Post # 92 --- Come Follow Me, Week # 10 “Thy Faith Hath Made Thee Whole”
Dear Family and Friends
This week’s lesson is going to take us through some of
the miracles that Jesus performed during His ministry here upon the earth. You may have found more in your study of these
chapters but here are some of the events/ miracles I found during my study of
Matthew chapters 8-9 and Mark chapters 2-5 are as follows:
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Matthew chapter 8
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Matthew chapter 9
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a. Jesus heals a leper;
b. the centurion’s servant with the
palsy;
c. Peter’s mother-in-law with a
fever;
d. He cast out the spirits and
healed all that were sick;
e. Jesus told His disciples ‘let
the dead bury the dead;’ Jesus wanted them to come follow Him and to focus
their lives on Him and His teachings so that they could continue after He
fulfilled His earthly mission.
f. the tempest – Jesus calms the
storm;
g. two possessed by devils – cast
out into swine;
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h. friends brought a man sick with
the palsy laying on bed– ‘Jesus said to him–‘son, be of good
cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee;’ Jesus wanted all the people to know that aSon of man hath bpower on
earth to cforgive sins,
i. Jesus eats with publicans and
sinners – they that be whole need not a physician;
k. woman with issue of blood 12
years touched the hem of His robe;
m. dumb man possessed with a devil;
n. He went from city to city
healing all manner of sick.
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In Mark chapters 2-5 we can
find the following accounts:
Chapter 2
a.
the
man with the palsy – his friends lifted his bed down through the roof of the
house; ch. 2 v. the aSon
of man hath power on earth to forgive sins
b.
Levi
comes to follow Jesus;
c. Jesus eats with the publicans and the sinners; I came not to call the righteous, but
sinners to repentance.
d.
why do
the disciples of Christ not fast -- as long as they have the bbridegroom with
them, they cannot fast;
Chapter 3
f.
Jesus heals a man with the withered hand; Is it lawful to do good on the asabbath days,
or to do evil? to save life, or to kill?
g.
he
had healed many; insomuch that they apressed
upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues
h.
Jesus chooses His disciples and ordains them:” And he aordained twelve,
that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to bpreach,
Simon Peter, James – son of Zebedee, John the brother of James
[the sons of thunder], Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew,
Thomas, Judas Iscariot,* James – son of Alphaeus, Thaddeus, Simon the Cananite;
i.
parable of the sower –the sower soeth
the word; some fell by
the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. some fell on
stony ground, and because it had no root, it withered away. some fell among
thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. other
fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased.
The parable of the Sower is so
important for us to understand. In the following verses Jesus
expounds on this parable to help us understand its meaning. I hope by my including
these verses it helps you to understand
15 And these are they by the way side,
where the word is sown; but when they have heard, aSatan cometh
immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
16 And these are they likewise which are
sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately areceive it
with gladness;
17 And have no root in themselves, and so
endure but for a time: afterward, when aaffliction or bpersecution ariseth
for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
18 And these are they which are sown among
thorns; such as hear the word,
19 And the cares of this world, and the
deceitfulness of ariches,
and the blusts of
other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
20 And these are they which are sown on
good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold,
some sixty, and some an hundred.
Chapter 4
j. Jesus
calms the storm /rebukes the wind and said unto the sea:” aPeace,
be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great bcalm.
Chapter 5
k. 2000
unclean spirits go into herd of swine; For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou aunclean bspirit. My
name is Legion:
for we are many.
m.
woman with issue of blood; Daughter, thy afaith hath
made thee whole; go in bpeace,
and be whole of thy plague.
these were the questions asked for this part of the lesson:
1.
what do you know about each miracle? It is based upon the
faith of the one seeking the blessing either for themselves or a loved one.
2.
What messages do you find in these miracles? That every miracle was
based upon the person’s faith. They had to have faith that a miracle would
occur for themselves or their loved ones.
