Thought: We solemnly testify that His life which is central to
all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was
the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer
of the world.
He rose from
the grave to "become the firstfruits of them that slept". As Risen
Lord, He visited among those He had loved in life. He also ministered among his
other sheep in ancient America. In the modern world, He and His Father appeared
to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long-promised dispensation of the
fulness of times."
Luke 9-17
This growing emphasis on the requirements of discipleship occurred
as Jesus Christ “steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51), where He knew He would suffer and die (see Luke 9:22, 31). As He faced this difficult aspect of His earthly mission, the
Savior modeled perfect devotion to God, reinforcing His teachings on
discipleship with “the eloquence of his example” (NAMaxwell, “ Ensign, Sept. 1998)
9:28-36- Mount of
Transfiguration- Questions? See Matthew 17 account.
9:51–56- The Savior
comes to save, not destroy
Vs. 51- Jesus heads toward
Jerusalem for the last time. What route should he take?
Vs. 53- Is the Samaritan problem
that Jesus is going to Jerusalem and not to Mount Gerizim?
Vs. 58- The text of Sidney
Rigdon's 2 1/2 hour talk at the dedication of the Kirtland Temple.
10:1–20- Calling of
the Seventy. Vs. 1 says "other 70" This may be the 2nd quorum. No
record of the 1st.
10:7- "go not from house to
house" - "There is nothing mechanical or routine about proselyting
procedures. It is not a matter of knocking every door, but of seeking out the
honest in heart; missionaries must have the Spirit to guide them. (DNTC 1:423)\
10: 22- Christ as the Father-Ether
3:14; Mosiah 5:7; 15:10-12; 27:24-26, 28.
10:25–37. Parable of
the good Samaritan- Prophet Joseph Smith: “I have a key by which I understand the
scriptures. I enquire, what was the question which drew out the answer, or
caused Jesus to utter the parable? … To ascertain its meaning, we must dig up
the root and ascertain what it was that drew the saying out of Jesus” (HC
5:261). Note the 2 questions in vs. 25 and 29.
10:27- The Shema - Dt.
6:5; Lev. 19:18. The order of God 1st is important-See Romans 1:25-30.
10:29- "We are not to contrive the death of the Gentiles, but
if they are in danger of death we are not bound to deliver them, e.g. if any of
them fall into the sea you need not take him out, for such a one is not thy
neighbor." (Old- New Testament Student Manual, p. 114)
10:32-JST- "For they desired in their hearts that it might
not be known that they had seen him."
Why are the identities of those who
saw the wounded man—the priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan—important to the
meaning of the parable?
10:33–35-Which of these
actions seems most impressive? In what ways can the Samaritan represent the
Savior and what He does for us? How does this parable answer the question, “Who
is my neighbor”? How does the parable of the good Samaritan answer the lawyer’s
first question, “Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life”?
10:38–42. Mary and
Martha - We receive lasting blessings by ensuring
that temporal concerns do not displace spiritual concerns.
"We may often find ourselves
making quick judgments about people, which can change or redefine our
relationships with them. Often incorrect judgments are made because of limited
information or because we do not see beyond that which is immediately in front
of us. By way of illustration, the story is often told of the time when Jesus
visited the home of Mary and Martha, who lived in Bethany with their brother,
Lazarus. It was a welcome place for the Master, where He could rest and enjoy
the surroundings of a righteous home. During one of His visits, Martha was busy
preparing a meal and Mary elected to sit at the Master’s feet to receive His
instruction. “But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and
said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?
“And Jesus answered and said unto
her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:“But one
thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken
away from her.” 2 Many Sunday lessons have been
taught using this story which have cast Martha in a lesser position in terms of
her faith. Yet there is another story of this great woman, Martha, which gives
us a deeper view of her understanding and testimony. It happened when the
Savior arrived to raise her brother, Lazarus, from the dead. On this occasion
it was Martha whom we find going to Jesus “as soon as she heard” He was coming.
As she meets Him, she says that she knows that “whatsoever [He would] ask of
God, God [would] give [Him].” Christ then shared with Martha the great doctrine
of the resurrection, saying: “I am the resurrection,
and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
“And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou
this?”
She responded with her powerful
testimony: “Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God,
which should come into the world.” 3 How often has Martha been
misjudged as being a person who cared more for the deeds of doing than for the
Spirit? However, her testimony in the trial of her brother’s death clearly
shows the depth of her understanding and faith. Many a sister has often heard
the first story and wondered if she were a Mary or a Martha, yet the truth lies
in knowing the whole person and in using good judgment. By knowing more about
Martha, we find she was actually a person of deep spiritual character who had a
bold and daring testimony of the Savior’s mission and His divine power over
life. A misjudgment of Martha may have caused us not to know the true nature of
this wonderful woman. (Gregory A. Schwitzer
2nd Quorum
of the Seventy-Oct. 2010)
11:1–13. Jesus
teaches about prayer.
