I thought I would share some thoughts with you that goes along with the parable of the 10 virgins. I am currently doing some doctrinal research for a portfolio that will be analyzed by the church for books, commentary, and lesson guides and manuals.( This is being done by most full-time seminary and institute teachers around the world).
Anywho... this will not be extensive, but rather I will give you some brief general tidbits. It is interesting to notice our progressive relationship with the Savior since our early beginnings.
We first are children of God our Heaavenly Father and therefore brothers----Then as we are faithful in this life, and desire to enter into a covenant relationship with Him, we can be baptized and as we learn from Elder Bednar in a recent conference address (April 2010?) he indicates that we are promising through that ordinance ( by being "willing to take upon ourselves the name of Christ"), to attend the temple and do that very thing. We call this a spiritual rebirth, as the Savior indicates to Nicodemus in John 3. And we are able to become the children of Christ as mentioned in Mosiah 5:6-8 and just as you receive the name of your father at birth, we will be able to take upon ourselves the name of Christ, as he is our Father spiritually speaking. It is important to note that we then have the opportunity to enter into another covenant while here upon the earth, and again this happens in the temple. We can enter into the new and everlasting covenant of marriage. Interestingly enough, this also helps us progress in our relationship with the Savior and helps us better understand that relationship with Him. And this is where the parable of the 10 virgins comes in. Christ refers to Himself as the Bridegroom. And we are invited to be there, not just as guests, but as members of the Church and the Kingdom of God, representing the bride. Our relationship is like unto that of a marriage. (Interesting to note that this is another instance where we take upon ourselves a name.) I will just provide 2 scriptures that lend some validation to this idea. First, in Hosea 2:16 the Lord says (concerning covenant Israel) that we will no more call Him Baali, but we shall call Him Ishi. The meaning of these names are very insightful.......we will no more call Him Master, (as a servant in the state of fear or apprehension), but we will call Him husband, with love and affection. (Think of how often in Isaiah, Jeremiah and other books of the O.T. where the Lord asks the children of Israel why they have not been faithful to Him and instead have played the harlot...............commited adultery by worshipping other Gods)
And finally to tie it all together a bit let's go to Romans 8:14-17, and while it outlines each of the 3 relationships, the last of the 3 is my favorite. Because Paul indicates that we can become joint-heirs, if we are willing to suffer with Him. Thinking again of that last covenant relationship and how we have an equal or joint relationship, going through this life with the hope and promise of being glorified together.
Here is the URL for a video on the 10 virgins :)
John 17:
In these last hours of his mortal life Jesus spoke to his apostles of love and prayed to the Father for them, that they might be one. Throngs had hailed his appearance at Jerusalem as that of a king, and shouted hosannas in the expectation that Jesus would deliver them from their oppressors. But even now, as he sat at supper and instructed those whom he had called and chosen out of the world, the Sanhedrin plotted for his death and tried to undermine his popularity among the masses. And in the end he would be alone—multitudes would disclaim him. None (even those who loved him most slept!) would hail his suffering in Gethsemane, where alone, forsaken, and without the pomp of crowds, he would win an infinite victory far greater than any defeat of Rome.
But for now, he turned his attention to those whom he loved. “I go my way to him that sent me,” he said. “. . . Ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.” ( John 16:5, 20) But how was sorrow to be turned into joy?
It is significant to remember that Jesus did not leave his apostles comfortless—he admonished them to look forward to the time when they would see him again. He taught them about the Father and about the Holy Ghost, the great Comforter who would testify of him and would lead all who would follow into a fulness of the truth.
This comforter would also bring them the great peace of which he spoke—a peace that would withstand all the tribulation of a lone and dreary world. The gift of the Holy Ghost has always been available to the faithful disciple.
May we look more often to the Comforter/Holy Ghost that we have as our constant companion, to provide us peace, comfort, and confidence as we look to that day when He comes again.
More from Matt. 26:
One doctrine that I love that has been touched on by several of you within your journals and discussion board posts is that the Savior was not killed by the Jews and neither the Romans. Christ had life within himself and had the ability to continue to live and endure the pains and sufferings of the Atonement until as He said in His own words, “it is finished” (John 19:30)…”Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:”(Luke 23:46) and he gave up the ghost. He allowed His life to end and His spirit to leave His body. Something that we do not have the power to do. (The part in red I did not include in the Week 11 Intro to reading but I plan to use it for Week 12)—Along with a glue in and some additional quotes.
He could have saved Himself at any moment. Whether at the moment the soldiers enter the Garden with the Jewish Sanhedrin and others or when Peter tries to protect Him with his sword by cutting off the ear of one of the men; in each instance we are able to see that Jesus Christ goes to fulfill His mission and work of His own free will and choice just as Isaiah prophesied in Isaiah 53:7: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter.
