Post # 72 – Week Five Come, Follow Me
Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord -- Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke
3
Dear Family and Friends
This has been a very long week for me, I have been
struggling with a couple of children – one who chooses to be mean and hurtful.
The other one has a hard time controlling his emotions. One is 3 and one is 4
years old☹. I love both of them, but as I said,
sometimes it is a struggle and this week has been one of them. I go through a
whole lot of prayers each day mostly on their behalf, and if I am being honest
--- on my behalf as well. Remember what Jesus taught us – to hate the sin but
to love the sinner, or something like that.
I am sure it was not in those words and probably not even
in this week’s reading, but it is what has come to my mind and I wanted to
share it with all of you. When you are working with others, especially with
children. It is so important that you let them know that you love them no
matter what. I have always told my own children as well as my students: “I love
you always, but I ‘like’ you best when you listen and follow directions. I also
teach them that: ‘It’s my job to keep you safe, and it is your job to help me
do so. The best way to do that it for you to listen and follow directions.”
Our teacher asked us this question in class this week:
What is something that you did because of what you read in the New Testament
this week? So, now I am posing the same question to you. Feel free to share
your answers with me if you like—please at least think about the question. You
know the teacher also asked us what we did when we are expecting an important
guest in our home. I don’t know about you, but I always clean my house – really
good when we are expecting guests of any kind. This week’s study is about how John
the Baptist prepared the way of the Lord and how we must also prepare the way
of the Lord. We must be His hands here on the earth. We must do as He would do
if He were here!
Matthew –
who was he? He was one of the Apostles of Jesus Christ during His ministry on
the earth. He was a Publican, a Tax Collector and the writer of the first book
of the four gospels. Matthew, along with
Mark, Luke and John recount the life of Jesus Christ during His ministry.
Together their words constitute the “Four Gospels.” You can find out more about
him here: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/matthew?lang=eng
The lesson begins in Matthew 3 – where John the Baptist was
crying repentance unto the people in the wilderness of Judaea. In verse 2 he says:
“Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is as hand.” He then tells the people
that he is the one that the prophet Esias (Esias --JST, Luke 3:4-11 here: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/jst/jst-luke/3.html?lang=eng) had spoken of when he had said “the
voice of one crying in the wilderness,(voice - Isaiah 40:3;Mark 1:2; Luke 3:4l
John1:23; D&C 65:3; 88:66) Prepare ye the way of the Lord,( Prepare -
1Ne.10:8[7-10];D&C34:6;65:1[1-2];84:26) make his paths straight.”( Alma
7:19 [9,19).
How
do we prepare the way of the Lord? John the Baptist was preparing the people He
taught to receive their Savior, Jesus Christ. Our living prophets help us to
prepare to receive our Savior, Jesus Christ into our lives just as John the
Baptist did, for the people of his day and time. We have General Conference
twice a year to hear the counsel from our living prophets. You can read and
study more of their words in the most recent General Conference here: https://www.lds.org/general-conference?cid=HP16GC&lang=eng
The next verse refers to the way that John the Baptist
was dressed in “camel’s hair and a leatheren girdle about his loins; and
his meat was locust and wild honey.”
I think this is important because this
shows that he was poor and ate bugs and honey and lived in the wilderness. The
reference to the word raiment is found in 2 Kings 1:8 you can read it here: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/2-kgs/1?lang=eng The camel’s hair reference is found in
Zacharias 13:4 you can find it here: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/zech/13?lang=eng
the
reference for locusts is found in Leviticus 11:32 which you can read here: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/lev/11?lang=eng
Looking
these up will give you a much clearer picture of John the Baptist and some of
his teachings.
These first six verses of Matthew 3: 1-6 teach us what
John the Baptist did to prepare the people to receive Jesus Christ into their
lives when He should come. He taught them that they each needed to repent and
be baptized. Beginning in verse 5 John teaches us about the mission of Jesus 00
why Jesus came to the earth. When we read the Joseph Smith Translation, we will
gain more insight into our study of these chapters.
Verse 7 – refers to the Pharisees and the Sadducees who
come to John for baptism and wonder why he doesn’t receive them for baptism.
John tells them. (Baptism -- Luke 7:29 (29-30); JST, Matthew 9:18-21
here: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/jst/jst-matt/9.html?lang=eng (generation of vipers—([crop of serpents] Matthew 12:34;
34:33; Alma 9:8; 10:17 [17-25]). John the Baptist called them the
off-spring of vipers.
