Jump Start # 3758
Mark 12:37 “David himself calls Him ‘Lord;’ and so in what sense is He his son?’ And the crowds enjoyed listening to Him.”
I’ve been reading some academic papers regarding church history. I do this often. I have a whole collection of collegiate dissertations on various layers of the American Restoration Movement. Wading into the world of academia research papers introduces a person to a level of vocabulary that isn’t common and used everyday.
Here are a few examples of what I came across in my reading recently: Eponymous; Critical realism; Redactionary influence; Democratizing populist ideas; Societal metanarratives; Psychological pitfalls of postmodern impulses; Escapist theology. I have read enough scholarly papers and books to know what these terms refer to, but I find myself having to stop and think about what was just said and often I have to re-read a sentence or two to make sense of what the author is trying to say.
I sometimes wonder if things are written this way to impress. In the world of scholarship, this type of technical writing is expected and even demanded. Some would say that it all sounds rather “stuffy.”
And, this brings us to our verse today. The crowds, Mark tells us, enjoyed listening to Jesus. I don’t think it was the sound of His voice, as much as what He was actually saying. And, when one takes a stroll through that marvelous sermon on the mount, so many topics are touched upon, and with each one, there is a simple and common understanding. If anyone wanted to speak the language of intellectualism, Jesus could have. But, He didn’t. And, what a wonderful reminder to us.
Here are some thoughts:
First, it does little good to speak things in such a way that only a few can understand you. It’s the message, not the messenger that is important. Jesus not only spoke plainly and clearly, He literally spoke the language of the people. The New Testament was written in Koine Greek. That was not the same as classical Greek. It was the language of the people. This is what the common person would have understood. Jesus spoke Aramaic, the language of the Jews in Galilee.
It is important and good to explain what words mean. But, we must remember who our audience is. The challenge for teachers and preachers is to take the difficult and make it simply. To take the complex and make it useful and something people will remember.
Sometimes, those in the medical field forget that their patients do not use, nor understand the language that doctors use everyday. The names of procedures, the type of medication, the explanation of diseases, for most people is foreign. If not careful, the doctor visits with a patient, rattles off some words and leaves. The patient doesn’t have any idea what the doctor just said. He leaves the office confused and not sure if he is getting better or getting worse. Being able to communicate and know your audience is important.
Second, using simple words is not a reflection of a simple mind. Would anyone dare say that about our Lord? Take a look at the illustrations or parables that Jesus used in His teaching. Most are short, to the point and easy to remember. A long, drawn out story will make the audience confused and forget what you are driving at. The stories or parables of Jesus were things that most in the audience understood, or actually had done in their lives. Sowing the seed. Mixing leaven in a bowl. Bringing in a net of all kinds of fish. The use of wineskins. Running out of oil. Looking for a lost sheep. Those are things that the audience could smile, shake their heads in agreement and understand. Then, in a masterful way, Jesus takes these common stories and shows how uncommon God is and how different the kingdom of Heaven is to the kingdoms of earth.
Third, this is not a call to dumb down our vocabulary or knowledge. I love reading dissertations about the Restoration Movement. But, if I’m teaching a class or making a reference, I know most listening to me have not studied and read what I have. Having knowledge but making it clear is important.
They loved to hear Jesus. I don’t think they went home, scratching their heads, wondering what He said. They knew. The hard part wasn’t in figuring out what He said, but rather, in doing what He said.
Speak in such a way that people will understand you. To do this, you often have to define terms. What I mean by a certain word, may not be what another person means. The more clear you can be the better. Two people can get into an argument because they are not understanding the terminology of each other.
Speak in such a way that people will understand you. Jesus did.
Roger