I feel like the accounts written in Mark tell about the same
events written in Matthew. Though I feel that the ones written in Mark go into more
detail for each of the events and or miracles. Did you get that feeling when
you read through them? This is so true, so I felt like I had to include this
paragraph from the manual Come, Follow Me for individuals and families:
It’s hard to
read the New Testament without being impressed by the many accounts of the
Savior healing the sick and afflicted—everyone from a woman with a fever
to a girl who had been pronounced dead. What messages might there be for us in
these miracles of physical healing? Certainly, one obvious message is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, with power over all things, including our
physical pains and imperfections.
But another
meaning is found in His words to the skeptical scribes: “That ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to
forgive sins” (Mark 2:10). So when you read about a blind
person or a leper being healed, you might think of the healing—both spiritual and physical—that you can receive from the
Savior and hear Him say to you, “Thy faith hath made thee whole” (Mark 5:34).
Miracles occur according to God’s will and our faith in Jesus
Christ.
As we read through these verses did you notice the connection or
relationship between faith and the miracles? Remember we are looking for the faith of the person that was
healed or the faith of others who were involved in the healings. As we study these verses,
we are counseled to ask ourselves the following questions: What does the account teach about faith? What does the
account teach about the Savior? What does God want me to learn from this
miracle?
Asking these questions of ourselves
as we read and study each miracle will be helpful for our understanding of the
verses and make it more applicable to our individual lives. Something that kind
of jumped out at me was the fact that when Jesus asked the multitude who was
His mother, His brother, or His sister, He answered the question by saying back
to them that “whosoever
shall do the awill of
God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.” I had to share this
with each one of you😊 as I understand this
it means that if we are willing to do the will of God – then we become the
brother, sister, and mother to the Savior. What do you think?
Which of the miracles did you find
more meaningful to you? One example could be the woman who had the issue of
blood for twelve years – she believed that if she could only touch the hem of
Jesus’s robe that she would be healed. She was thought to be unclean by those
around her – I believe they completely shunned her, maybe they thought they
might catch her sickness. But she had enough faith to believe that if she cold
only but touch the hem of Jesus’s robe she believed she would be completely
healed.
If only I could have as much faith –
right? Another example I was thinking of is the one of the centurion who had
one of his servants at his home sick with the palsy and who was in a lot of
pain. He asked Jesus if he would heal his servant, but he felt unworthy to have
Jesus come to his home. He said that if Jesus would just say the words, he knew
that his servant would be healed.
He had great faith, in fact Jesus
said as much in verse 10 of Matthew chapter 9, when He spoke to those with whom
He was with – “ Verily I say unto you, I have not
found so great bfaith, no, not in Israel.” And as it says
in our lesson: “Yet the Savior blessed them both.” And
our question here is: What do you learn from these two
accounts about seeking help from the Lord?
For me that answer would be that even though I know that I am an
unworthy servant, I know that the Lord will bless me, if I come to Him with a
humble heart and a contrite spirit. I am here to say that miracles continue to
happen every day😊 I know that there are some who
believe that miracles do not happen anymore. I am sorry --- no, I will take
that back ---
I am very happy to say
that I have seen far too many miracles in my own lifetime not to believe that
our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ are alive and well and providing
miracles every day, more than likely every minute of every day for someone,
somewhere in the world!!! And as the following scripture reminds us, “God is an
unchangeable Being.”
15 And now, O all ye that have imagined up unto yourselves a
god who can do ano miracles, I would ask
of you, have all these things passed, of which I have spoken? Has the end come
yet? Behold I say unto you, Nay; and God has not ceased to be a God of
miracles.
16 Behold, are not the things that God hath wrought marvelous
in our eyes? Yea, and who can comprehend the marvelous aworks of God?
17 Who shall say that it was not a miracle that by his aword the heaven and the
earth should be; and by the power of his word man was bcreated of the cdust of the earth; and by
the power of his word have miracles been wrought?
18 And who shall say that Jesus Christ did not do many
mighty amiracles? And there were
many bmighty miracles wrought by
the hands of the apostles.