Verse 8 – “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for
repentance:” Bring
– (JST, Matthew 3:34-36 [Matthew 8-9] here: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/jst/jst-matt/3.html?lang=eng (meet for – appropriate to, worthy of) (repentance – Qualifications for
repentance, repentance). So, to me this means that we need to be ready
for our repentance, be ready to give up our sine to know Jesus. Be ready to
take the next step – true repentance will lead us to baptism.
I remember the feeling after my baptism of all my sins
being washed away and coming out of the water clean and ready to begin my new
life – with Jesus Christ and my Heavenly Father. What an amazing feeling it
was, and I don’t believe I have ever felt quite like that before or since. It
has been totally worth giving up my sins and living the ways of the world😊 I
have never regretted having made the decision to be baptized into the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That decision had led me to making better
decisions for my eternal welfare and for the eternal welfare of my family.
Verse 11 is where John the Baptist tells the people that
he only baptizes them with water for their repentance, but Jesus will baptize
them with the Holy Ghost. ‘I’ – (JST 3:38-40 [Matthew 3:11-12] here: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/jst/jst-matt/3.html?lang=eng);
Baptize
-- (acts 19:3[1-7];2Ne.
31:5[8-10]). Repentance
-- (baptism—qualifications for baptism), he -- (JST,
John1:27-34 here: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/jst/jst-john/1.html?lang=eng) worthy -- (worthiness). baptize
– (baptism of the Holy Ghost, Gift of the Holy Ghost), fire
– (D&C 19:31 In this verse the Holy Ghost is what the
fire is). In the first twelve
verses we can review the teachings of John the Baptist. In the Joseph Smith
Translation of Matthew 3:4-11 we gain more insight into the mission of Jesus.
I understand that in some churches you get baptized by a
sprinkling of water. This is their way
into Christianity. Some churches baptize little children before they really can
be held accountable for their sins. I was baptized as an infant into a church –
I am not sure which church or denomination. Other churches, I am sure have
different ideas about baptism, but in our church, we follow the example written
here in the New Testament. We are baptized as Jesus was baptized. You can learn
more about baptism here: https://www.lds.org/topics/baptism?lang=eng
Then in verse 13 Jesus comes to be baptized of John the
Baptist. Verse 14 John the Baptist tells Jesus that He should be baptizing
John, instead of the other way around. In verse 15 Jesus tells John that John
needs to baptize Him to fulfill all righteousness. And
– (JST, Matthew 3:43-46here:) the word suffer – (Permit it
now). Becometh
us – (is fitting for us). fulfill – (Essential baptism). righteousness
– (Mission of Jesus Christ; righteousness).
Then in verse 16 John baptizes Jesus. straightway
– (immediately). Spirit – (the Spirit of God; the Holy
Ghost). Dove—
(Holy Ghost, Dove, sign of). The Spirit of God or the Holy Ghost
descended upon him in the form of a dove (2Ne. 31:8; [D&C 93:15]). In
verse 17 John and all of the people hear “a voice from heaven, saying,
This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Heavenly Father was
telling the world that He was proud of His Son. Just as we tell our own
children that we are proud of them when they accomplish a task that we have
asked them to do or them have accomplished something on their own to improve
their lives, like in education and later with their jobs.
Mark –
Who was he? Mark recognized Jesus as the Son of God, who had freat power from
His Father, he wanted to share this knowledge with us, he was not a Jew, but a
Gentile. He probably traveled with a few of the Apostles or disciples of
Christ. You can Find out more about Mark here: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/mark?lang=eng
In Mark we learn about John the Baptist as well. How John
is doing missionary work He taught repentance for the remission of sins;
baptism Verse 3—tells of “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye
the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” John was preparing the people
for the coming of Jesus Christ. Verse 4
-- He baptized by immersion all those who confessed their sins. He teaches us
about repentance, “baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.”
Verses 6 -- tells us of the way John is dressed and what
he eats, similar to Matthew’s description of him. John always said that there
was one coming after him who was mightier than he was. Verse 7 – He teaches us
that he is unworthy to even touch the hoes of the one who is coming after him
who is mightier than he. Verse 8 -- He told them that he (John) could only
Baptize them with water, ( the word but – JST Mark1:6 …but he shall not only
baptize you with water, but with fire, and the Holy Ghost.) But the one who
came after him (Jesus), would not only baptize them with water but with fire
and the Holy Ghost. You can learn more about the Holy Ghost here: https://www.lds.org/topics/holy-ghost?lang=eng
Verse 9 --Jesus taught us that that baptism was
essential. Baptized – (TG
Baptism, Essential Baptism; Baptism of Jesus Christ). Verse 10 – this verse
teaches us the way Jesus was baptized. “and straightway coming up out of
the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending
upon him;) Jesus came up out of the water, this tells us that He had been under
the water. Up
– (TG Baptism, Immersion) dove – (TG the Holy Ghost, sign
of dove). In
verse 11os the voice from heaven, telling everyone: “Thou art my
believed Son, in whom I am well pleased,”
Then in verse 12 we are
taught that the Spirit or the Holy Ghost (the third member of the Godhead – you
can find out more here: (https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/the-godhead)
Immediately after Jesus is baptized takes Him away into the wilderness for 40
days where Satan goes to tempt Jesus during those 40 days. The thought came to
me just now that it is interesting that it rained for 40 days and 40 nights – I
wonder if there is a comparison in these two references to 40 days? What do you
all think?
