14 Nov 2012 Wednesday
Author: The Gospel of John is an intimate testimony of Jesus Christ written by one of His most trusted and beloved servants and disciples. John, like Matthew, was one of the Lord’s original Twelve Apostles and so was a special witness to the acts and teachings in his Gospel. John and James were sons of Zebedee and, like Simon Peter, were fishermen who left all when Jesus called them. Jesus referred to the brothers as the Sons of Thunder. John and James were two of the Apostles Jesus appointed “to take the keys of presidency. Peter, James, and John acted as the First Presidency of the Church in their day”. These three were with the Lord at the raising of Jairus’s daughter, at the Transfiguration, and in Gethsemane. In his testimony, John refers to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”. The Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants refer to John’s role as a revelator and a restorer of the priesthood in the latter days.
Audience: Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote, “The gospel of John is the account for the Saints; it is pre-eminently the gospel for the Church, for those who understand the scriptures and their symbolisms and who are concerned with spiritual and eternal things”.
Historical Background: Few agree as to when the Gospel of John was written. As one Latter-day Saint educator wrote, “Attractive arguments can be put forth for a [late first century] dating of John, but they are not sufficiently strong or decisive to rule out the possibility of an early date, perhaps even as early as A.D. 35 to 45”. Some believe John wrote his Gospel at Ephesus some time after the destruction of Jerusalem.
Unique Features: Of the four Gospels, John has the most unique material, being about 92 percent exclusive. The chart below summarizes some of the differences between John’s book and the other Gospels.
Matthew, Mark & Luke
Focus on Jesus’ ministry around Galilee
Emphasize Jesus as the Son of David (the Messiah)
Accent the establishment of the church and its priesthood
Emphasize chronological events
Jesus’ saying generally short
John
Focuses on Jesus’ ministry around Judea
Emphasizes Jesus as the Son of God
Accents truths for Church members
Emphasizes the spiritual message of events
More often includes long discourses of Jesus
John began his testimony in a different manner than other Gospel writers. Rather than starting with Jesus’ genealogy, Annunciation, and birth, John focused on the premortal Christ as the “Word of God” and divine Creator. John 1 summarizes many of the themes developed in the rest of the book. It testifies of Jesus Christ’s divinity and His central role in our Heavenly Father’s plan.
John 1
• How much is this baseball worth?
• How would the value of the ball change if it were signed by the entire team of the San Francisco Giants, 2012 World Series Champions?
• How might knowing the history of something increase our appreciation of its value?
• Could this principle be true of people as well as objects?
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:1–3
• How does knowing this history increase our understanding of His importance?
Pop Quiz
The Lord’s premortal greatness. TRUE / FALSE
1. Jesus created this earth. T
2. Jesus created worlds without number. T
3. Jesus was the firstborn spirit of our Father in Heaven. T
4. Jesus was a God before He was born on this earth. T
5. Jesus was the one who established the covenant with Abraham. T
6. Jesus was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. T
7. Jesus appeared to Moses in the burning bush. T
8. Jesus helped the children of Israel escape from Egypt and parted the Red Sea. T
9. Jesus gave the Ten Commandments to Moses. T
10. Jesus is Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament. T
Quotation from Elder James E. Talmage:
“We claim scriptural authority for the assertion that Jesus Christ was and is God the Creator, the God who revealed Himself to Adam, Enoch, and all the antediluvial patriarchs and prophets down to Noah; the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the God of Israel as a united people, and the God of Ephraim and Judah after the disruption of the Hebrew nation; the God who made Himself known to the prophets from Moses to Malachi; the God of the Old Testament record; and the God of the Nephites. We affirm that Jesus Christ was and is Jehovah, the Eternal One”. (Jesus the Christ, 32)
• Why do you think the Creator of the world would choose to come into mortality as
a baby born in a humble manger?
1 Nephi 11:14–22
• What feelings do you have about God’s love as shown in the birth of Jesus Christ.
15 Nov 2012 Thursday
The Lord’s titles teach us about His life and mission.
How are each of these objects symbolic of the life of Christ?
John 4:10–15; 6:48; 8:12; Jeremiah 2:13; and Helaman 5:12
Compare:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 1:1–3, 14
In the beginning was the gospel preached through the Son. And the gospel was the word, and the word was with the Son, and the Son was with God, and the Son was of God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made which was made.
And the same word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Joseph Smith Translation of John 1:1–3, 14
Doctrine and Covenants 93:8–10
• Why does John call Jesus Christ “the Word?”