Look first at the moment when they all come to the Garden, it is interesting that the videos that have been produced depicting the events of that night have placed no more than 50 or so men at the arresting of Jesus at Gethsemane. But if we are to read what Talmage and McConkie have written in Jesus the Christ (JTC) and in the Doctrinal New Testament Commentary (DNTC) respectively, we are able to see that there were between 500 and 1000 men (Roman soldiers and Jews) that were there. (JTC p. 615-617 and DNTC p. 780-782). This is important to note, because in John 18:3-8 as we read the account of the arrest, Judas betrays Him and though he had given the sign for Him to be arrested, the men do not advance because the mere presence of the Lord brought great power over them, and Christ says “Whom seek ye?” They respond with, ”Jesus of Nazareth” with a simple and short reply He humbly declares “I am He” and the entire multitude is knocked backward to the earth by the power of those words, acknowledging that he is the Son of God and Savior of world. And then He asks them once again, now… “Whom seek ye?” As they gather themselves and then fearfully advance the disciples look to offer the little protection they can with their swords and without waiting for the Lord to give a response, Peter, smites off the ear of one of the servants to the high priests.
This brings us to the 2nd moment that illustrates the point that Christ is not taken but He willingly goes to “finish His preparations unto the children of men.”(D&C 19:19) At the moment that Peter cuts off the man’s ear. Jesus tells him to put away his sword and says “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? (that’s 6000 by the way) But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? (Matt. 26:53-54)
I am truly grateful for that willingness; for His will to be swallowed up in the will of the Father, just as he declared in the Garden of Gethsemane, that we might be able to partake of His atoning sacrifice and return!
Here are some video links that the church has put out that cover the events in the readings: (in order)
http://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/jesus-warns-peter-and-offers-the-intercessory-prayer?lang=eng
WEEK 7
I hope you forgive me if I have not given most comprehensive summary of the readings the last 2 weeks, but I just wanted to try and point out a few things that we might overlook within this account. There is quite a bit here again, probably more than 2 min. worth, but as usual, that is what the timer is set for. I hope it is beneficial to you :)
I wanted to point out a couple of things regarding his encounters with Pilate and with King Herod. When he is first comes to Pilate, according to the account in Matthew, Pilate immediately makes the exchange of Barabbas and Jesus. This skips a very important piece of the story that Luke includes for us in Chapter 23. Luke indicates that Pilate finds "no fault in this man." He seeks to pass the blame onto someone else. And his perfect scapegoat is King Herod.
Now this is where our story connects with a story that we had several weeks ago with John the Baptist. King Herod is the same Herod that loved to hear the stories of Jesus from the mouth of John as it indicates in Luke 23:7-8. As the Savior is sent to the King, Herod gets very excited at finally having the opportunity to hear some great thing of Him or to some miracle performed. However, the Lord has not forgotten how his cousin was martyred and at who's hands. And just as Isaiah prophesies in Isaiah 53:7, he not only is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, but "as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not His mouth." Luke 23:9: "Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. ( If you would like more commentary on this portion...Jesus the Christ pp 635-637)
So Herod has Him mocked and places the purple robe upon Him as He is sent back to Pilate. Now this is the part of the story we are all familar with, Pilate finds not fault, goes to the Jews in multitude within the courtyard, releases Barabbas etc. But there is one verse that adds a little insight. Perhaps one of the most important reasons for why Pilate wants to "wash his hands" of the matter, is because his wife has a disturbing dream the night before in Matthew 27:19. She pleads with him not to do anything to Christ, but he has been charged with keeping peace in Jerusalem and fearing an uprising of the Jews, allows the Son of God to be beaten and tortured prior to the crucifixion, hoping that it would bring about some mercy in the eyes of His own people. But it is of no avail. In fact, the Jews that are led astray by the Scribes and Pharisees are so filled with hate, they declare.......Matt. 27:25-- If he be innocent "let His blood be upon us, and on our children." And thus they become a "hiss and a by-word amongst the nations" just as Isaiah prophesied. 1 Ne. 19:14.
I love when Jesus asks his apostles to feed His sheep if they truly love Him. If we truly love the Lord and appreciate what the gospel has done to bless our own lives, we will want to share the "good news" of the gospel with al those that we have opportunity to. And I don't know if it gets better than Elder Holland summarizing the teaching of Peter here in that instance. See the following video and html:
Robert D. Hales said:
“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 ).
I just wanted to say that I would hope that we would each remember to always be willing to share the gospel and make, as we learned this last conference in the Sunday afternoon session ( I have forgotten the speaker), whatever sacrifices necessary to spread and build the kingdom of God. We have promised the Lord in the premortal life and through covenant on this earth to help his gospel roll forth. "No unhallowed hand can stop this work from progressing........" We get to decide today, whether we will fulfill that commision and responsibility and be a part of that work, or if we will stand idly by, as a part of the world.
I love the gospel of Jesus Christ and all that it offers to us. Both within this life, and in eternal life with Him. I know that that is true in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
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