19 And if there were amiracles wrought then, why
has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being?
And behold, I say unto you he bchangeth not; if so he
would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles.
20 And the reason why he ceaseth to do amiracles
among the children of men is because that they dwindle in unbelief, and depart
from the right way, and know not the God in whom they should btrust.
21 Behold, I say unto you that whoso
believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, awhatsoever
he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this
bpromise
is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth.
12 For if there be no afaith among the children
of men God can do no bmiracle among them;
wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith.
13 Behold, it was the faith of Alma and Amulek that
caused the aprison to tumble to the
earth.
14 Behold, it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi that wrought
the achange upon the Lamanites,
that they were baptized with fire and with the bHoly Ghost.
15 Behold, it was the faith of aAmmon and his brethren
which bwrought so great a miracle
among the Lamanites.
16 Yea, and even all they who wrought amiracles wrought them by bfaith, even those who
were before Christ and also those who were after.
27 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have amiracles
ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right
hand of God, to bclaim
of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men?
28 For he hath answered the ends of the law, and he claimeth all
those who have faith in him; and they who have faith in him will acleave
unto every good thing; wherefore he badvocateth
the cause of the children of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens.
29 And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have
miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have aangels
ceased to minister unto the children of men.
30 For behold, they are subject unto him, to minister according to
the word of his command, showing themselves unto them of strong faith and a
firm mind in every form of agodliness.
31 And the office of their ministry is to call men unto repentance,
and to fulfil and to do the work of the covenants of the Father, which he hath
made unto the children of men, to prepare the way among the children of men, by
declaring the word of Christ unto the achosen
vessels of the Lord, that they may bear testimony of him.
32 And by so doing, the Lord God prepareth the way that the aresidue
of men may have bfaith
in Christ, that the Holy Ghost may have place in their hearts, according to the
power thereof; and after this manner bringeth to pass the Father, the covenants
which he hath made unto the children of men.
33 And Christ hath said: aIf
ye will have bfaith
in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is cexpedient
in me.
34 And he hath said: aRepent
all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and
have faith in me, that ye may be saved.
35 And now, my beloved brethren, if this be the case that these
things are true which I have spoken unto you, and God will show unto you, with apower
and great glory at the last bday,
that they are true, and if they are true has the day of miracles ceased?
36 Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has
he awithheld
the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last,
or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be
saved?
37 Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that amiracles
are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men;
wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it
is because of bunbelief,
and all is vain.
8
For I am God, and mine arm is not ashortened;
and I will show bmiracles,
csigns,
and wonders, unto all those who dbelieve
on my name.
·
What do the Savior’s healings and these scriptures teach about
faith and miracles?
·
Sometimes we have the faith necessary and we are seeking a
miracle, but the miracle has not happened in the way we think it should or in
the way that we want or desire. What do the scriptures and our Church leaders teach about this?
In an article titled “Accepting the Lord’s Will and
Timing,” Elder David A. Bednar told about how he counseled a
couple in this situation (Ensign, Aug. 2016, 31–35; see
also 2 Corinthians 12:7–10; D&C 42:43–52).
Even when I, personally,
have not been blessed in the way I have asked I have seen blessings come into my
life and into the lives of my family in other ways. I know that our Heavenly
Father knows what we need – even when we ourselves do not recognize our needs.
·
There are some people who read about these miracles in these
scriptures Matthew 8–9 and Mark 2; 5, and they will either think that miracles do
not happen like that anymore or they may wonder if those kinds of miracles are
truly possible in their lives today. I have been the recipient of, or a witness
to many miracles in my own life, so I know that miracles still do occur in our
day, based upon our faith.
·
Moroni described our day as a time when “it shall be said that
miracles are done away,” but he also promised that God is still a God of
miracles, for God is “an unchangeable Being” (Mormon
8:26; 9:18–21; see
also Moroni
7:27–29). How can you help others increase their faith in God’s power
to bless their lives?
