Lesson #4 "Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord"

Here is the interesting thing I thought about while pondering John the Baptist: Was baptism a new concept for the Jews at the time of John's teaching?

If so, John would have been viewed as a crazy man, teaching a doctrine that is new - teaching that in order for salvation, every man and woman must be baptized.

If not, then the Jews didn't keep a very good record of baptism.  In fact, there are no references to the word "baptism" according to the Topical Guide, in the Old Testament.  The first time the word "baptism" is used in scripture is in the New Testament.

But we learn from my favorite tool, the Bible Dictionary, about baptism in Old Testament time:
Baptism has always been practiced whenever the gospel of Jesus Christ has been on the earth and has been taught by men holding the holy priesthood who could administer the ordinances. Although there is some obscurity in the Bible as to the antiquity of baptism before the time of Jesus, from latter-day revelation it is clear that Adam was baptized (Moses 6:64–68) and that the patriarchs and prophets since his time have taught the gospel and administered the ordinances that pertain to the gospel. This includes both water baptism and the laying on of hands for the Holy Ghost (Moses 8:23–24). The Book of Mormon shows also that baptism was taught and practiced long before the coming of Jesus Christ (2 Ne. 31; Mosiah 18:8–17). In the N.T. Paul speaks of the children of Israel being baptized by Moses “in the cloud and in the sea” (1 Cor. 10:1–4). Noah and Abraham are spoken of as “preachers of righteousness,” which means they taught the gospel and administered its ordinances (Gal. 3:8; Heb. 4:1–2; 2 Pet. 2:5; cf. Moses 8:23–24).


We know that baptism can be performed by the Aaronic Priesthood, but the Gift of the Holy Ghost must be bestowed by someone holding the Melchizedek (I'd just like you to know I spelled that without looking it up - finally) Priesthood.  Thus, those who were able to baptize in the Old Testament usually always available, but since the people could not live under the higher law (Melchizedek Priesthood), it was taken away and I guess so was the ability to confer the Gift of the Holy Ghost?  Not sure that it is clear.  So, I am just wondering if baptism occured, when there were prophets that had the Melchizedek Priesthood, but it wasn't as common to the general public as it was after Christ came.


Also, those who held the Aaronic Priesthood needed to be in the lineage of Levi and needed to be worthy.  John the baptist was of the tribe of Levi and was also worthy and so was able under Jewish law to baptize the Savior.  When the Savior comes he restores the Melchizedek Priesthood to the Jews and they are therefore able to confer the Gift of the Holy Ghost and complete the baptism of water with the baptism of fire.


I have always found it interesting that it takes both Priesthoods to have a complete baptism.  It's almost as if it falls under the principle of "in the mouth of two or three witnesses" or the two used as a safeguard that the ordinance of baptism doesn't occur on a whim or is not treated lightly.

Lesson #3 Birth of Jesus and his boyhood

Matt 2; Luke 2

As I read through this lesson, the topic of revelation and learning line upon line (or from grace to grace) as is mentioned in the lesson, popped out to me.  There is revelation to the shepherds, revelation to Mary, revelation to Joseph, revelation to Anna and Simeon, revelation to the wise men, and other revelations to Joseph to keep Jesus safe.

Elder Oaks wrote a talk called "Eight Reasons for Revelation" and here are the reasons:
1. to testify
2. to prophecy
3. to give comfort
4. to uplift
5. to inform
6. to restrain us from doing something
7. to confirm that a decision or conclusion is right
8. impels a person to action.

As we read through the revelations to each of the above named people, I tried to match up the purposes of each revelation according to Elder Oaks revelations reasons. Also this excerpt of the Bible Dictionary definition of revelation is helpful:


BD Revelation: The English word revelation is translated from a Greek word apocalypse, meaning to make known or uncover. The principle of gaining knowledge by revelation is the principle of salvation. It is the making known of divine truth by communication with the heavens.