Mark tells us in verse 14
about John the Baptist’s imprisonment. And how “Jesus came into
Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,” Jesus told them that
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand repent ye, and
believe the gospel.” Mark must
have been with Jesus when He taught these things to the people. And those
teachings were so important that he wrote them down to share with each of us 😊 we also learn that this the is our testing
ground.
This is the beginning of
Jesus choosing His disciples. The first are found in verse 16 – they were brothers
casting their nets into the sea for fish. They were fishers. Verse 17 – is
where Jesus tells them that He will make them ‘fishers of men,’ are we fishers of
men?? How do we become’ fishers of men’? Mark’s record focuses on and teaches
us about the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, of His miracles, of His daily
life.
Luke
– Who was he? Let’s see… Luke was a Greek, he was a doctor –so he was a convert
to the gospel of Jesus Christ. He wrote the Gospel according to Luke, which
teaches us about Jesus Christ during His mortal ministry, as well as writing
the Book of Acts you can learn more about Luke here: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/luke?lang=eng
Luke also teaches us
about John the Baptist and of Jesus’ baptism. About the Holy Ghost descending
on Him in the form of a dove, and how Heavenly Father announces from heaven that
Jesus is His beloved Son, and that He (God) is well pleased with Him (Jesus).
So, these things are in all three records, -- Matthew’s record in only 17
verses; Mark’s record is longer, and his
record focuses more on the ministry of Jesus Christ – whereas Luke’s record
focuses more on the who’s who of that time period. Both Mark and Luke teach of
John’s imprisonment, but Mark’s record goes into more detail.
I found this article in the New Era magazine,
which is for the youth – it is about Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and who they
are. I thought I would share it with you:
Who Are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John?
Who Are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John?
By Janet Thomas Church Magazines
A
doctor, a fisherman, a tax collector, and another who was just a teenager when
he heard the Savior speak, they wrote some of the most famous books in
existence.
We recognize their names immediately. Their names are attached
to the first four books of the New Testament. And most important of all, their
writings are almost all we have describing the mortal life of Jesus Christ and the things He said.
The first four books of the New Testament are called the
Gospels. It’s easy to imagine why these books were written and why they have
always been so important. Can you imagine how exciting it would have been for people
who were just learning about the Savior to have someone read to them the things
He said and did? These books have always been precious.
Matthew and John were two of the original Twelve Apostles. They
were with the Savior often as He taught. But who were Mark and Luke, and how
did they come to write about the Savior’s life and ministry?
Matthew
Matthew was a publican, or tax collector, before he was called
as one of the Lord’s Apostles. Because of that profession, we can guess that he
was well educated and knew how to read and write, probably in several
languages, including Greek. He also knew arithmetic. He saw and heard many
wonderful things while with the Savior, and it is likely he wrote down some of
the sayings of the Savior as notes or in a journal. Later, these notes would
have helped him when he wrote what he remembered about the teachings of Jesus.
In his book, Matthew often stresses that Jesus Christ is the
Messiah and came to fulfill the Old Testament prophecies. Matthew wrote
specifically to the Jews, who were familiar with those prophecies.
Matthew was a man who could have moved comfortably in political
circles, and his book mentions things that someone in his position would know.
For example, his account of the Resurrection tells that those
assigned to guard the Savior’s tomb saw two angels roll back the stone that
covered the door of the tomb. They told their superiors what had happened, so
the soldiers were offered large sums of money to say that the Lord’s followers
had crept in and carried His body away. This lie was then spread among the
Jews. (See Matthew 28:2–15.) Matthew must have been informed about the bribery. The book
of Matthew is the only place this interesting bit of information is told.
Mark
Mark was much younger than the other writers. His mother was a
prominent follower of Jesus Christ. Acts 12:12 tells us that her house
in Jerusalem was used as a meeting place for other disciples. From this verse
we also learn that her son’s full name is John Mark.
