While I Was Reading Sunday- John 9

Reading this account of blindness got me thinking. This young man, blind from birth, receives a miracle by the hand of a man called Jesus. 

  John 9:11 "He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight." This miracle uncovers other blindness and becomes quite a sensation.

    The disciples of Jesus were blind as to why handicaps afflict mortal man.
John 9:2 "And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?"
    The Pharisees were blinded by their dogmatic keeping of the Law.

    John 9:16 "Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them."

   His parents chose blindness to protect their place in Jewish society.

   John 9:20 "His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:  But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself."

  I asked for a volunteer in seminary on Friday, one who would choose to be blindfolded for half the class. He was at the mercy of those who would tell him where to walk and where to sit. He became quite docile and compliant to accommodate his handicap. What a relief to be able to act for himself. The principle that resonated with me is that agency requires sight, and sight is given through the mercy and atonement of Jesus Christ.
  John 9:39 "And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth."
   Where am I still blind to see?

While I Was Reading Sunday- Matthew 14 and John 6

If you had told me 10 years ago that I would have 16 grandchildren I would have said, "I might as well be able to walk on water".

And I do.

                                 "You Might As Well Ask Me To Walk On Water"

  This phrase is a quote from Michael Wilcox from his book "Walking On Water". It is an introduction to the story of Peter attempting to do just that. I have been reading and thinking about that incident.

  John 6: 17 "And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew."

   It had been an exhausting day for Jesus. He found out the news that John the Baptist was dead, his cousin and friend, beheaded by Herod, the Roman ruler. The scriptures say he had intended to take some time for himself but the crowds followed him and he could see their needs. The crowd was bigger it being the Passover week. As people gathered around him he questioned whether there was enough food available to feed the multitude. It would be customary to share a meal and celebrate the Passover in the evening. At this time he performed his miracle of enlarging the seven loaves of bread and two fishes to feed 5000 people. As the night came Jesus finally found some time to commune and recharge. But his apostles were on a ship in the middle of the Sea of Gallilee. A storm arose and they were anxious to have him with them safe and secure.

  Matthew 14:24 "But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear."

  The reaction of Peter is surprising to me. In wanting to know if this phantom was truly the Lord he asked if he could walk out on the water to him. Peter seems to have an " I can do all things" attitude.

  Matthew14:27 "But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, "Come". And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus."

   Can we really do all things in Jesus? I remember well being asked to teach religion to teenagers during 0 hour every week day. You might as well ask me to walk on water, I thought to myself. I teach 30 piano students, two music and movement classes once a week, all I do is prepare for the next class. I told them I would team teach but never accept the assignment alone. I started the first two years with another teacher and managed to survive. Then the request came to go it alone. By now I had learned to love these teenagers and I prayed to have faith and strength to do it. Six years later I am here every morning and it sometimes feels like walking on water. I testify that we can be magnified with faith in Jesus Christ.

   

While I Was Reading Sunday- Matthew 16

      In Matthew 16 there is a multifaceted discussion between Jesus and his apostles. This is the chapter where Jesus verifies to Peter that his testimony of the divinity of his Lord came from a heavenly source not man made reason. We call this divine revelation and every man, woman, and child is invited to seek out this source of information. Peter could have come to the conclusion that Jesus was divine, he had evidence that what he did and the effects he had on others were super-normal, but to have revealed to him through the Holy Ghost that Jesus was the Son Of The Living God was as powerful as it could possibly get. This kind of revelation goes through to your very soul. 

   Then comes disclosure that Jesus warns his disciples not to share. 

    Mark 8:30 "And he charged them that they should tell no man of him. And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again."