The thing that made the most impact on me though, was the time period that we do not know much about: Jesus' childhood.  Here's what intrigued me.  At the end of Luke 2, Jesus stays behind in Jerusalem to teach at the temple (at the age of twelve when, in Jewish custom, you are now considered a man, but not old enough to begin a trade - which happens to be 30 years old - when Jesus begins his ministry).  Mary and Joseph lost him and went back to Jerusalem, and when they found him asked why he worried his father so, and Jesus responded that he was about his Father's business (Heavenly Father).  But then he left with Mary and Joseph:

51And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was^asubject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her^bheart.

 52And Jesus ^aincreased in ^bwisdom and stature, and in ^cfavourwith God and man.

He was subject to them.  Meaning, he still had some growing to do.  He knew full well his purpose, but still needed to be subject to his earthly parents for proper human growth and perhaps more self-mastery.  In fact in the JST Matt 3:24-26, it says that he "waxed strong and waited upon the Lord for the time of his ministry to come."  Within that time the Doctrine and Covenants says:

READ D&C 93:12-14  “And I, John, saw that he received not of the fullness at the first, but received grace for grace; And he received not of the fullness at first, but continued from grace to grace, until he received a fullness;  And thus he was called the Son of God, because he received not of the fullness at the first.”

Again some definitions from the Bible Dictionary and a quote about grace:

BD Revelation: Divine revelation is one of the grandest concepts and principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for without it, man could not know of the things of God and could not be saved with any degree of salvation in the eternities.

BD Grace: The main idea of the word is divine means of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ. This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts.

Bruce R. McConkie: “Grace is an attribute of perfection possessed by Deity and Christ himself “received grace for grace: until finally he gained the fullness of the Father.”

I have learned that the grace offered to us through Jesus comes because he grew from grace to grace.  He understands what grace (or experience or doctrine) we need next because he experienced that grace himself.  Grace isn't just mercy, it's an attribute of perfection that has came through the same process that Christ went through.  Although his process what a lot more speedy that mine.  He probably knew what I know at human age 1.  What a comfort it is to know that he exhibited self-mastery to be subject to his earthly parents and to his Heavenly Father, so that he could experience what we need to know.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is great!

Lesson #2 My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord

Luke 1:5–25, 57–80   Luke 1:26–56   Matthew 1:18–25

I love the reaction of four people to the announcement of Christ's and John's birth.  Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth and Zacharias.

An angel appeared to each person (note the in 2 Nephi 32, we are told that angels speak by the Holy Ghost - so while an angel appearing is marvelous, it's the Holy Ghost that sends and ratifies the message).

Zacharias was told about the promise of a new baby to their ages state while serving in the temple.  He questioned.  He was struck dumb from that point to the length of the pregnancy, plus a few days.

Elizabeth seemed to take it all in stride and was happy about it all (at least that we know about).

Mary was told and she also asked questions, but after explanation she said "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord"

Joseph was told and he worried about how he would deal with this socially/traditionally and personally.

All four responded in different ways and directions were given for each circumstance.  The reason I think this is so great is that because of all our personality differences and differences in life experiences, we respond different ways to direction from the Lord.  But if we persist and endure, eventually we will all understand and be converted.  This makes me respect others more and more.

Also, I think it is interesting the Gabriel (Noah) is the angel that appears. I've heard it's Noah for a few different reasons: 1) Noah ended and opened a new dispensation at the time of the flood, and as such helps usher in another dispensation 2) Not necessarily doctrinally sound, but it sets right - Noah witnesses the death of many of his friends and family members in the time of the flood, how wonderful for him to be able to proclaim the means for saving of all those souls.

Lesson #1 The Old and New Covenant

This lesson was so interesting to me because it was the bridge between the Old and New Testaments.  I really liked going from the study of one book to the other and am looking forward to greater insights because of what I've learned and come to love in the Old Testament.