(Jesus is the “messenger of salvation”, He personifies the gospel, He carries out the word of the Father, He created the earth under the direction, or word, of the Father.)
Other titles for Jesus Christ:
• The Light (John 1:4–9)
• The Son (John 1:18, 34, 49)
• That Prophet (John 1:21; see also Deuteronomy 18:15)
• The Lord (John 1:23)
• The Lamb (John 1:29, 36)
• The Master or Rabbi (John 1:38, 49)
• The Messiah or Christ (John 1:41)
• Teacher (John 3:2)
• The Bridegroom (John 3:29)
Watch for titles of Jesus as you study the New Testament.
Consider what each one teaches about the life and mission of the Savior.
John chapters 2–3 mark the end of Jesus’ years of preparation and the beginning of His public ministry.
At a wedding feast in Cana of Galilee, Jesus performed His first public miracle by turning water into wine.
Afterwards He traveled with His family and disciples to Capernaum and then proceeded south to Jerusalem for Passover. There He cast “the changers of money” out of the temple, charging them with making “my Father’s house an house of merchandise”.
Soon thereafter, Nicodemus, a noted Pharisee and leader among the Jews, sought an audience with the Savior.
Of all the truths Jesus taught during His ministry, it is interesting to ponder what He said in one of His first interviews.
John 2
Through His example, Christ showed that we should honor and obey our earthly parents in righteousness.
• What names do you use to refer to your parents?
• What are ways of referring to your parents respectfully?
• How would you feel if you heard others refer to their parents disrespectfully?
John 2:3–4
• How respectful was Jesus Christ to His mother?
JST John 2:4 …
Woman, what wilt thou have me to do for thee? that will I do; for mine hour is not yet come.
• How does this change affect our understanding of how respectful Jesus was to His mother?
Statement by Elder James E. Talmage in the commentary for John 2:4 in The Life and Teachings of Jesus and His Apostles:
“… The noun of address, ‘Woman,’ as applied by a son to his mother may sound to our ears somewhat harsh, if not disrespectful; but its use was really an expression of opposite import. To every son the mother ought to be preeminently the woman of women; She is the one woman in the world to whom the son owes his earthly existence; and though the title ‘Mother’ belongs to every woman who has earned the honors of maternity, yet to no child is there more than one woman whom by natural right he can address by that title of respectful acknowledgment. When, in the last dread scenes of His mortal existence, Christ hung in dying agony upon the cross, He looked down upon the weeping Mary, His mother, and commended her to the care of the beloved apostle John, with the words: ‘Woman, behold thy son!’ Can it be thought that in this supreme moment, our Lord’s concern for the mohter from whom He was about to be separated by death was associated with any emotion other than that of honor, tenderness and love?” (Talmage, Jesus the Christ, pp. 144-45.)
Jesus Christ set an example by never referring to His mother disrespectfully.
We should all do the same.
Jesus came to earth to accomplish the Atonement, and all the events of His life led to this event.
Jesus’ entire life was dedicated to accomplishing the will of Heavenly Father.
• What was the purpose for our coming to the earth?
• What could you be doing now that would help you accomplish that purpose?
• What can we do to accomplish our life’s mission?
(Repent of our sins, study the scriptures, live the commandments, learn to listen to the Spirit.)
Live in such a way that we can appreciate and qualify for the blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
John 3
We must be spiritually born of God, changed from our fallen state to a state of righteousness.
• Why do we get so excited over newborn babies?
• What are the characteristics we commonly attribute to newborns?
(Purity, innocence, humility, dependence, love, freshness from God’s presence.)
• Have you ever wished you could have those same qualities again?
• What advantages are there to starting over?
John 3:3–7
• How does Jesus say we can begin anew?
• Why do you think the Lord uses the phrase “born again” to describe baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost?
When the Savior used the phrases “born again” and “born of the Spirit,”
He was comparing baptism and spiritual rebirth to physical birth.
Alma 5:14
Mosiah 5:2
What changes that accompany being born again?
We all need to be born of the Spirit.
Describe the wind (a windy day) in Wayne …
John 3:8
How did Jesus say they are alike?
John 3:9–10
• Why was Nicodemus rebuked for not understanding the things Jesus taught?
(He was one of the leaders and teachers of the people and should have understood these truths.)
• In what ways might we sometimes be guilty of misunderstanding the effects of the Holy Ghost?
