Lesson Learned: by Robin Thomas
A picture is worth a thousand words! We’ve all heard that before.
The origin of this phrase is from Confucius, but was penned in 1921 by Englishman, Fredrick R. Bernard, in an article for Printer’s Ink, “A Look is Worth a Thousand Words.” Another modern slang form of that phrase is “Take a picture, it will last longer.”
Essentially it means that we understand more when we see it.
I am a photographer. I take pictures all the time. They are used to trigger memories, to chronicle the growth of our children, or to give proof. I can tell you that I got married on December 16th, 2000, and describe it to you, but if you saw the pictures of that day I could prove it to you, and you could get a real sense of what the occasion was really like. If you were actually there, then you were a witness to the occasion and you can describe the event in your own words.
I can imagine what it was like for the disciples when Jesus was describing the Kingdom of Heaven and that He was sent to save the world.
Jesus performed all kinds of miracles because people would not believe without seeing. They needed proof that He was the one they were seeking.
Jesus turned water into wine (John 2:1-12), healed blindness (Matthew 9:27–30; Mark 8:22–25; John 9:1–7) and raised people from the dead (Luke 7:15; Mark 5:42; John 11:44) but people still didn’t understand who He was.
Show us proof!
Well, since they didn’t have cameras back then, we must either rely on renderings, (that most likely didn’t survive 2000 years) or WORDS.
Lucky for us we do have the words, or WORD, if you will. The Bible. The stories of the people who were there. The WITNESSES.
Then Jesus told him (Thomas), "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29)
Yep, that's me, BLESSED!
Next time someone says "Give me proof" tell them it is written on your heart! (I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Hebrews 10:16)
We may not have a “picture that is worth a thousand words” but we have a WORD that is worth a thousand pictures!
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