives.
The greatest teachers do more than explain truth. They help people see it. Let us learn from the Master Teacher, whose words could turn a field into a classroom, a seed into a sermon, and an ordinary shepherd into a picture of the love of God.
BDD
