EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored ninety-two books. Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).
Jesus treated his listeners with sympathetic awareness or tolerance. Peter was a disciple who needed Jesus’ understanding on many occasions during the three and a half-year ministry. However, after more than thirty years of being an apostle and leading the Christian congregations. He wrote, “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being prepared to make a defense[26] to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” Clearly, Peter learned and imitated his teacher by telling all disciples to teach “with gentleness and respect.” During Jesus ministry, when the disciples were unable to comprehend fully the point that Jesus was trying to make, he patiently explained it to them. “The disciples came and said to him [Jesus], “Why do you speak to them in parables?” And he [Jesus] answered them …” – Matthew 13:10-23.
Jesus was very much aware of his disciple’s limitations. Many times, highly intelligent humans forget how difficult things were when they first began their studies of an area that they are now an expert. Jesus, the Son of God, who knows all things never overloaded the disciples with too much information. On one occasion, Jesus told them, “But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. These things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.” (John 16:4) He goes on to say, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” (John 16:12)
If the need arose, Jesus repeated or reiterated identical information. On one occasion, just after the 32 C.E.[1]Passover, while in Capernaum, Jesus “sat down and called the twelve and said to them, “‘If anyone wants to be first, he will be last of all and servant of all.'” (Mark 9:35) Jesus later ministry, East of the Jordan, probably in Perea, after the Festival of Dedication, repeated essentially the same point, “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant; and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.” (John 10:43-44) In answering questions, Jesus often supported and strengthened his reply by means of parables or object lessons, as a result of this, he left a deep impact on the hearts and minds of the listeners and stirred up their critical thinking. – Matthew 18:1-5, 21-35; Luke 10:29-37.
[1] B.C.E. means “before the Common Era,” which is more accurate than B.C. (“before Christ”). C.E. denotes “Common Era,” often called A.D., for anno Domini, meaning “in the year of our Lord.”
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