Week 3 Post 2 Requirements to Receive Miracles

 Jesus taught the disciples that three things needed for miracles to be performed. He told them they needed faith. It didn’t need to be a lot of faith and compared it to a mustard seed. In addition to their faith they must fast and pray.

3 Nephi 18:20  For miracles in our lives this verse teaches we need to do three things. First ask Heavenly Father in Jesus’ name. Second is the instruction to ask for what is right. So it is a waste of time asking for anything that is contrary to the commandments. Then last of all is to believe we will receive what we are asking for.

D&C 50:29 This scripture teaches that we must be purified and cleansed of sin, then we ask in the name of Jesus and what we ask will be granted.

D & C 42:48  In this scripture it states that those with faith in Jesus will be healed if it is not their appointed time to die.

I have a granddaughter that shares my birthday. Her name is Jayne. When she was 18 months old she aspirated, we think it was a kernel of popcorn. She was on the brink of death. I witnessed a miracle the day of this accident. The priesthood saved her life. She is now 6 a healthy, happy 6 year old. I am thankful for the gospel in my life and to be learning and studying the life of Jesus Christ. 

Week 3 Jesus Feeds the Multitude

This is one of my student choice assignments for this week. I compared two miracles where Jesus fed multitudes with a few fish. I included a few comments on the end...for those that read to the end!

Matthew 14:14-21

How many people were present?                           5,000 + women & children

What did they need?                                     The multitude needed food to eat.

What were they able to offer in an effort

to meet that need?                                        5 loaves of bread & 2 fishes

Words that describe the feelings of the

Savior towards the multitude:                     Compassion, they need not depart, give them to eat

Words or phrases describing what the

Savior provided for them:                           They did all eat, they were filled, they took up fragments

 Matt 15:323-38

How many people were present?                           4000 + women & children

What did they need?                                     They needed food to eat.

What were they able to offer in an

effort to meet that need?                             7 loaves of bread and a few little fishes

Words that describe the feeling of the

Savior towards the multitude:                     Compassion, I will not send them away hungry, lest they

                                                                        Faint by the way.

Words or phrases describing what the

Savior provided for them:                           All ate, all were filled, Seven baskets of food leftover.

In Romans 3:23 we read that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  I have sinned which blocks my path to eternal life. I cannot overcome sin on my own.  

I started thinking about the parable and what part I play. I am a loaf of bread. On my own my efforts are very small, but when I allow the Savior to bless me miracles happen. Here is my thought process combining the parable and Ether 12:27:

There was insufficient bread to feed the crowd.

I am insufficient. On my own I am not able to gain eternal life.

Jesus took the bread and blessed it. He fed the multitude.

Jesus shows me my weakness. I am humbled. I receive grace. I receive strength to overcome my weakness.

I am aware of my sin.  With faith in Jesus Christ I can repent. I will receive forgiveness. My weakness becomes strength as I gain power to resist temptation. As his disciple I grow in strength and wisdom. 

Week Two New Testament: Parables

Parable: Method of teaching used by many, but most exclusively by Jesus Christ, especially during the Galilean portion of his ministry. Parables were used as away to teach religious truth, with the amount of understanding dependent on the faith and intelligence of the listener. To those not interested in the gospel the stories were meaningless, yet to the spiritual the stories gave understanding to the mysteries and secrets of the kingdom of heaven. Those who seek truth will find it buried in the parables.

The origin of the word parable is Greek, meaning side by side or comparison. Jesus taught gospel principle side by side to material objects that were common to the people of the time.

There are two aspects for the listener to consider, the application and the interpretation. When a parable is delivered there is only one meaning or interpretation of the story. When understanding its true meaning both context and setting are to be considered. From study of the time, location, people being taught, the true interpretation can be understood. There are rules in regard to interpretations of parables. First, the student should not link subordinate incidents to include the same meaning. Second, do not apply similar meaning when two stories share similar or parallel information. Third, the same words used in different parables can be used for different meanings. The example given is the word leaven which can illustrate the meaning of good or evil. Fourth, is that the comparison within a parable is not complete and is used to help understand, but does not affect the meaning of the parable. The parable is a window to how life is, not necessarily as it should be, with draws points of doctrine from the example. Last, find and apply the teaching of the parable rather than focusing and dissecting the story around it.  The study of the parables is valuable today as the application of the parables continues through every age and circumstance.

