Heard of The PICTURE SUPERIORITY EFFECT?

Images evoke emotion faster than words could ever do. You will likely remember information presented by way of pictures quicker than you would with text. Many decades later, I can still recall, to every scintilla of detail, the paintings that adorned the walls of my childhood home, and the sense of wonder and awe they elicited.

Effective communicators know how to harness the power of imagery to elicit engagement.

From Matthew, the erstwhile tax collector to John, the beloved, the imagery and message of Christmas comes alive.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth..”

That is John painting the backdrop to the Christmas story. This turn of phrase is his new way of saying an old thing.

Then Matthew and Luke paint seemingly contradicting narrative. Matthew elaborately paints a mural that has Jesus being born into a family of kings, being visited by kings – and being run out of town by a king.

On the other hand, Luke’s canvass has a sketch of Jesus being born among the poor, being visited by lowly shepherds and fleeing into exile in Africa on a donkey.

What images – decorations, motion and sound pictures are filling your home this Christmas?

And more importantly: What message are they relaying?