Example of a Father's Blessing - What to say

After John the Baptist was born, his Father prophesied about him in a pretty spectacular way. Because his father, Zacharias, had been mute for 9+ months, hearing Zacharias speak must have been amazing, and more so because of the prophecies he pronounced. Zacharias' words seem to have the qualities of a blessing of his child.

John the Baptist's birth was obviously special because his family knew he would be prophet and have a specific, special role in his life. However, all children in the church are blessed by a priesthood holder while young (almost always as a baby). I am impressed by the prophesy/blessing given by Zacharias and the influence this likely had on his son. Here's the words from Luke 1:

76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to ^aprepare his ways;

77 To give ^aknowledge of salvation unto his people by the^bremission of their sins,

78 Through the ^atender mercy of our God; whereby the^bdayspring from on high hath visited us,

79 To give ^alight to them that sit in ^bdarkness and in the shadow of ^cdeath, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

I imagine Zacharias parented differently than he would have if he didn't know these things about John. I also imagine that Zacharias thought about how to help these things come true. All children can do special things. If we always kept in mind their potential, we would probably parent differently. Also, we could probably be more powerful in promising blessings to our babies than most of us do. John's blessing/prophecy is powerful and in some ways is an example of how to bless our children.

Explaining why more people didn't recognize Jesus as the Savior - Matthew 13

Matthew 13 is a chapter with many of the parables of the Savior. In Matthew 12, Matthew explains that the Jewish leaders didn't accept Jesus largely because they were looking for the wrong things. In Matthew 13, he continues to explain that many people didn't recognize Him because they didn't have the right perspective and attitudes. In fact, Jesus taught through many parables that only some would find and accept the Gospel and that it would be a long process for some. However, those that did accept would give up much to be a part of it and would bring forth good fruit.

The parable of the 4 types of soil, the pearl of great price, the wheat and the tares, the mustard seed, the leavened bread, the field with the treasure all help show why it's not obvious to the people of the earth what the kingdom of God is unless they have the right attitudes and are looking for it. Further, in teaching with parables, Jesus was fulfilling prophecy as written in the Psalms 78:2

I will open my mouth in a parable:

This was not the first time the Jews would not hear the great teachers. Jeremiah also taught of this in Jeremiah 5: Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:

Interestingly, it was a short time after Jeremiah spoke that Jerusalem was destroyed the first time and this happened again after Jesus' death as well.

The people didn't recognize the Savior because of their own blindness but not because it wouldn't be obvious if they chose to follow him and exercise faith. In our time, the same issue exists.

Just as Matthew wrote his book to help others come to Christ, please find the time to follow the Prophet of our day as they will also point to Christ. Some will not recognize Christ as the Savior or his Prophet as His servant, but that isn't evidence that they aren't chosen of God.