11:1- No form of private prayer
was in the law.
12:12- A great promise!
12:13–30. Beware of
covetousness; parable of the rich fool- Dividing of family riches- "What
is your most precious blessing? Note how many blessings you would give your
life for. Note how far down the list you go before you come to any you buy for
money. The most precious blessings are without price, they are priceless.
(JJChristensen, Ensign, May 1999)
13:1–9. Galilean
martyrs, victims of Siloam tower; parable of barren fig tree; all men must
repent or perish.
13:6–9. “A certain husbandman (God) had a fig tree (the Jewish remnant
of Israel) planted in his vineyard (the world); and he came (in the meridian of
time) and sought fruit thereon (faith, righteousness, good works, gifts of the
Spirit), and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard (the son
of God), Behold, these three years (the period of Jesus’ ministry) I come
seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down (destroy the Jewish
nation as an organized kingdom); why cumbereth it the ground (why should it
prevent the conversion of the world by occupying the ground and preempting the
time of my servants)? And he (the Son of God) answering said unto him (God, the
husbandman), Lord, let it alone this year also till I shall dig about it, and
dung it (preach the gospel, raise the warning voice, show forth signs and
wonders, organize the Church, and offer every opportunity for the conversion of
the Jewish nation). And if it bear fruit, the tree is saved (the Jewish nation
shall be preserved as such and its members gain salvation), and if not, after
that thou shalt cut it down (destroy the Jews as a nation, make them a hiss and
a byword, and scatter them among all nations).” (McConkie, DNTC, 1:477.)
14:18-20. “We often must make significant changes in our
lives in order to attend the feast at the table of the Lord. Too many of us put
those changes off, thinking there is no urgency. Perhaps this parable could be
called the ‘don’t bother me now, Lord’ parable. We try to excuse ourselves in
various ways. Each rationalization comes from selfishness and almost always
relates to something temporal. For some it is the Word of Wisdom. For others it is the law of tithing. Perhaps it is a reluctance to
live the law of chastity. Whatever the reason, we who reject or delay our
response to the Savior’s invitation show our lack of love for Him who is our
King” (F. Melvin Hammond,
Ensign, Apr. 2003, 52).
15:1–32. Parables
of the lost sheep (lost by wandering-no fault), the lost coin (lost because of
negligence) , and the prodigal son (rebelled)-The Parable of Parables.
"Lost and Found" Robert Millet
p. ix- A parable about a
wandering son, a faithful son and a waiting father. It is about each of us x3.
p-14- Jesus never med a disease
he could not cure, but he did meet skeptics he could not convince and sinners
he could not convert. Forgiveness of sins requires an act of will on the
receivers part.
p. 18-19 vs. 1- Jesus was
"the man for others" He kept himself free for the other person. He
would accept anybody's invitation to dinner, & as a result had a more
diverse list of friends than any public figure. All the more reason there was
to criticize Jesus for his action which implied the creation of a social bond
between him & his fellow table companions.
p. 51-vs. 20- Why did the father
run? In so doing he heaped embarrassment & humiliation upon himself. &
accepted the brunt of the community's scorn & ridicule. A pastor in the
modern Near East was rejected as pastor because he walked down the street too
quickly!
p. 86- We must be the kind of
people with whom a wandered would feel comfortable should he choose to return.
p. 93- This could be called the
parable of the loving father. It is the father not the son, who is the hero.
p. 190-91- Elder Packer choosing
an assistant when he was a Mission President. "So I could learn the
greatest lesson I have ever learned in my life."
16:1–12. The
parable of the unjust steward- If we are wise, we
will make provision for our eternal future. This parable does
not encourage us to be dishonest or to cheat others in any way; rather, it
encourages us to prepare for our eternal future with the same energy and effort
as this steward prepared for his temporal future. If even an unscrupulous
steward will prepare for his future, the Saints should be willing to prepare
for eternity.
16:15- This idea keeps coming up. What is important
to me?
16:19–31. Parable of the
rich man and Lazarus- Lazarus represents the Pharisees. Our circumstances in the next life depend upon how we receive the Lord
and His servants in this life.
16:26- Jesus bridged the gap after his
death and before his resurrection.
17:chapter heading