• What are some of the ways in which people receive their testimonies by the power of the Holy Ghost?
• Why do people react differently to the Spirit?
• Have you ever been frustrated when you did not feel the Holy Ghost in the same way as others?
• How do you react when your prayers are not answered in the way you expected?
Although the effects of the Spirit can be as hard to describe as the wind, they are real.
We can all be born of the Spirit if we follow the Lord’s example.
19 Nov 2012 Monday
20 Nov 2012 Tuesday
26 Nov 2012 Monday
27 Nov 2012 Tuesday
John 7–8 takes place in the autumn of the third year of the Lord’s ministry.
Like His countrymen, Jesus was planning to attend the Feast of the Tabernacles in Jerusalem. Some of His brethren felt that the festival presented an opportunity for Jesus to make a public declaration of His divine mission (see John 7:4). Jesus rejected the suggestion and delayed His departure for a few days, traveling secretly because the Jewish leaders sought His life (see vv. 8–13).
“When the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51).
He would teach in Judea and Perea again before the crowning events of Gethsemane and Golgotha but would not return to His beloved Galilee until after His Resurrection.
John 7
What if a friend approached you and asked how she could know if the law of tithing was really a commandment of God.
How would you answer such a question?
John 7:17
“I am reminded of two young men who came in to see me some months ago. They had been recommended by their priesthood leaders. From the moment they stepped into the office, they began in a very sincere way questioning certain doctrines and teachings and procedures of the Church. . . .
“I asked them finally if their questions perhaps represented the symptoms of their problem and not the cause. Wasn’t their real question whether or not this church is true? Whether or not it is actually the Church of Jesus Christ? And whether or not it is led by divine revelation? The young men agreed that perhaps if they were sure of the answers to these questions, they could take care of the other questions that seemed to arise in their hearts. . . .
“I asked them if they would be interested in a three month experiment. They said they would try but were not anxious to commit themselves until they found out what I had in mind.
“‘During the next three months will you attend all your church meetings and listen carefully to what is being said. . . .
“‘. . . Will you reinstitute in your personal life prayer, night and morning. . . .’
“I asked them if ... they would refrain from drinking, smoking, and drugs. . . .
“I asked them if ... they would resolve to keep themselves morally clean and in harmony with the principles of virtue which the Savior taught. They said they would. And then I suggested they establish a schedule, on their own, during the next three months to read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover—a few pages each day, with a prayer at each reading that the Lord would bless them to know if the book is true and actually from him. They agreed.
“. . . I added, ‘If things go properly, you’ll notice some by-products, such as a growing awareness and concern for your fellowman and greater appreciation and consideration for other people.’ They accepted the challenge and left”.
(Elder Loren C. Dunn, a member of the Seventy. in Conference Report, Apr. 1971, 106–7; or Ensign, June 1971, 81–82).
How can the principles in John 7:17 can be applied to our own lives?
John 7:17
Personal test: Identify where your own testimony is lacking and try the same three-month experiment to build it.
John 8
Read and contrast: John 8:31–32 & John 8:34.
• How does sin affect us: physically, spiritually, socially, mentally?
• How can the truth make us free in each of these four areas?
Elder Bruce R. McConkie, expanding on the phrase “the truth shall make you free,” wrote:
“Free from the damning power of false doctrine; free from the bondage of appetite and lust; free from the shackles of sin; free from every evil and corrupt influence and from every restraining and curtailing power; free to go on to the unlimited freedom enjoyed in its fulness only by exalted beings”.
(Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:456–57)
• How does practicing a piece of music limit your freedom?
• How does gaining a knowledge of music and practicing a piece give a person freedom?
• How does lack of knowledge and expertise limit freedom?
The Piano Guys
• How do you feel when you listen to someone who has so much freedom to play music?
• How is this like gaining knowledge of and living the gospel?
Knowledge is power if we live according to that knowledge.
Not knowing the truth limits our freedom to live the gospel.
Sin and ignorance bind us and keep us from becoming what we could be, while obedience to the truth gives us freedom.
What are some examples of how the truth brings us freedom?
In John chapters 7 & 8 the Savior repeatedly bore witness of His divinity.
John 7:14–31
John 7:32–53
John 8:12–32
John 8:33–59
Why do you think Jesus became more open in bearing testimony of Himself as He neared the end of His ministry?
John 8:58
Exodus 3:14
• What is the significance of Jesus’ declaration in John 8:58?