·
26 And no one need say they shall not come, for they surely shall, for the Lord hath spoken it; for aout of the earth shall they come, by the hand of the Lord, and none can stay it; and it shall come in a day when it shall be said that bmiracles are done away; and it shall come even as if one should speak cfrom the dead.
· 18 And who shall say that Jesus Christ did not do many mighty amiracles? And there were many bmighty miracles wrought by the hands of the apostles.
19 And if there were amiracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he bchangeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles.
20 And the reason why he ceaseth to do amiracles among the children of men is because that they dwindle in unbelief, and depart from the right way, and know not the God in whom they should btrust.
21 Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, awhatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this bpromise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth.
27 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have amiracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right hand of God, to bclaim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men?
28 For he hath answered the ends of the law, and he claimeth all those who have faith in him; and they who have faith in him will acleave unto every good thing; wherefore he badvocateth the cause of the children of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens.
29 And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have aangels ceased to minister unto the children of men.
The Prophet Joseph Smith healed the sick.
In July 1839, a large number of Saints who had been driven out of Missouri were living in wagons, in tents, and on the ground near Commerce, Illinois. Many were very sick, and Joseph and Emma Smith were exhausted from trying to help them. Wilford Woodruff described what happened on July 22: “It was a day of God’s power. There were many sick among the Saints on both sides of the [Mississippi] River, and Joseph went through the midst of them, taking them by the hand and in a loud voice commanding them in the name of Jesus Christ to arise from their beds and be made whole, and they leaped from their beds made whole by the power of God. … It was truly a time of rejoicing” (Wilford Woodruff, Journal, July 22, 1839, Church History Library).
I remember going to Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah and going to the Joseph Smith Building and watching the movie ‘Legacy.’ In this movie it retells a story of a family that joined the early church and I remember a scene in the movie that depicts some of these happenings. If you ever get the chance, you ought to watch this movie. I am sure than it is probably on DVD by now😊 in the movie as well as in this story – the power of the priesthood is evidenced in the healings that were made possible in such a short amount of time.
Elder Franklin D. Richards calmed a storm.
Elder LeGrand Richards, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, told of an experience from the life of his grandfather, Elder Franklin D. Richards, who in 1848 was the leader of a group of British Saints who were crossing the Atlantic Ocean to the United States: “The boat upon which [Elder Richards] was sailing was in great jeopardy [from a severe storm], so much so that the captain of the boat came to him and pleaded with him to intercede with the Lord in behalf of the boat and her passengers; and Grandfather, remembering that he had been promised that he should have power over the elements, walked out on the deck of the boat and raised his hands to high heaven and rebuked the sea and the waves, and they were immediately calmed” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1941, 84).
WOW!!! Can you imagine being able to do that using the priesthood that you men honorable hold??? This is the same priesthood that Jesus’ original Apostles held and used to bless others. The power of the priesthood also blesses the lives of all women as well😊I guess this could have been the way that the Lord was answering all of his shipmates’ prayers to be saved, because the Lord quite often answers prayers through other people. Also, what an awesome testimony of the power of prayer as well as the power of the priesthood!!
Jesus Christ has power to bring peace in the midst of life’s
storms.
· ·
I realize that we all have trials at some point in time in our lives, I realized in reviewing the
account in Mark 4:35–41 that it can build your faith that the Savior can bring you
peace.
·
I thought this was a great activity that we did, so I wanted to
share it with each of you. We were each given a piece of paper, and we were asked
to write on one side a trial that we have experienced or were experiencing. We
were asked to write on the other side, something
from Mark 4:35–41 that inspires us to turn
to the Savior during our trials.
·
·
·
The hymn “Master,
the Tempest Is Raging,” Hymns, no. 105, is based on
the story in Matthew
8:23–27 and Mark
4:35–41. ·
Can you find lyrics in the hymn that relate to phrases in the
scriptures.
Master, the Tempest Is Raging
Fervently
1. Master, the tempest is raging!
The billows are tossing high!