  This information outrages Peter who has just been glorying in his testimony. This is a man who should not be killed. This brings to mind the plot of a movie called "Stranger Than Fiction". Briefly, a writer is telling the story of a common man who in an effort to redeem himself changes so drastically that he by the end of the story, allows his own life to be taken to save the life of a young boy. The twist is that the character is actually alive. When the writer meets him she cannot bring herself to kill him off in her book, as everything she writes, happens to him. She says that he is a good man who should not be killed but be allowed to live. Certainly her view is focused on this mortal life and  the movie is trying to moralize about the value of our lives.

  Movie aside, Peter sees in the moment only the mortal view. Jesus does not deserve to die, he being perfect is the last man to deserve that fate. Yet, at that moment Peter is an anti-Christ. He mistakenly, denies the most important mission He has in mortality. One can understand the words of Jesus.

   Matthew 16: 23 "But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men."
   Those words seem harsh but the atonement and resurrection affects every child of God in this world and in others. To create and save is more important than justifying his mortal life. For Peter these lessons in discipleship will long have an impact on his own mission.

   

While I Was Reading Sunday- Matthew 5

While I was reading the Sermon on the Mount today I felt the need to focus on what this sermon says about it's author. Jesus Christ gave this sermon three times in written history. Once on a mountain with his new apostles present, once on a plain with more listeners, and once to a people at a temple in the America's. 

  " It provides a window into the Savior’s own personality and character and summarizes the essence of Christlike behavior."
   By definition, character refers to the moral qualities of an individual that are conscientiously and consistently lived. As Jesus teaches these dense characteristics we can see how he embodied them in all his actions.

   In the 3rd Nephi account, contained in the book of Mormon, there are actually more beatitudes than in the New Testament. They come at the beginning. 

   Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve” (3 Nephi 12:1). “Blessed are ye if ye shall believe in me and be baptized” (3 Nephi 12:1). “More blessed are they who shall believe in your words because that ye shall testify that ye have seen me” (3 Nephi 12:2). “Blessed are they who shall believe in your words, and come down into the depths of humility and be baptized, for they shall be visited with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and shall receive a remission of their sins” (3 Nephi 12:2). These "fortunate" character traits turn us to him and set the pattern of seeing in Jesus the example of spiritual progression.

    In general this sermon teaches us how to overcome our natural nature. In all of the beatitudes we see a turning outward and becoming a more whole-hearted person.

   Jesus was poor in spirit

       Poor in spirit means lacking pridefulness. Pride usually turns us inward and defensive.

   Jesus mourned with others

       To think of others who are suffering while we are going through our own battles is very difficult. How did Christ find strength to heal the soldier's ear when his life was in jeopardy?

   Jesus was meek

      Humility is vulnerable. Becoming a strong, powerful person was not really a goal for Christ. He became strong in his meekness.

   Jesus hungered and thirsted after righteousness 

        The most profound action of righteousness in Christ was his constant reference to his Father. He hungered for others to know God, our Father. He thirsted for our relationship to become one.

    Jesus was merciful

       This trait is so obvious. He is the epitome of mercy, but what of his desire for justice? Without his all inclusive striving for justice his mercy could not be protected and made available for all.

   Jesus was pure in heart

      He was perfect because he was whole. His outward man was a true reflection of the inward man.

   Jesus was a peacemaker

      The greatest peace offering he gives is his life, to make us able to be reunited with our Father in Heaven.

   Jesus was persecuted for righteousness

     Certainly Jesus was a stumbling block to those who would not accept his teachings. When he taught truth that others found hard to bear aggression escalated quickly.

   Jesus was persecuted by false accusers

      Satan is the great accuser. He entices us to accuse first, to keep the spotlight off of ourselves. In accusation, a false righteousness keeps us from seeing things as they really are.

     "Thus, the character of Christ is to turn outward in compassion and service when facing spiritual adversity or physical pain even as the natural man in each of us would turn inward in self-obsession and self-interest."

   In summary, I agree with the definition of blessed as used in the beatitudes. If we develop these characters traits we will be most fortunate.