• Why would the Jews pick up stones to kill Him?
• How does knowing that Jesus is Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament, affect our understanding of Him?
Jesus Christ is Jehovah, the God of Moses, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
28 Nov 2012 Wednesday
John 9
Illness and tragedy are a necessary part of life’s experiences, not necessarily evidence of sin.
Why do you think some people are born with disabilities?
• Because this world is fallen and imperfect.
• As a test for the person with the disability.
• As a test for others.
• So that God can show His power in our lives.
John 9:1–5
• According to these verses, why do some people have disabilities in mortality?
• What reasons did the disciples suggest to explain why the man was born blind?
• What did Jesus say was the reason this man was blind?
(This reason may not apply to every disability.)
Elder Neal A. Maxwell, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, wrote:
“This is a doctrine . . . which reminds us mortals that we do not have all of the data. There are many times when we must withhold judgment and trust God lest we misread, as did Jesus’ disciples when they inquired about the man blind from birth and Jesus gave the immortal reply: ‘Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him’ (see John 9:1–3)”. (But for a Small Moment [1986], 94)
On another occasion Elder Maxwell, then a member of the Seventy, wrote:
“There are clearly special cases of individuals with special limitations in life, which we cannot now fathom. Like him who was ‘blind from birth,’ some come to bring glory to God. (John 9:1–2.) We must be exceedingly careful about imputing either wrong causes or wrong rewards to all such. They are in the Lord’s hands and he loves them perfectly. Some of those who have required much waiting upon in this life may be waited upon in the next world—but for the highest of reasons”.
(Things As They Really Are [1978], 26)
Elder Boyd K. Packer said:
“There has always been in all of humanity a sprinkling of those who are described in the scriptures as the blind, the halt, the lame, the deaf, the withered, the dumb, the impotent folk. We refer to them as having learning or communication disorders, as the hearing or visually impaired, as those with motor or orthopedic limitations. We speak of intellectual or emotional impairment, of retardation, and mental illness. Some suffer from a combination of these, and all of them cannot function without some help. . . .
“. . . It is natural for parents with handicapped children to ask themselves, ‘What did we do wrong?’ The idea that all suffering is somehow the direct result of sin has been taught since ancient times. It is false doctrine. That notion was even accepted by some of the early disciples until the Lord corrected them [see John 9:1–3]. . . .
“There is little room for feelings of guilt in connection with handicaps. Some handicaps may result from carelessness or abuse, and some through addiction of parents. But most of them do not. Afflictions come to the innocent.
“The very purpose for which the world was created, and man introduced to live upon it, requires that the laws of nature operate in cold disregard for human feelings. We must work out our salvation without expecting the laws of nature to be exempted for us. Natural law is, on rare occasions, suspended in a miracle. But mostly our handicapped, like the lame man at the pool of Bethesda, wait endlessly for the moving of the water. . . .
“If healing does not come in mortal life, it will come thereafter. Just as the gorgeous monarch butterfly emerges from a chrysalis, so will spirits emerge [see D&C 138:17; Alma 40:23; 2 Nephi 9:13; 1 Corinthians 15:19]. . . .
“If our view is limited to mortal life, some things become unbearable because they seem so unfair and so permanent. There are doctrines which, if understood, will bring a perspective toward and a composure regarding problems which otherwise have no satisfactory explanation”.
(in Conference Report, Apr. 1991, 6–8; or Ensign, May 1991, 7–9)
1 Samuel 16:7
Why is it important not to speculate unduly about physical disabilities?
Heavenly Father’s plan is fair and just, and that we cannot always understand reasons for suffering because of our limited mortal perspective. Encourage the students to be more sensitive to others’ disabilities and suffering.
Who was born into the church and who is a convert to the Church?
Why don’t we understand the entire gospel of Jesus Christ all at once?
• Why do you believe some people grow spiritually and others do not?
Open Your Scriptures:
Moroni 7:16–19; Doctrine and Covenants 42:61; 50:23–25; 88:6–13, 67; 93:26–27
• What principles of spiritual growth that are found in these passages?
• How might the principles in these passages apply to the man born blind?
• Have you noticed any of these principles functioning in your own life?
03 Dec 2012 Monday
John 10
How is Jesus Christ is a shepherd?
He knows the names of His sheep,
He leads His sheep and they follow Him,
He is willing to lay down His life for His sheep,
He protects them,
He brings all of His sheep together.