1. Parable tares.   Matt 13:24-30: What describes the future growth of the church.
2. Parables of the mustard seed and the leaven.  Matt 13:31-    Remarkable growth of the church in the future.
3. Parables of the treasure and the pearl of great price.  Matt 13:44-46   Why members are willing to sacrifice.
4. Parable of the gospel net. Matt 13:47-50     Why we send out missionaries.

The question is presented, what sacrifices would I make to obtain the gospel? As a life time member I don’t know. Conversion stories are so interesting and I am left wondering if I would recognize and receive the gospel if I had not been born into the gospel. It is easy to say I would give up family, wealth, or fame, but that would be guessing.

As far as sacrifices in relation to the gospel, there may seem to be a few of them.  There is the sacrifice of time. This would include temple attendance, church attendance, preparation for teaching and fulfilling callings. There is monetary sacrifice of tithes and offerings. I have one older brother that is not actively engaged and I believe our relationship has been compromised by my activity. I believe it is on his end. He is uncomfortable around active family members. In connection with the subject of my brother, there has been no sacrifice too great when I compare the current state of our lives. I would not want to be in my brother’s shoes. The yoke offered by Jesus is light to bear. Satan lured my brother down a dark and dreary path. The gospel is not a sacrifice it is the plan of happiness.

The net mentioned in Matt 13:47may be the missionary work of the Church. The net is cast out and gathers in all who will hear. In the end all who are faithful will be gathered in, but those who fall away and do not abide the commandments will be cast away. 

Jesus Called Twelve Apostles

1.      James the son of Zebedee was with Jesus Christ on three occasions where all twelve disciples where not included. They were the raising of Jairus’ daughter, the Mount of Transfiguration, and the Garden of Gethsemane.

Andrew, who was the brother of Simon, was a disciple of John the Baptist.

Thomas, one of the twelve, his name means twin. Was he a twin?

   2.  An Apostle is a special witness of Jesus Christ, testifying of his divinity throughout the world. Originally the twelve called to be Jesus’ apostles were to be his closest disciples. After his death they were sent to teach the world of Him. In like fashion there are twelve apostles called in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  They serve as a Quorum. Their duties differ from other officers in that they are sent forth to testify of the Divinity of Jesus Christ and his resurrected from the dead.

  3.          The Apostles were prepared as missionaries because they would have physical and emotional needs. The instructions given to them prepared them for both. They were told not to take money or food with them. They were told not to take extra clothing or shoes with them. They were told to ask for worthy people when they came into town and stay with them. They were told to salute the house, which in Luke 10:5 means say “peace to this house.”  In this way they were taught to follow customs.

     Jesus told them where to go. They were to go first to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. Later they would take the message to the entire world. He reminded them to tell the people that the gospel was available to them. He told them they would see families divided due to the work. It would pit believers against unbelievers, but that God comes first.

      He warned them they may be arrested and brought before kings and governors. They were to speak after being prompted by the Spirit, which would be the words of the Father. If they were being persecuted in a city, they were told to go to a different city. The work to be done is everywhere. He suggested they be cunning and use their common sense.

   He gave them courage by telling them they would be watched over. He reminds them that Heavenly Father knows them and knows their concerns and needs. He reminds them that those that can kill them physically can’t take away their salvation. He tells them they will be treated in a similar way he was treated. He tells them not to fear.  

4.    When Peter, James, and John were invited by the Savior to become fishers of men, they followed him when they got to land. They left behind their employment, homes, and  family members.  The easy answer is to just be like them, accept the invitation to follow Jesus without looking back. But in my real everyday life I get caught up in too much to do and I am not always anxiously engaged. I fall asleep while reading scriptures, I slack on my visiting teaching, or complain about my calling. It is at these times I am not following the example of Peter, James, and John. So when I catch myself murmuring or slacking with too much to do, I take the time to assess where my heart is. When I have a heart willing to follow Jesus, everything goes better.