While I Was Reading Sunday- John 3

 While I was reading in the Gospel of John I especially enjoyed the many references to light and dark. John makes use of these symbols almost like a theme to his entire account of the Savior's life. In chapter three Nicodemus comes to the Savior in the dark, perhaps to avoid other Jews from seeing him with Jesus. Nicodemus will be leaving enlightened by the message of everlasting life through a spiritual birth.

    John 3:3 "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

   A natural man or woman, being in spiritual darkness, cannot even see the kingdom of God around them. A change must occur much like what occurs during mortal birth in order for us to see and enter.

   John 3:5 "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

   A baby, in an environment of darkness, must come out of the water, out of his mother, who spills her own blood to bring him to life. So we at baptism come out of the water, with the assistance of the Savior, Jesus Christ, through his spilled blood, to enter a pathway which eventually leads to life with Him and like Him

 Enoch, citing the teachings of Adam, elaborated on the doctrine: “As ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, … even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood … ; for by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified and by the blood ye are sanctified” (Moses 6:59–60). So I take this to mean that our spiritual rebirth starts with baptism,  then upon receiving the Holy Ghost, His influence starts a change within us that makes us "right" or justified, and finally the atonement cleanses the complete inner vessel. 

   After having given the greatest gift of his Son, the Father provides a sequel, the next greatest gift: everlasting life—his kind of life—for all his children 

   John 3: 16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

  Why would we pass on this amazing gift? Here John comes back to the contrast between light and dark.

 John 3:19 "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. "

  As much as seeing my inadaquacies and weaknesses makes me feel vulnerable, being in the light is preferable. I come to Jesus like Nicodemus, hiding my sins but needing to be with Him more than protecting myself.

While I Was Reading Sunday- Mark 1 and Luke 3

       The Path or the Way of the Lord-

     I like walking the trails through the woods in my hometown. Many trails are well kept by the forest stewards who promote the natural wilderness and want the community to enjoy the wilderness. Walking a well kept, or prepared path, is especially enjoyable when the weather is inclement, when many are walking, and when you have a toddler with you. While reading the accounts of John the Baptist in Mark and Luke of the New Testament I saw with new eyes the importance of his mission to prepare "the way of the Lord."

    Mark 1:2 "As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."

   Since symbolism is always side by side with the word, I will throw out some symbolic meanings to the words in the passage above.

   Messenger- a mortal with authority from God (Priesthood) is sent to deliver a message and is a type of Christ.

    Thy way- a plan provided by God to enable God's children to return into His presence.

    Wilderness- out of the main body of the the known church.

     Straight- to illuminate what men and women are to be and do to walk on the path of the Lord.

   So, John the Baptist, comes out of the mainstream church, dressed like a humble shepard,  and declares that the Messiah prophecied in the Old Testament is coming, and announces that to prepare for him everyone must repent of their sins and be baptized.

   How did the people respond? Many came out of Jersusalem and went to him and asked for baptism as well as how they should be different.

   Luke 3:10 "And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise."

   John begins to lay out the higher law, a law intent on changing the heart, and this will rock their world.

  I am trying to walk the path of God and often I find stumbling blocks in my way. That is when I know I need to repent. To ere is human but when I stumble over the same failing again and again I know I need to stop and do some maintenance. His grace gives me the strength to (pardon the cliche) make those stumbling blocks into stepping stones. 

While I Was Reading Sunday

   Every Sunday for almost two years I have written something about my study of the Book of Mormon. This recording of my thoughts has been most fruitful as it has cemented in my mind the important truths of this book. Today I start a new Sunday subject. I am calling it "While I Was Reading" and it will be a chance for me to record thoughts and insights I had while I was reading the scriptures.

   Alma 34:31" Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you. For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors."

   Just as the world is bathed in light immediately as the sun comes over the horizon, so are we bathed in the light of the Christ, immediately, as we change direction and go towards Him. There is no waiting period, no spiritual learning permit to see if we are sincere, we are given light right now because now matters. It is in the moment that we receive His love and know that He is God.