Mark was also a follower of Jesus Christ but would likely have
been in his teens when the Lord was in Jerusalem. He may have seen and listened
to the Savior on occasion. After the Resurrection, as the Savior’s message was
beginning to be spread, Mark traveled with the Apostle Paul. He then
accompanied the Apostle Peter to Rome and stayed by him while he was in prison.
Mark is known as Peter’s interpreter, both in speech and in writing. As a
fisherman from Galilee, Peter may not have spoken Greek fluently, so Mark
interpreted for him.
In his book, Mark wrote down the observations and memories of
Peter, one of the original Apostles. Mark’s book reflects Peter’s interest in
spreading the gospel among the Gentiles.
Luke
Luke is an interesting writer because he did not know Jesus
Christ personally. He became a follower after the Lord’s death, when Paul
taught him the gospel. Luke had been a physician, but he left that profession
to travel with Paul. He had the opportunity to talk with many of the Apostles
as well as others who were eyewitnesses to special events or moments in the
Lord’s life. In the first few verses of his book, Luke says that he is going to
write the things that eyewitnesses and other teachers of the gospel had to say
about the Savior. Apparently he had the opportunity to talk to many who were
present when the Savior taught or performed miracles.
One of the most amazing stories Luke wrote about was the birth
of the Savior. Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles says that Luke probably got his information about Jesus’s birth from
Mary herself.2
Who were the other people Luke interviewed about Jesus Christ?
The list would have been long. Many of the people who knew the Savior would
still have been alive and would have remembered such important times in their
lives. Paul mentions that about 500 people saw the Savior after His
Resurrection and that most of them were still alive when he was writing to the
Corinthians (see 1 Corinthians
15:6).
John
John, or John the Beloved as he was known, served as one of the
Apostles. His book was probably written last, as John seems to have already
read the other Gospels before he wrote his own book. Often, instead of telling
his version of an event or parable the others had already written about, he
writes about things the other writers did not include. Also, John’s Gospel
includes the testimony of John the Baptist. It seems likely that he had some of
the writings of John the Baptist.
John was writing to members of the Church, who already knew
something of the Lord. John emphasizes Jesus’s divine nature as the Son of God.
In the last five verses of his book, we find out what happened
to John. Referring to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” John tells us
that he would not die but would remain on earth until the Second Coming (see John 21:20–23; D&C 7).
Four Separate Books
Right after the Lord’s death and Resurrection and for many years
afterward, each of the books written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John was a
separate item, written on a separate scroll and copied over and over. The
individual books weren’t put together into the New Testament until several
hundred years after they were written. This explains John’s warning in Revelation 22:18: “If any man shall add
unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this
book.” Some people have interpreted this to mean that no other scriptures could
be revealed after the book of Revelation, which in modern times is the last
book of the Bible. But John was most
likely warning people not to add anything to his writing only in the book of
Revelation.
Eventually the four Gospels were joined with other valuable
writings such as the letters that Paul and others wrote. Other original
Apostles also wrote things that were copied repeatedly. Remnants of these
writings survive, but it is difficult to determine which are authentic. When
the New Testament was gathered into a single book, these writings were not
included.
The Rest of the New
Testament
After the four Gospels, the book of Acts records the events
following the Ascension of the Savior. Most scholars agree that Luke wrote the
Acts of the Apostles. Nearly all the rest of the books in the New Testament are
letters, or epistles. Paul wrote most of these, but also included are letters
written by James, Peter, John, and Jude. The book of Revelation, written by
John, concludes the collection we now call the New Testament.
The Gospels in Harmony
A wonderful help to use when studying the books of Matthew,
Mark, Luke, and John is found in the Bible Dictionary, after “Gospels.” The
Harmony of the Gospels is a chart that tells where in each book a teaching or
an incident in the life of Jesus Christ is told. You get a more in-depth
understanding of events or parables when you read about them everywhere they
are written. Try looking up the baptism of Jesus. You will see
that it is mentioned in all four Gospels. But Jesus’s appearance to Thomas, for
instance, is found only in John.
John has the most unique material in his book. About 90 percent
of the information in the book of John is not in the other three Gospels. Mark’s
book has the least unique material: only 7 percent.
As always,
I pray that all is well with each of you and that this post finds you in great Spirits😊 if you
have not taken the leap of faith to invite Jesus Christ into your lives – you do
know that it is never too late in this mortal life to do just that – invite Him
into our life. Check this out: http://jesuschrist.lds.org/faith-in-jesus-christ/articles/come-unto-christ?lang=eng Accept His incitation to Come, Follow Me. I promise
you that it will be a decision that you will never regret. If you need more
information on how to do this, please visit with a missionary here: https://www.mormon.org/site/welcome
Until my next post, please make it a wonderful week! 😊
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