The Savior's Suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane

Matthew 26: 36-46 describes Christ's feelings as "sorrowful" and "heavy", meaning distressed and troubled.
Mark 14:32-42 describes Christ's feelings as "sore amazed, and to be very heavy", meaning amazed, awestruck, astonished, depressed, dejected, and in anguish.
Luke 22:39-46 describes Christ's feelings as "agony", meaning pain
Mosiah 3:7 says, "And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people."
Alma 7:11-13 talks about how he does this all for His people, "And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people' and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."
D&C 19:16-19 says that Christ did this all for us so that we would not have to suffer as he did, "Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men."
The word Gethsemane means "olive press". This gives insight to the experience Christ went through there that night. Olives are pressed and squeezed free of it's oils and refined into olive oil. That night Christ was pressed and put under a great deal of pressure so that in the end He could come out refined and pure. He had finished the task He came to do.
While Christ was enduring such pain, His disciples were sleeping. We always wonder why they couldn't just stay awake- but they were probably there for hours and it was dark and in the middle of the night. We would all probably fall asleep too! Christ says that "the spirit is willing but the flesh is week". They were all there supporting Christ and had every intention of staying awake- but when it came to it, their mortal bodies were overcome with sleep. But Christ also said to pray always so that we can be victorious in the end and have the power to throw off temptation and evil! Through Christ and our GOd, we can have the power to do anything!
So why did Christ "drink the cup"?:
Mosiah 15:7 because it was the will of the Father
3 Nephi 11:11 because of the will of the Father and for all of mankind
D&C 19:19 to give Glory to God
In all accounts, Christ asks the Father if there is any other way for the atonement to happen, because the pain and suffering Christ is going through is so exhausting and so overwhelming. But in every account, Christ also always says, "nevertheless, not my will but thy will be done." Christ knew ultimately that it was God's will that would supersede his own wants. He was willing to do as the Father asked of him, even though it was hard and He didn't want to.
At one point during Christ's suffering things took a turn for the worst and it talks about how Christ began to pray more urgently and more exceedingly and so on. Some times when we are down or things aren't going very well in our lives, we don't much feel like praying. But here we see that it gave Christ strength to go on and to finish the task he began!
There is so much to learn from Christ's example here in the Garden of Gethsemane! We need to be more willing to follow God's will instead of out own- and to seek out His will above our own! We need to think of others as well instead of being selfish. ANd lastly, we need to pray more diligently and earnestly!

The Savior Anointed

In Matthew 26:6-13 and in Mark 14:3-9 there is a story of a woman who anoints Christ's feet with a precious and expensive ointment. Christ explains that she did this because of how she felt for Him. She knew how precious and important Christ was and showed it by cleansing His feet in a very precious oil. Mark 14:8 implies that she knew He would die for her sins, all of their sins. That she was reverencing Him. Some of the disciples felt she wasted the oil and were upset about it probably because they didn't think of something so good. They probably took for granted a little bit that they walked and talked and ministered with Christ, the Son of God. They probably felt ashamed that they did not also show such reverence for Him as this woman showed.
This woman's act was worthy of praise and remembrance because she was the one that recognized that Christ would not be with them much longer physically and she wanted to do something for Him that showed thanks, reverence, faith, and love. This woman is an example to me because she showed great love and respect for the Savior in a tangible way. Not many of us can do that. She was in tune with the spirit enough to know that she had to take advantage of the time she had with Christ to make it count. Just like on this earth we need to make the time count for something so that we can show Christ that He did not die in vain for our sins.

Preparing for the Saviors Second Coming

In order to be prepared for the Second Coming Matthew 13 outlines somethings that we can watch for so that we will be ready. There will be wars and rumors of wars. There will be earthquakes. The gospel will be published in all nations. False Christs and false prophets will come and go.
In D&C 87:8 it reads that we can prepare by "standing in holy places" and being firm in our testimonies
In JS-Matthew 1:32 says that prophesies will come to pass and be fulfilled.
In JS-Matthew 1:37 says that we must treasure the gospel so that we will know right from wrong and we will not be deceived
In JS-Matthew 1:46-50 says to watch carefully that we will be ready and will be know when it is time and we will recognize our Lord and Savior.
In D&C 33:17 it says to pray always and be prepared to follow Christ.
In D&C 45:56-57 it says to make the Holy Spirit be your guide

