Teaching and Learning V

Thus it is written . . . 

 - From Luke 24

The statement "This it is written . . . " followed by some words of wisdom, prophecy, or divine directive, probably has always merited a response such as:

So what?

Just because something is "written," we have to stop what we're doing? Really, why does being "written" make a difference?

It certainly mattered more in the days before typewriters and computers. When you have to write everything out in long-hand, by that virtue alone you make it important. It is important because a person's time is important. For most of human history, the role of "scribe" was very important indeed! We paid them good money to get the most important thoughts of our time down, permanently, for the ages.

We seem to think that something in writing automatically carries with it some level of authority, or reliability. "I read it on the Internet." It's as if we know it takes talent, and time, to write one's thoughts down, even if via a keyboard. We have some respect for a person's thoughts, especially when they write them down.

It seems like the most common method of teaching, is to give people something to read, and then something to write. And the best way to learn is to read, and then to write. Abraham Lincoln was our smartest President . . . yet he had no formal education. He just did a lot of reading. 

Jesus said "It is written," in the context of His own death and resurrection. In other words: "It's okay that you have seen me alive, after my death. You've touched me and talked with me. But the important thing is that this was all written about, long ago. Pass the fish, please."

The Son of God basically said that "This is the most important thing you should be teaching one another. I'm alive." And indeed it is. Such a claim, that had such an impact on history, definitely needs to be investigated and taught . . . even to non-believers. It it's not true, then why is it so impactful? If true, then what's our problem?

The Lord left us a lot of information, in writing. The first step in learning, and becoming all that we can as humans, is to read it.