Friday, March 27, 2009

What was the most revolutionary part of Jesus' teaching?

Jesus’ teaching was very revolutionary since he performed many miracles, such as healing the sick and raising the dead. Jesus’ teaching, however, is even more profound than his unbelievable miracles. His teaching was revolutionary compared to many other philosophers of his time because of his innovative method and content of messages.
Jesus dared to not follow the established customs to prove his teachings to others when necessary. Jesus openly criticized Pharisees even when they were holding the political trend because they were corrupt. Jesus fiercely broke up the business in the temple. He threw the temple into a mess in order to redress the evil in the holy atmosphere of the temple even if he wasn’t supposed to bring any conflicts in the holy temple. Jesus risked breaking that common belief to prove that the temple should be the house of God, which was a more important point. He also violated the Sabbath day and saved a patient with dropsy. He demonstrated how saving a life was more important than not working on the Sabbath day. Other than these, Jesus also invited a tax collector to join the dinner and cursed at a fig tree to teach the followers different lessons. These occasions all show how Jesus was not always a conformer but a regulator. He knew when to adjust some formality for greater truths.
In addition to how Jesus was not scared to go against the customs to convey his teachings, the way he delivered his speeches adds to his revolutionary characteristic. Jesus often used parables to explain many thoughts. Using parables was very innovative and outstanding in many different ways. First of all, parables were easy to understand. Many of his followers were peasants, and complex philosophy must have confused many of them. Rather, parables were easier to understand and apply to the real life. Parables were excellent method to teach also because they were hard to understand at the same time. Sometimes, there were hidden meanings, symbols, and lessons in the stories that needed be protected from the outsiders. This complex aspect of his parables enabled his followers to have much more personal connection to the lessons and more responsibility to keep them secure and sacred. Moreover, parables were easy to remember. Parables weren’t thick books numbered with rules and ethics. They were easily understood and quickly put into one’s head once he/she heard them. Due to following aspects of parables as the teaching medium, Jesus’ teaching was revolutionary and still preserved in a good condition.
Although Jesus’ miracles must have been very engaging and have gathered many crowds, his way of delivering his teaching without fear and using parables was truly revolutionary. Jesus did not limit himself to always conform to the social expectance to deliver his lessons. He understood the strengths of parables. His direct miracles cannot be seen nowadays, but his parables still are present in our lives and easily applied.

2 comments:

  1. The examples you used to support your argument work well. You mention "greater truths," so a question that comes to mind is what lessons in his parables do you see as revolutionary?

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  2. His choosing to use parables to deliver his lessons in the first place was very revolutionary. Also contents of his parables, such as brining in a Samaritan woman to explain some serious situations were revolutionary since samaritan people were looked down upon.

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