The Last Days of Jesus' Mortal Mission

Day One: Jesus arrived to Jerusalem and was greeted with the people laying down palm branches before him as he rode on his donkey. He went directly to the temple. He was probably tired from the journey but He had his priorities set and went straight to the temple first before resting.
Day Two: He went back to the temple first thing in the morning and saw that it was being used as a trading center and drove them all out. It was a direct challenge to the authority in place, but Christ knew that the sanctity and purity of the temple must be kept and so he enforced it.
Day Three: The leaders confronted Christ and asked why and by what authority He had done the things the previous day. Christ denounced them as true leaders and called them hypocrites. The leaders discuss what to do about him and how to get rid of him. One of Christ's disciples decides to turn him in.
Day Four: Not really known- But Christ knows of the plot for His death.
Day Five: Jesus performed the passover meal where He identified His betrayer and prayed over the first sacrament. From there He went to the Garden of Gethsemane where he prayed to be delivered from the pain that was to become Him. But it did not. Judas then lead officials to Jesus who took him to an unfair and illegal trial.
Day Six: Jewish leaders sought to charge him on both blasphemy and sedition based on the fact that He had called Himself the "King of the Jews" and the "Son of God". He was sentenced by the people and was crucified. He later gave up His spirit to the Lord and was taken down off the cross for burial.
Day Seven: Jesus body remained in the tomb but His spirit ministered in the realm of spirits.
Day of Resurrection: Christ rose and appeared to Mary and other disciples.

Earthly and Heavenly Rewards

In Matthew 19 Jesus tells the rich man that to enter into the kingdom of God he must give all that he has to the poor and come follow Him. The man walked away because he could not bring himself to give up all that he had. But if we do give up all and follow him, we will be blessed with everlasting life and much more.
Based on what the Savior said is required of us to inherit the kingdom of God it would help us to keep focused if we remember that the blessings that await us if we do what the Lord has asked far outweigh the riches and worldly possessions that we could accumulate in this life.
WHen we serve in the Lord's kingdom he will bless us according to our work and efforts. No more and no less. But he treats everyone the same. Everyone receives the same blessing and the same rewards. Converts to the church can be comforted by the thought that the Lord treats everyone the same. And will bless them just the same as those who have been members all their lives. And for those who think it is unfair for everyone to be paid equally, they just have to come to love others and understand how the Lord works. If they could do that, it wouldn't be such a big deal to them. LIke if they have children, they want their children to all receive good things in their life and ultimately return to God's presence, even if they have made bad decisions in life.

The Lord Appointed Other Seventy Also

Jesus called the seventy disciples to go be missionaries! They even went in pairs! He instructed them to go without food or money and that they would be provided for wherever they went as long as they were doing the Lord's work. The were given power to do miracles and they had much success.
Luke 10:1-2 explains exactly what we do now! We send out missionaries in pairs to preach the gospel and bring the truth to all who will listen! Then again in Luke 10:8-9 The missionaries don't take a lot with them and they are fed by those who are willing to feed them. And in Luke 10:17-20 The missionaries today also have great power to do many miracles in the name of the Lord. They report back to their mission presidents as well. ALl of these things point to our Article of faith 6.
In Luke the Lord calls for the seventy and then again in D&C 107 they are ordained and given authorities and powers as the apostles.

Become as a Little Child

Christ says that we are like little children because we do not yet understand the blessings and plans of our Father in Heaven. He goes on to say in D&C 78:18 that, "I will lead you along". He will help us when we falter and lose our way. But we must also help ourselves by being humble and faithful. In Mosiah 3:19 it says that we must, "yield to the enticings of the spirit" which means to listen and obey what the spirit tells us. We must learn to control our desires and temptations. We have to exercise restraint, faith, and repentance. To become like a little child means to be "submissive,meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." And so we can see that children are great examples for us. Children are full of love, submissive, etc. To be like a child is to be christ-like and to do so will bring us many blessings and rewards from our father in heaven.

Walking on the Sea

When Christ's disciples first saw Him walking on water they were afraid and confused. They thought he was a spirit or some kind of vision. Which kind of baffles me after they have spent so much time with Him and have seen him perform countless miracles! Why not walk on water? But once Christ identifies himself, Peter at once shows his faith by saying, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water." This shows how faithful and devoted Peter was to Christ. He knew that if Christ wanted him to come unto Him, that it would be possible. And no one of little faith would have been able to accomplish this- walking on water. In Matthew 14:30 Peter's faith wavers as he sees all the big waves around him and it scares him- who wouldn't be afraid?! We all falter from fear once in awhile. So Peter calls out to Christ to save him. The best part is that Christ "IMMEDIATELY" lends a hand to Peter to save him from drowning. So, how did Peter walk on water? In D&C 88:67 it reads, "And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things." So we must have our lives centered on Christ and remember to glorify God in all things. We too must to this to be able to get through the storms of life. We may not ever be faced with walking on water- but we all face challenges where our faith is tested and how we will handle it? Hopefully with faith!