Elder John R. Lasater, a member of the Seventy, related an experience he had that illustrates how well the Good Shepherd knows His sheep:
“Some years ago, it was my privilege to visit the country of Morocco as part of an official United States government delegation. As part of that visit, we were invited to travel some distance into the desert to visit some ruins. Five large black limousines moved across the beautiful Moroccan countryside at considerable speed. I was riding in the third limousine, which had lagged some distance behind the second. As we topped the brow of a hill, we noticed that the limousine in front of us had pulled off to the side of the road. As we drew nearer, I sensed that an accident had occurred and suggested to my driver that we stop. The scene before us has remained with me for these many years.
“An old shepherd, in the long, flowing robes of the Savior’s day, was standing near the limousine in conversation with the driver. Nearby, I noted a small flock of sheep numbering not more than fifteen or twenty. An accident had occurred. The king’s vehicle had struck and injured one of the sheep belonging to the old shepherd. The driver of the vehicle was explaining to him the law of the land. Because the king’s vehicle had injured one of the sheep belonging to the old shepherd, he was now entitled to one hundred times its value at maturity. However, under the same law, the injured sheep must be slain and the meat divided among the people. My interpreter hastily added, ‘But the old shepherd will not accept the money. They never do.’
“Startled, I asked him why. And he added, ‘Because of the love he has for each of his sheep.’ It was then that I noticed the old shepherd reach down, lift the injured lamb in his arms, and place it in a large pouch on the front of his robe. He kept stroking its head, repeating the same word over and over again. When I asked the meaning of the word, I was informed, ‘Oh, he is calling it by name. All of his sheep have a name, for he is their shepherd, and the good shepherds know each one of their sheep by name.’
“It was as my driver predicted. The money was refused, and the old shepherd with his small flock of sheep, with the injured one tucked safely in the pouch on his robe, disappeared into the beautiful deserts of Morocco” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1988, 86–87; or Ensign, May 1988, 74).
John 10:16
What other sheep did Jesus have besides the people in the Jerusalem area?
3 Nephi 15:21
3 Nephi 16:1–3
3 Nephi 17:4
• With so many sheep in different places, how does the Shepherd know each one individually?
(see John 10:14; see also Luke 12:6–7; D&C 76:24; Moses 1:37–39)
• What evidence have you seen in your life that the Lord knows you personally?
God knows and loves each of us individually.
04 Dec 2012 Tuesday
Go back 500 years.
• How would you explain to a person of that time how an electric lightbulb works?
• Would it be easier to demonstrate if you had taken a battery-operated flashlight along with you?
• Would it be easier for people to understand the doctrine of the Resurrection if they saw Lazarus being brought back to life?
Lazarus was not resurrected but brought back to mortality.
This miracle does show that Jesus has power over death.
John 11:21–26
• What principle was Jesus trying to communicate to Martha? (see vv. 25–26).
• What could Jesus do to illustrate His power over death?
• How is the raising of Lazarus like the Resurrection of Jesus Christ?
• How is it different?
(Lazarus would suffer death again. A resurrected body does not.)
A statement by Elder Bruce R. McConkie:
“By faith the dead are sometimes raised, meaning that the spirit is called back to inhabit again the mortal body.
(3 Ne. 7:19; 19:4; 4 Ne. 5; 1 Kings 17:17–23; Matt. 9:18–26; Mark 5:21–43; Luke 7:11–17, 22; 8:41–56; John 11:1–46; Acts 9:36–43; 20:9–12.)
Such persons pass through the natural or temporal death twice. In due course, also, all men will be raised from the dead and live in an immortal state.
(Alma 11:41; 12:8.)” (Mormon Doctrine, 185–86).
Listening to, following, and accepting Jesus Christ protects and keeps us safe.
Video: The Good Shepard.
John 12
John 13–17 takes place in the upper chamber of a disciple’s home after the Last Supper. They record the words and acts of the Savior as He prepared His disciples for His betrayal and Crucifixion. He performed the ordinance of washing His
disciples’ feet. He named Judas as His betrayer. In an extended discourse containing some of the most powerful teachings of His ministry, He taught His disciples about
loving one another, the two Comforters, the allegory of the vine and the branches, the persecutions to come, and our need to rely on the Holy Ghost. Then He offered one of the greatest of all recorded prayers in behalf of His Apostles and disciples.
We would do well to feast often upon the words in these chapters.
John 13
• Why are these people leaders?
