Page 138 - A Dissertation for Doctor of Philosophy
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The simplicity of his language also appears in his use illustrative material. He illustrated
his messages with everyday life examples and nature. 147 His materials for the message reflected
his life with people. 148 Jesus met people where they were. He walked through the market places,
fields, and the Temple precincts, anywhere people gathered, worked, and prayed. He related his
message to the experiences and events of people. 149
Charles McKoy points out that in Jesus’ preaching, there are “no classical allusions to events in
the history of Rome or Greece; few lessons drawn from any of the events of extra-Biblical
history; and no quotations from the poets and philosophers of pagan civilization.” 150
It is difficult to locate the ivory-tower-ness in his employment of words and phrases. His
language was not remote from his people, it was simple and clear; and yet it was no superficial
message. Thus, it cannot be rebutted when one says, “for two thousand years the plain, simple
words of Jesus of Nazareth have been models for the world-for the truth-seeking and the truth-
telling.” 151
147
For his references to the seasons, see Matt. 24:20, Mark 13:28; the animals and birds
(Matt. 10:16, Luke 9:58); different kinds of soil (Mark 4:4-8). For the references to the human
life and nature, see Matt. 24:45-51, Luke 11:5-8, 12:13-21, 15:11-32, Mark 12:38-40.
148
Jay Comier, “Heaven Is Life…”: A Gospel Model for Writing, Preparing, and
Delivering the Sunday Homily (Franklin, WI: Sheed & Ward, 2000), 126.
149
When Jesus preached the importance of righteous living, he said to his disciples, “You
are light of the world…No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the
lampstand” (Matt. 5:14-15). For more examples, see Matt. 5:13,13:31. For Jesus’ using current
happenings, see Luke 19:12. This parable reflects the journey of Herod’s son Archelaus to
Rome.
150
Charles Francis McKoy, The Art of Jesus as a Teacher (Philadelphia, PN: Judson Press,
1930), 66.
151 John Walter Wayland, Christ as a Teacher (Boston, MA: The Stratford Co.,
1919), ???? “Check????? ILL
