Mark - quickly giving powerful examples of who Jesus is

Mark is a gospel written principally to the Gentiles and quickly tells who Jesus is and what he did. It's the shortest of the gospels and probably the first written.

Notice how much he tells about Jesus in the very first chapter:

1) John the Baptist prepared the way for jesus by preaching about him

2) Jesus was baptized

3) Called several Apostles

4) Taught in synagogues and impressed many by his doctrine, which was spoken with authority

5) Cast out devils

6) healed those with fevers and lepers

7) Fame spread throughout the land and many came to him

Mark didn't waste time in explaining how impressive Jesus is.

For envy they delivered him - How pride can cloud judgement

Matthew 27 tells of Jesus' crucifixion. It is remarkable that it all happened largely because one group of powerful religious leaders were envious of Jesus. They didn't want to be less important.

17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

18 For he knew that for ^aenvy they had ^bdelivered him.

Pilate tried to get Jesus released because he knew Jesus had done no wrong. It was clear that the religious leaders were envious of his power and/or following. As a result, they pushed for the crucifixion.

We must humbly accept what happens in life. A similar situation in the church is when someone else is chosen for a leadership position and a person or family leave the church as a result. President Monson tells of a story in which a man had served in the Bishopric for years and years. Then President Monson was called as Bishop and the man was offended and stopped attending. Luckily, the man's son was on a mission and urged his parents to return to church. They did one Sunday, felt the Spirit and continued attending. That man was the next Bishop after Pres. Monson was released.

Another similar circumstance occurs with other churches. Many other churches speak poorly about the Mormon church or other churches in order to try to protect their position and keep their members in the fold. This is incredibly poor thinking. If a message is correct, it must stand on its own merits. If a leader bashes or tries to destroy another group or leader, it shows great weakness in himself/herself and her/his message.

Beware of envy. It destroyed a nation that could have enjoyed the blessing of being close to and learning from the Savior of the world.

Senior Couple Missionaries - Making a World of Difference

Yesterday a couple that served as mission presidents (oversaw the full-time missionary work) in the Albania mission (Eastern European country; used to be part of USSR) spoke to us about their time over there. One thing he mentioned is that senior couple missionaries are so valuable in the different church units (branches) over there because it's a first generation church in that country. The senior couple missionaries bring a wealth of knowledge and understanding to church units that have such little information about how the church should run and how to keep people active in the church so that they receive the full blessings of living the gospel. They have 4 senior couples serving over there and would love to have 1 per branch (about 10 total branches in the mission it seemed like).

Serving a mission as a couple when older will be a great blessing for those who serve and are served. I look forward to serving with my wife in the future.

Have a great week.

Second Coming - How Will We Be Judged?

Matthew 24 tells of Jesus' explanation about the Second Coming. Matthew likely includes this detailed account to help answer the question, "If this is the Savior, why wasn't his coming as spectacular as we expected?" Matthew shares Jesus' message about the sign of His Second Coming in Matthew 24; this coming will be incredibly spectacular, and surely the world is becoming more and more technologically spectacular each day.

At the end of Matthew 24 and in Matthew 25, Jesus explains who will be prepared for his second coming. He essentially tells 4 stories.

1) His coming will be as a thief in the night, very unexpectedly. The good servant will continue doing good. The evil servant will:

48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord^adelayeth his coming;

49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

He will be mean to those around him and hang out with those wasting their time; doing nothing positive (the drunken).

2) Some will not be prepared (parable of the 10 virgins)

3) Some will take the investment God's made in them and double it, others will do nothing. (parable of the talents)

4) Some will bless the lives of others, and Jesus will consider that those actions were done to him. Others will ignore those in physical, emotional, or spiritual need. (parable of the sheep and the goats)

It appears clearer to me than ever before that it is not enough to live an okay life in which you don't hurt others but don't really help them. We must live a life looking after those around them and helping them get through difficulties in life. It is not okay to be idle, and it's not okay to be mean to others. We must lift others and do positive works.

Occasionally I've spoken with people who say, "I'm living a good life. I don't hurt anyone." I've also heard someone who supposedly wants to get back into good standing in the church say, "I don't commit any sins of commission, only sins of omission." It's very clear to me, that not doing something or doing wrong things in the end will cause someone to be out of the kingdom of heaven, not living with God or the Savior. Therefore, the end result isn't significantly different. Living a good life and blessing others is critical and is a major way we'll be judged.

Increasing People's Faith - Pushing People to Understand What More They Can Do

Jesus was also a great leader. A great leader helps people to understand what they can accomplish and helps them believe that greater things are possible than they currently realize. He spent a lot of time teaching his disciples. At times, he also let them know how much more they were capable of.

At the end of his life there's one clear example of this. Jesus made a fig tree wither away, and the disciples were amazed at his power. He let them know that they could do more impressive things than that. Here's the account in Matthew 21:

17 ¶And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.

18 Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.

19 And when he saw a fig tree ^ain the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no^bfruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And ^cpresently the fig tree withered away.

20 And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!

21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have ^afaith, and ^bdoubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this ^cmountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

22 And all ^athings, whatsoever ye shall ^bask in ^cprayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Finding ways to let people know how much they can accomplish is critical. Jesus let his disciples know what more they could do. Matthew likely included this because it helped him understand what more he would do with his faith in the Savior.

As an aside, the biggest mountains I've seen moved are the mountainous bad habits and hard feelings I've seen people have that have been melted away through coming to the Savior.

Have a great day.

Confessing Jesus is the Savior

It appears that several of the people that Matthew records being healed called Jesus "Son of David". This refers to Jesus fulfilling a prophecy that the Savior would descend from David's line. When Jesus was called this title by people, they were in essence stating his divinity. Jesus would then heal them of their sickness or infirmity. I believe Matthew is trying to teach us that when we confess Jesus' divinity and show faith in him, it is then that He is able and willing to heal us.

Here are 3 examples from Matthew:

Matthew 20:

30 ¶And, behold, two ^ablind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.

31 And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.

32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?

33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.

34 So Jesus had ^acompassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received ^bsight, and they followed him.

Matthew 9:

27 ¶And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.

28 And when he was come into the house, the ^ablind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, ^bBelieve ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your ^afaith be it unto you.

30 And their ^aeyes were ^bopened; and Jesus ^cstraitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

Matthew 15:

22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

24 But he answered and said, I am not ^asent but unto the lost sheep of the house of ^bIsrael.

25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to ^adogs.

27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.

28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy^afaith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.