So, how did Jesus include this strategy in His teaching? In the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew, Jesus taught his disciples about prayer. He used the image of asking, seeking, and knocking.
The Greek term carries the idea not just of asking once, seeking for a moment, or knocking just once. Instead, it carries the idea of asking and continuing to ask, seeking and continuing to seek, and knocking and continuing to knock. We are called on to put forth effort. The idea is that with effort, we see more results.
Another way Jesus taught was by providing recognition for actions done. When the poor widow put her single coin into the offering collection, Jesus recognized her for her action-- He reminded the followers that she had given all she had.
That recognition not only reinforced what the lady did, it also taught those who were listening that what was required was to give all that they had. Jesus has called us to give our all-- He demonstrated that by giving His all-- even to dying for us. Remember the young centurion who sought after Jesus to heal his daughter. He told Jesus it was not necessary for Him to come to the centurion's house. Jesus could simply heal her by speaking it into action. Jesus healed the daughter and recognized the man for the faith that was greater than He had seen elsewhere.
Once again, the creator of the brain knows it best. He used the strategies we are learning are most effective for learning new concepts to teach when He was on earth--- long before the first imaging of brains occurred.