John the Baptist

In Matthew 11:1-9 John the Baptist sent disciples to Christ to see if he was the one John had been waiting for. Can you imagine the kind of news they had to share with John the Baptist. If I had been one of those disciples I would have been jumping with joy to tell John a) that Christ has come and that He is who we have waited for b) that I had witnessed Christ perform many miracles and c) that he is waiting for John and praises him as a great prophet!
In Matthew 11:2-3, as we discussed, John send disciples to Christ to see if it really is the Savior of the world. Some wonder if this was John's lack of faith in Christ. But after reading the institute manuel on the subject you find that John was simply trying to get his followers to recognize who Jesus was and to believe in and follow Him. It was not for John's benefit, but for those who followed him.
In Matthew 11:11 Jesus says, "there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist". So why was John the baptist considered greater than ALL other prophets and disciples of Christ? Joseph Smith says that "First, he was entrusted with a divine mission of preparing the way before the Lord... Second, he was entrusted with the important mission... to baptize the Son of Man... Thirdly, he was the only legal administrator in the affairs of the kingdom there was then on earth, and holding the keys of power." John the baptist was the most trustworthy, and the most committed to do the sacred works that needed to be done for Christ to come.
John 3:3 says, "He must increase, but I must decrease." John knew that Christ was perfect and therefore, increasing in knowledge and perfectness. John was of the earth- a mortal- and therefore can only hope to become somewhat like Him. We need to remember that the goal is be like Christ and "increase".

Miracles or Evidence of Faith and God's Power

Matthew 8:1-4
Miracles of the Lord: Healing the leper of his disease
Who Demonstrated Faith: The Leper
Matthew 8:5-13
Miracles of the Lord: Healed a sick child without even seeing or going to her
Who Demonstrated Faith: A Centurion
Matthew 8:14-15
Miracles of the Lord: Healed a fever/sickness
Who Demonstrated Faith: Peter's wife's mother
Matthew 8:16
Miracles of the Lord: Casting out the devils from many people
Who Demonstrated Faith: The ones who brought the possessed to Christ
Matthew 8:23-27
Miracles of the Lord: Commanded the wind and the seas to be calm
Who Demonstrated Faith: Christ did, because his disciples did not have enough faith to do it themselves
Matthew 9:20-22/ Mark 5:25-34
Miracles of the Lord: Healed a blood disease of a woman who simply touched him
Who Demonstrated Faith: The woman with the blood disease
Matthew 9:27-31
Miracles of the Lord: Healed the blind man
Who Demonstrated Faith: The blind man
Matthew 2:1-12
Miracles of the Lord: a new star to light the way to Christ, warned the wise men not to go back to herod
Who Demonstrated Faith: the wise men
When I look at all the many incredible miracles that the Lord has performed, I am amazed. How could one be so powerful? It increases my respect and humility. I know that God can accomplish whatever it is that He wants. I know that he can help me when I need it- if I have enough faith. All of God's miracles happen on basis of faith. I must continually strive to increase my faith so that I will be ready when I am in need of a miracle.

We Must Be Born Again

In John 3:3-5 Jesus talks about how one can enter into the Kingdom of God. He says in verse 3 that "except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." But then in verse 5 he says, "except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God". So, what is the difference between "seeing" and "entering" into the kingdom of God? If you look closely, he specifies that just by being baptized by water you can SEE the kingdom of God- it is within reach. But you must be baptized by water AND by the spirit to actually ENTER the kingdom of God. In this chapter of John, Jesus is telling Nicodemus that you must be born again OF THE SPIRIT, not of the flesh. And to do so, you must be baptized by water and by the spirit. To be born of water means to be baptized- fully immersed in water.
Baptizm sympolized birth by the way we are immersed in water, as we were immersed in the womb. Then we come out of the water clean of sin- just as we were when first born.
Baptizm also symbolizes death in the way we are bured by water (like in the earth). And like Christ, we are raised up again "by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (romans 6:4)
The Father loves each one of His children and has done countless things to show His love for us! Such as, sacrifice His only begotten son to be redeemed for all of our sins so that we could return to Him. When Jesus was baptized, God showed His love for him by opening the heavens and declaring his love for him. When we follow Christ we are blessed for our faith and love. God loves us all and wants the best for us all!

The Birth of John the Baptist

In Luke 1:14, Zacharias was told that the birth of his son would bring much gladness and rejoicing. In the Bible Dictionary it says that John's purpose was "to prepare the way for the Messiah and make ready a people to receive [Christ]". It was announced that one would prepare the way for a Savior and that John was the "prophet of the Highest" (Luke 1:76). In Luke 1:79 it reads, "To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." People were so excited about his birth because it meant that the Savior was coming soon! What news would be more exciting than that!?