Here are some interesting things to know about during the 400 years between the Old and New Testaments:

• The "true Jews" have been dwindled down to a smaller group since many Jews stayed in Babylon to maintain their established jobs and integrated families.  Also, the Jewish dispersion during the Syrian and Babylonian conquests have spread out the Jews father than just Jerusalem.  Both of these things contribute to changes is doctrine and lifestyle.
• Malachi was the last prophet we know of, so the people on earth were without a prophet for 400 years.
• Greek influence became strong as Alexander the Great came into power over much of the land.  The traditional Jewish/Middle-Eastern way of life was scorned as "old-fashioned" and there was a movement to Westernize the people with obtaining and worshiping knowledge, worshipping the body through art and physical strength (gymnasium), which put spiritual leaning on the back burner. 
• Ironically, when the prophets died, the people began to mourn the loss of guidance, so gentile political leaders stepped up to either command obedience to Mosaic law or to abolish it.  Also, religious groups formed and took it upon themselves to uphold the Mosaic law especially to combat Westernization and loss of tradition. 
• One group formed from the the Scribes that had been originated by Ezra.  His intent was to make copies of and interpret scripture. The Scribes became known as scriptural authorities and held in high esteem.  During the 400 years between testaments, a group called the Sadducees formed from the Scribes.  This group was made up of aristocrats, priests and merchants - wealthy men.  They had dominion over the temple and followed the literal interpretation of the law.
• Another group called the Pharisees formed.  Members of this group came from the common people and they took a more symbolic or allegorical interpretation of the law.  They tried to take ownership of the temple ceremonies by bringing the rites in to homes.
• During the 400 years, the temple was plundered again, and rededicated some time later, which began the celebration of Hanukah as is still celebrated today.  Temple worship during this time proceeded normally with priests and Levites, though in general temple worship became more of a representation of outward rites than individual meaning.
• Writings of the prophets were translated from Hebrew to Greek, since many Israelites began to speak that language in order to operate with the convergence of civilizations. In fact, Paul uses the Greek translation to teach many of the Christians after Christ's death.
• Samaritans adopt the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament) and make their own version which contributes to the Dead Sea Scrolls of Qumran which has an influence in teaching Christians.
• Essentially, those who wish to remain true to the teaching of the prophets focus on three things: Worship in the temple (rites and sacrifices), circumcision (signifying those of Abrahamic lineage), and foods (a clear indication of belief).

I think it is good to know all this because we are moving from the Lord's Old Covenant (Testament) to his New Covenant (Testament). Jeremiah explains this change over in Jer 31:31-34:

31¶Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a ^anew^bcovenant with the house of ^cIsrael, and with the house of Judah:

32Not according to the ^acovenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:

33But this shall be the ^acovenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my ^blaw in their inward parts, and write it in their ^chearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

34And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all^aknow me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their ^biniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Paul also explains this in the context of animal sacrifice in Hebrews 9 .  I recommend reading the whole chapter, it's very enlightening, but I will mention a few verses here:

12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own ^abloodhe entered in once into the ^bholy place, having obtained eternal^credemption for us.

13For if the ^ablood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the ^bpurifying of the flesh:

14How much more shall the ^ablood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself ^bwithout ^cspot to God, ^dpurge your^econscience from dead works to serve the living God?

15And for this cause he is the ^amediator of the ^bnew ^ctestament, that by means of ^ddeath, for the redemption of the ^etransgressionsthat were under the first ^ftestament, they which are called might receive the ^gpromise of eternal ^hinheritance.

Essentially, the point of moving from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant is that, there is no more cause for symbolic sacrifice.  While animal sacrifice served it's purpose and hopefully changed the hearts of individuals, it often reverted to just the sacrifice of an animal. Now, the Savior has come, and there is now cause for personal, individual sacrifice and covenants that come with it to help us.  One of my favorite quotes from Elder Maxwell sums the subject up well:

Real, personal sacrifice never was placing an animal on the altar.  Instead, it is a willingness to put the animal in us upon the altar and letting it be consumed.

I'm going to try again

It's not really a New Year's Resolution to write on this blog more regularly, but I do have a resolution to say "no!!!!" to other things so I can write on this blog.  Here's to new starts!

We will be following the New Testament this year.  Since I am a Sunday School teacher I will definitely post every other week, but I'll try the lessons in between my weeks too!