Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Patterns of Light: Spirit of Revelation
I love Elder Bednar's analogy of walking in the fog, only being able to see just a few steps in front of you, just enough to keep you going. Some times instead of praying for the fog to dissipate and to see clearly, we need to just pray to see one or two steps ahead. Like manna, we can pray for what we will need to make it through that day. Taking life one day at a time, trusting in the Lord's divine timeline in our life, knowing that He can see the end from the beginning.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Life's Not Fair
I can't tell you how many times my oldest has told me lately "That's not fair". It's really starting to get old but I really had no better explanation or come back than "Life's not fair".
Then today in my New Testament class that I have been attending, a woman stood up and shared that "Life's not fair, It's better than fair." My ears perked up, thinking of my oldest daughter. She then went on to explain that it's better than fair, because through Jesus Christ all of our pains and infirmities can be succored in this life and in the resurrection be restored. And because all the wrongs and injustices can be healed through His Atoning power.
Another point was made that Christ has invited us to be joint heirs with Him. And how can we expect to become joint heirs with Him, thus being like Him, if we have not had to experience suffering ourselves. It was through the suffering that Jesus became the Savior and Redeemer. Only He could overcome suffering and only through Him can we overcome our suffering. Thus all the crazy, random things that happen to us that cause us much suffering and many infirmities are to help us to become like Christ. Or maybe to understand Christ better. To cause us to seek out Christ in our own lives. Christ knows our weaknesses and sufferings and still wants us to be joint-heirs with Him.
Then today in my New Testament class that I have been attending, a woman stood up and shared that "Life's not fair, It's better than fair." My ears perked up, thinking of my oldest daughter. She then went on to explain that it's better than fair, because through Jesus Christ all of our pains and infirmities can be succored in this life and in the resurrection be restored. And because all the wrongs and injustices can be healed through His Atoning power.
Another point was made that Christ has invited us to be joint heirs with Him. And how can we expect to become joint heirs with Him, thus being like Him, if we have not had to experience suffering ourselves. It was through the suffering that Jesus became the Savior and Redeemer. Only He could overcome suffering and only through Him can we overcome our suffering. Thus all the crazy, random things that happen to us that cause us much suffering and many infirmities are to help us to become like Christ. Or maybe to understand Christ better. To cause us to seek out Christ in our own lives. Christ knows our weaknesses and sufferings and still wants us to be joint-heirs with Him.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
From the Life of Christ
A friend of mine posted a quote on facebook that was very timely for me.
In my New Testament class that I went to a couple of weeks ago something things really stuck out to me as we read and discussed when Christ raised Lazarus from the dead. See John Chapter 11 (also posted at the bottom of the page.
Jesus has the power to heal us
Maybe we are both.
Chapter 11
Jesus testifies that He is the Resurrection and the Life—Mary and Martha testify of Him—He raises Lazarus from the dead—Caiaphas speaks prophetically of the death of Jesus.
1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judæa again.
8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall ado well.
13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs (1.875 miles) off:
19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.
29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.
30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.
31 The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.
32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?
38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
"Never doubt in the dark what God told you in the light."-- Raymond EdmanNow I haven't tried to verify the authenticity of this quote, but I'm trying really hard to embrace the meaning.
In my New Testament class that I went to a couple of weeks ago something things really stuck out to me as we read and discussed when Christ raised Lazarus from the dead. See John Chapter 11 (also posted at the bottom of the page.
Jesus has the power to heal us
- Jesus is close enough to Bethany that he could have gotten to Bethany in time to heal Lazarus before he died, but he did not. Likewise in our lives, we pray that our trials will be lifted, eased, healed and yet they are not.
- Christ tells the apostles what is going to happen in vs 4: "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." The apostles hear that the sickness is not unto death and so they assume that it's not life threatening, but miss the purpose that is stated after. The apostles didn't have the same eternal perspective that Christ has and neither do we. But we, like the apostles are gently taught to see things with eternal eyes.
Maybe we are both.
- Mary and Martha sought out the Lord (vs 3) when Lazarus was ill. In our own lives we turn to the Lord when we are in need of help. Martha went out of her house and went to meet Christ when she heard that He was coming. Mary stayed in the house. Do we wait for Christ to come help us while we sit in our "house" mourning our trials and suffering? Or do we seek him out?
- Both Mary and Martha said, "If thou had been here my brother would not had died." However, in reading this story this time, I couldn't help but feel like the intonations in their voices may have implied something more than was being said. Both believed that the Savior could have healed Lazarus before he died. And since the Savior was only fifteen furlongs (1.875 miles) away he could have most likely made it to Lazarus before he died. Martha says it with belief in the Savior and Martha appears to be comforting herself in her testimony of the resurrection. However, this time when I read Mary's part I could hear the disappointment and grief that Christ could have saved Lazarus and didn't as she falls at his feet.
Jesus Wept
When we are in the deepest, darkest moments--even questioning why Christ hasn't helped us in our moment of need. Christ is there, mourning with us. Our suffering can never come close to that which the Savior experienced. But if we are commanded to be like our Savior, how can we not then expect that our life include times of suffering as well.
Jesus took the time with Mary and her followers to weep with her, even though he knows that the next thing he will do is raise Lazarus from the dead.
- I realized that I am Mary and Martha, Christ knows my circumstances, and though he does not answer my problems like I wished he would sometimes, he waits, he has a purpose. And I must figuratively experience Lazarus' death. Just like with Mary and Martha Christ will succor me and mourn with me. And then I gain hope, because Christ has the power to restore ALL things. If we remain faithful we can emerge from our trials whole through Him.
- My life: From this scripture I understand what is meant when we are commanded to be patient in our suffering. In the eternal perspective Lazarus needed to die so that Christ could show forth His power over death, also foreshadowing his own death and resurrection. Mary and Martha probably didn't understand in their moment of grief that their experience was going to be recorded and spread throughout the entire world for centuries to inspire, comfort, and give understanding to those of us struggling to find answers in our own trials in addition to providing a powerful testimony of Christ's power of resurrection. But the Lord knew of this eternal purpose. This gives me hope that something good will come of this trial, and I've even had to consider that maybe not even in my generation. It also helps me to hang on like in the quote "Never doubt in the dark what God told you in the light."
- I have to endure the pain and suffering of my "Lazarus's death". But Christ is there, crying with me and has the power to heal and make all things right.
Chapter 11
Jesus testifies that He is the Resurrection and the Life—Mary and Martha testify of Him—He raises Lazarus from the dead—Caiaphas speaks prophetically of the death of Jesus.
1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judæa again.
8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall ado well.
13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs (1.875 miles) off:
19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.
29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.
30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.
31 The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.
32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?
38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
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