Our Greatest Example: Week 4

Read Matthew 11:1-19 and Luke 7:18-35. What did the two disciples of John the Baptist ask Jesus Christ?

·         They asked the Savior if he was the one that John told them to go find, or if they should keep looking.

The Savior told them to go back to John and tell what they saw and heard. After reading these accounts, explain three things you would have told John if you had been with those men.

·         I would have told John the Baptist the miracles the Savior performed, the charity Jesus had towards everyone, and his humble nature that reflects a true disciple of Heavenly Father.

Read the Institute Manual commentary for Matthew 11:2-3, “Did John doubt that Jesus was the Messiah?” Explain why John wanted his disciples to go to Christ.

·         John sent his disciples to Jesus because he was struggling in persuading his disciples that he was not in fact the Messiah and should not be worshiped as so. The manual states that his disciple struggled with “detaching” from him to follow their true master.

Read the Institute Manual for Matthew 11:11, “No greater prophet than John the Baptist” What did The Savior say about John the Baptist in Matthew 11:11?

·         The Savior said, “There hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding that he is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” In essence the Savior is say that John the Baptist is the next best thing to Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father and The Holy Ghost. His responsibilities were so great that without him, the plan would not have worked.

Provide three reasons given by Joseph Smith why John the Baptist is considered among the greatest prophets.

      The three reasons are: He was entrusted with a divine mission to prepare the way before the face of the lord. He was entrusted with an important mission of baptizing the Savior. And lastly he was the only legal administrator in the affairs of the Kingdom of God on the earth at that time.

What does John 3:30 suggest about John the Baptist and his attitude toward the Savior?

·         John’s attitude toward the Savior was respectful. He knew his role, and he did not ever try to overstep his boundaries. He understood that the Savior was to lead the people and instill a special Spirit around them and John was to help and aid with his own testimony of the Savior.

Briefly describe how we could apply a similar attitude in our own lives

·         It is hard to remember not to dictate our own lives, and to remember the Savior is on our side. Jesus led the way for us to follow him. We can show respect by following and sincerely trying to be like him. 

Faith in All Things: Week 3

Matthew 8:1-4:

Miracles of the Lord: Man healed of Leprosy

Who Demonstrated Faith: The man being healed

Matthew 8:5-13

Miracles of the Lord: A servant of a centurion was healed of palsy

Who Demonstrated Faith: The centurion

Matthew 8:14-15

Miracles of the Lord: Peter's mother-in-law healed of a fever

Who Demonstrated Faith: Peter and the mother-in-law

Matthew 8:16

Miracles of the Lord: Healed all the sick that were with the Devil

Who Demonstrated Faith: All those who were healed, that were sick

Matthew 8:23-27

Miracles of the Lord: The waves were calmed

Who Demonstrated Faith: The Savior rebuked them for not having faith, the Savior had faith for everyone.

Matthew 8:28-34

Miracles of the Lord: The devils were cast into the herd of swine.

Who Demonstrated Faith: The members of the boat

Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-34

Miracles of the Lord: Healed a woman of a blood disease

Who Demonstrated Faith: The woman knew that if she could just touch his garment she would be healed.

Matthew 9:27-31

Miracles of the Lord: Jesus healed two blind men.

Who Demonstrated Faith: The blind men knew Jesus could heal them.

Mark 2:1-12

Miracles of the Lord: Jesus was baptized by the Holy Spirit

Who Demonstrated Faith: John doubted his ability to baptize one mightier than him, but they told him to have faith and he did and it was successful.

The Lord is truly amazing! Reading through all of these miracles, you realize how powerful he really is. The Lord knows our weaknesses and with faith he will heal all.

Jesus was Baptized: Week 2

Review Matthew 3:13-17 and the institute manual commentary for Matthew 3:16, "What is the significance of the Holy Ghost descending 'like a dove'?"

According to the New Testament manual the Holy Ghost is believed to have descended as a dove because the symbol of the dove is one that Satan cannot replicate. The Holy Ghost is not truly a dove; it is a personage and the dove was created to interpret the Holy Ghost so that Satan could not replicate it. 

Answer the following questions: 

Why was John hesitant to baptize Jesus? 

Because he was unsure if he had the proper authority. John questions why if he needs to be baptized by Jesus how he can baptize Jesus himself. 

What is taught here about the Holy Ghost? 

The Holy Ghost is able to administer and aide in all righteous endeavors. 

Jesus Christ said he must be baptized to "fulfill all righteousness." List three reasons why Jesus Christ was baptized. (2nd Nephi 31: 6-11). 

1. To be obedient to the commandments of the Father.

2. To set an example for all of us to follow.

3. To humble himself in front of His Father. 

What evidence is found in Matthew 3:16-17 that the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost are three seperate personages in the Godhead.  

The spirit of God, the Holy Ghost, is described as a dove. 

Jesus was physically in the water and baptized

And a voice calling Jesus His Son came from the heavens. 

Christ's Life: Week 1

Search John 1:1-14; 17:1-5 and ponder the doctrinal connection between the two references. List at least five truths you learn about the pre-mortal Jesus Christ and five truths you learn about His mortal life. 

Pre-mortal Life: 

1.       His light shines even in darkness, and the darkness "comprehended it not." 

2.      All men through him can believe because of his light. 

3.      God was always with Him. 

4.     His purpose was to share the light of the Father, and to glorify Him. 

5.      He created the world; but the world did not know him. 

Mortal Life: 

1.       Power over all flesh

2.      He was not physically the light but was sent to share the light. 

3.      His own did not receive him.

4.     Whoever did believe in him received the power through Christ to become the sons of God. 

5.      Christ reborn them not in flesh or in the will of man but of God. 

Learn more and define the names of the Savior through the Bible Dictionary, and the Institute Manual

• Christ: The anointed or Messiah. Also representing Christ as the first born of the Father in the spirit and the only Begotten of the Father in the flesh. 
• Messiah: An Aramaic word that means the anointed or chosen one.  
• Jehovah: The covenant or proper name of the God of Israel
• Emmanuel: God with us also. 
• The Word: Referring to The Word of God which was something Jesus Christ represented.