Keeping it real

We can find four qualities within Jesus' communication that accomplishes His ability to make Himself accessible to everyone....

1# NARRATIVE_ Everyone loves stories and Jesus' teachings are full of kind Samaritans and forgiving fathers.

2# SIMPLICITY_ Jesus always offered truths in small bite-sized pieces. Even with this simplicity, the pharisees never understood and even His disciples (who lived with Jesus for 3 years listening, watching and learning) missed the point.

3# FAMILIARITY_ Jesus ALWAYS communicated through familiar examples. Many parables and stories were based on fishing, house-building and farming.

4# CONCRETENESS_ Even when dealing with spiritual theological ideas, Jesus always kept grounded. He used physical, visual images . . . pigs trampling pearls, moths and rust, and eye plucking. Physical examples to back up His statements . . . a coin, a small child, a man with a withered hand.

Jesus kept it real.

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Opposites attract

To make a connection we have to draw near to someone.

This was Jesus' way.

"The word became flesh and dwelt among us"

This word "dwelt" literally means "to pitch a tent".

Jesus didn't live in a nice mansion in the 'beverly hills' of Isreal and then commute into the rough areas and then back to his penthouse on an evening. He set up camp right in the middle of the people He was trying to reach.

He spent time with them, ate with them, lived through the highs and lows.
This "drawing near" not only effected His actions, but His words also.

Parables are used by Jesus on nearly every page of the gospels and they formed the foundation of Jesus' communication.
Parable is taken from the words "Para" (near) and "Ballo" (to bring) = "Near-bringers".
Jesus never tried to discuss theology with the everyday people of Galilee. He used these "Paraballos", these "near-bringers" to bring His principles and lofty ideas down into the dust of the market streets and desert roads.

In this day and age we have made the assumption that "clever people use big words".

Jesus' approach was the exact opposite.

He sought to bring His communication closer and more accessible to everyone.

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