The sky is o’ershadowed with blackness.
No shelter or help is nigh.
Carest thou not that we perish?
How canst thou lie asleep
When each moment so madly is threat’ning
A grave in the angry deep?
[Chorus]
The winds and the waves shall obey thy will:
Peace, be still.
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea
Or demons or men or whatever it be,
No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean and earth and skies.
They all shall sweetly obey thy will:
Peace, be still; peace, be still.
They all shall sweetly obey thy will:
Peace, peace, be still.
2. Master, with anguish of spirit
I bow in my grief today.
The depths of my sad heart are troubled.
Oh, waken and save, I pray!
Torrents of sin and of anguish
Sweep o’er my sinking soul,
And I perish! I perish! dear Master.
Oh, hasten and take control!
[Chorus]
The winds and the waves shall obey thy will:
Peace, be still.
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea
Or demons or men or whatever it be,
No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean and earth and skies.
They all shall sweetly obey thy will:
Peace, be still; peace, be still.
They all shall sweetly obey thy will:
Peace, peace, be still.
3. Master, the terror is over.
The elements sweetly rest.
Earth’s sun in the calm lake is mirrored,
And heaven’s within my breast.
Linger, O blessed Redeemer!
Leave me alone no more,
And with joy I shall make the blest harbor
And rest on the blissful shore.
[Chorus]
The winds and the waves shall obey thy will:
Peace, be still.
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea
Or demons or men or whatever it be,
No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean and earth and skies.
They all shall sweetly obey thy will:
Peace, be still; peace, be still.
They all shall sweetly obey thy will:
Peace, peace, be still.
Text: Mary Ann Baker, ca. 1874
Music: H. R. Palmer, 1834–1907
·
Do you know what moment the artist is depicting?
·
What are other ways you can think of that would help others to
understand the meaning and power of this miracle?
Rescuing those who are lost requires our unified efforts.
· The manual tells us that the account of this miracle teaches the
value of working together in unity to assist the Savior in rescuing those in
spiritual or physical need. Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong’s message “Rescue in Unity” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov.
2014, 14–16) can add to your understanding about this truth.it might be good
for you to review the account from the scriptures and then find what Elder Wong
taught.
2 And straightway many were gathered
together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much
as about the door: and he apreached the
word unto them.
4 And when they could not come nigh unto
him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had
broken it up,
they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting
there, and reasoning in their hearts,
8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in
his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why
reason ye these things in your hearts?
9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick
of the palsy, Thy sins
be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
10 But that ye may know that the aSon of man hath
power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)
12 And immediately he arose, took up the
bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and
glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
>>>read Matthew 10–12; Mark 2; and Luke 7; 11 during the coming
week, what counsel can you find in these verses?
I know
that by being baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in and
of itself has been a true miracle. I think that having the gospel in my life
has been a great and wonderful miracle in my life and in the lives of my
children and other family members. Even though all of my family members are
pretty much inactive except my one granddaughter, their lives have truly been
blessed because of a decision that I made 31 years ago come this November.
The gospel
can and does change your life for the better if you hold fast to the iron rod;
have daily repentance; keep the commandments; follow the counsel of your Bishop,
Stake President; and the living Prophet of God; attend your church meetings;
fulfill your callings; honor and keep the covenants that you make with your
Heavenly Father. Since making this
decision my life has changed greatly😊
Well everyone,
I guess I have talked you through to the end of yet another lesson in the New
Testament. I hope and pray that I have said something that has helped some of
you to understand better those chapters and verses that we have discussed here
today. And as always, I hope and pray that I have lifted someone’s spirits
through my sharing.
Until my
next post, make it a wonderful week and keep praying, studying your scriptures,
and holding fast to the iron rod --- or the word of God. Remember, that you are
a child of God. He loves each one of you very much – so much that He gave His
Only Begotten Son, who freely gave His own life that He could pay the price of
each one of our sins and provide a way for each of us to return to live with
Him and His Father again.
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