• If these people did not hold positions of power or authority, would you still consider them to be leaders? Why or why not?
• What are the differences between the way the world and the Church view leadership?
Why do you consider Jesus to be a leader?
Christlike Leadership
Mark 10:42–44
Luke 22:24–30
John 13:1–17
• What did Christ teach in these passages about leadership?
• Why do you think the Savior washed His disciples’ feet?
The Savior washed even Judas’s feet, though He knew Judas would shortly betray Him.
• What does that teach you about the Savior’s view of service and leadership?
President David O. McKay, commenting on Jesus’ washing the feet of the disciples, said:
“What an example of service to those great servants, followers of the Christ! He that is greatest among you, let him be least. So we sense the obligation to be of greater service to the membership of the Church, to devote our lives to the advancement of the kingdom of God on earth” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1951, 159).
• What does President McKay suggest we could do to serve better?
• What can we do to apply the Savior’s example in our lives?
• What are some examples of service you have given recently as an individual, a family, or a member of the Church?
• Why should we consider ourselves either leaders or potential leaders?
HOMEWORK: John 14, 15, & 16
05 Dec 2012 Wednesday
HOMEWORK: John 14, 15, & 16
If you loved me, you would _________________.
How would … your mother fill in the blank?
your sister fill in the blank?
a friend fill in the blank?
Jesus fill in the blank?
If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15
• Why is obedience an expression of love?
• What does a person’s disobedience suggest?
• How do our actions often express our feelings more accurately than our words?
Advocate Define … (An advocate is like a lawyer who pleads a case or cause.)
1 John 2:1
Doctrine and Covenants 62:1
How is Jesus Christ our advocate with Heavenly Father?
Intercession Define … (To intercede means to reconcile, mediate, or plead for.)
2 Nephi 2:9–10
Mosiah 15:7–9
In what ways does Jesus intercede with the Father in our behalf?
• Who do you think the defense attorney might represent? (Jesus.)
• Who might the prosecutor represent?
(one of Satan’s names is “the accuser”; see Revelation 12:9–10.)
• Who might the defendant represent? (Any of us.)
All of us sin and make mistakes in our lives. Our repentance and obedience allow the Savior, who is without sin and who atoned for us, to be our advocate with the Father and to intercede on our behalf.
Commentary for John 17:1 from The Life and Teachings of Jesus and His Apostles (pp. 171–72).
As we read John 17, look for evidence of the Lord acting as an intercessor on behalf of His disciples.
John 17
How do you feel knowing that Jesus Christ is our Advocate and intercessor?
A statement by President J. Reuben Clark Jr., who was a member of the First Presidency:
“I believe that our Heavenly Father wants to save every one of his children. I do not think he intends to shut any of us off. . . .
“. . . I believe that in his justice and mercy he will give us the maximum reward for our acts, give us all that he can give, and in the reverse, I believe that he will impose upon us the minimum penalty which it is possible for him to impose”. (in Conference Report, Oct. 1953, 84).
John 17:3
• What do you think is the difference between knowing Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and knowing about them?
1 John 4:7–8
Mosiah 5:13
Doctrine and Covenants 132:21–24
06 Dec 2012 Thursday
HOMEWORK: John 14 – 16, 18 & 19
The final chapters of John provide us an opportunity to ponder the betrayal of Jesus by Judas and the ignominy of the Savior’s trials. Look for indications of Jewish feelings about Roman rule, and consider how the Jewish leaders were able to persuade Pilate to authorize the execution of Jesus though he knew He was innocent of any crime. After experiencing ridicule, an illegal hearing, and abuse at the hands of Herod and Pilate, Jesus was led away to be crucified at Calvary, where those who passed by Him reviled Him by saying, “If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross” (see Mark 15:30). His body was laid in a garden tomb, which was sealed shut, but it would not long remain there. As you read, ponder the relief and joy of Mary Magdalene and the disciples as they realized that the Lord Jesus Christ had risen from the dead and would live forevermore.
John 20
• How do you know that Tasmania exists?
• How does this relate to the phrase “seeing is believing”?
• Why is it important at times to depend on the word of others who have seen?
(Compare the reactions of Thomas & John)
John 20:24–25
John 20:8
Why do you think Thomas didn’t depend on the word of his brethren?
There had never been a resurrection since the world was created.
How might this fact have influenced Thomas’s willingness to believe?
John 20:25–29
• What was Thomas’s response after he saw and felt the wounds in the Savior’s hands and side?
• What important truth did the resurrected Lord teach Thomas?
• What principle of the gospel do we develop when we believe without seeing?
John 20:30–31
• According to these verses, why did John record these events?
“He Is Risen” (Hymns, no. 199)
1. He is risen! He is risen! Tell it out with joyful voice.
He has burst his three days' prison; Let the whole wide earth rejoice.
Death is conquered; man is free. Christ has won the victory.
2. Come with high and holy hymning; Chant our Lord's triumphant lay.
Not one darksome cloud is dimming Yonder glorious morning ray,
Breaking o'er the purple east, Symbol of our Easter feast.
3. He is risen! He is risen! He hath opened heaven's gate.
We are free from sin's dark prison, Risen to a holier state.
And a brighter Easter beam On our longing eyes shall stream.
Text: Cecil Frances Alexander, 1818-1895
Music: Joachim Neander, 1650-1680
• What blessings does the Resurrection give us?
• What condition would we be facing at death if Jesus Christ had not broken the bands of death?
2 Nephi 9:8–9
• How do you feel about the promise of the Resurrection?
Doctrine and Covenants 76:22–24
People in our day have seen the resurrected Christ.
How can we believe the testimonies of these people that Jesus Christ was resurrected and lives today?
John 21
10 Dec 2012 Monday
John 21
“We love that to which we give ____, whether it be the gospel, God, or gold”
(by Elder Marvin J. Ashton, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve in Conference Report, Apr. 1981, 31; or Ensign, May 1981, 24)
“We love that to which we give time, whether it be the gospel, God, or gold”
(by Elder Marvin J. Ashton, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve in Conference Report, Apr. 1981, 31; or Ensign, May 1981, 24)
Why do you think this statement is true?
John 21:2–6
• How did Peter and the disciples decided to spend their time?
• How successful were they at fishing through the night?
• What lesson do you think the Savior was trying to teach them by having them throw the net over the other side of the boat?
Luke 5:4–11
• How did Peter, James, and John respond the last time the Savior did this?
(They left all and followed Jesus.)
• What can we do to show our love for Jesus Christ and His gospel?
John 21:15–17
• What do you think the Savior meant when He said “feed my lambs” and “feed my sheep”?
• Who are the lambs or sheep?
A statement by Elder Robert D. Hales:
“Feeding the lambs could well be missionary labors working with newly baptized members, who must be nurtured and given caring warmth and fellowship in the family of Saints. Feeding the sheep could well refer to the mature members of the Church, some active and some less active, who need to be cared for and brought back to the flock”.
(in Conference Report, Apr. 1997, 114; or Ensign, May 1997, 83).
President Gordon B. Hinckley further stated:
“With the ever increasing number of converts, we must make an increasingly substantial effort to assist them as they find their way. Every one of them needs three things: a friend, a responsibility, and nurturing with ‘the good word of God’ (Moroni 6:4). It is our duty and opportunity to provide these things”.
(in Conference Report, Apr. 1997, 66; or Ensign, May 1997, 47).
How can we more effectively spend our time and show our love for the Lord by helping to feed His sheep?
John 21:18–24
The Lord may require different sacrifices from one person than from another.
Matthew 16:24
• According to this verse, what must we do to be saved?
• What does it mean to take up one’s cross?
And now for a man to take up his cross, is to deny himself all ungodliness, and every worldly lust, and keep my commandments. Joseph Smith Translation of Matthew 16:26 (24d)
• What does this verse add to our understanding of what it means to take up our cross?
John 21:18–19
• What did it mean to Peter to take up his cross?
(He would follow Jesus in death.)
In Peter’s case, the request to “take up his cross, and follow me” was more literal than it is for most of us.
According to tradition, Peter was crucified in Rome, upside down at his own request because he did not consider himself worthy to meet death in the same manner as the Lord.
John 21:20–24 gives another example of what it means to follow the Lord. The Prophet Joseph Smith received a more complete account of that event by revelation.
Doctrine and Covenants 7
• What was John’s desire?
• How did it compare to Peter’s?
• What was good about each of the requests?
• What change needed to happen to John in order for him to receive his request?
(His body needed to be changed to allow him to remain that long on the earth.)
• What can we learn from these two different examples of following the Savior?
There are different ways we can “give our lives” to the Lord.
Some give their lives through dying for the gospel cause.
Others give their lives by living the principles of the gospel each day.
Take up your cross and follow the Lord.