The Marriage in Cana
READ John 2:1-11
Why did Christ’s mother Mary ask Him to
help the wedding party that had run out of wine?
Why does Christ answer Mary “what have I
to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet
come?”
Why does Christ make use of the waterpots
used for ceremonial purification in religious observances?
How did Christ change water into wine;
did it actually change its molecular nature or was this a “Jedi mind trick” on
Christ’s part?
Nicodemus and Being Born Again
Christ travels from Galilee to Jerusalem
for the Passover and cleanses the temple.
While He is there He is visited by Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin.
READ John 3:1-2
Who was Nicodemus and what assumptions
can we make that could give us insight into why Christ answers him the way He
does?
How did Nicodemus know Christ came from
God?
READ John 3:3-7
In light of Nicodemus’ acknowledgement
that Jesus had descended from the High Council of Heaven with authority, why
did Christ tell him that he must be born again – as he would already have been
baptized, to be holding the position he was holding in Israel?
Can one be born the second time from the
mother’s womb? Why did Christ not answer this question?
What is the difference between being born
again to “see” vs being born again to “enter” the kingdom?
Why must we first be “born to see”?
What are we when we have been born again
to see?
How do we become “born again to see?”
READ Ezra Taft Benson quote:
“As we seek to qualify to be members of
Christ's Church -- members in the sense in which He uses the term, members who
have repented and come unto Him -- let us remember these principles. The gospel
is the Lord's plan of happiness and repentance is designed to bring us joy.
True repentance is based on and flows from faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
There is no other way. True repentance involves a change of heart and not just
a change of behavior (see Alma 5:13). Part of this mighty change of heart is to
feel godly sorrow for our sins. This is what is meant by a broken heart and a
contrite spirit… It is not uncommon to find men and women in the world who feel
remorse for the things they do wrong. Sometimes this is because their actions
cause them or loved ones great sorrow and misery. Sometimes their sorrow is
caused because they are caught and punished for their actions. Such worldly
feelings do not constitute "godly sorrow" (2 Corinthians 7:10). Godly
sorrow is a gift of the Spirit. It is a deep realization that our actions have
offended our Father and our God. It is the sharp and keen awareness that our
behavior caused the Savior, He who knew no sin, even the greatest of all, to
endure agony and suffering. Our sins caused Him to bleed at every pore. This
very real mental and spiritual anguish is what the scriptures refer to as
having "a broken heart and a contrite spirit" (D&C 20:37). Such a
spirit is the absolute prerequisite for true repentance.” (E.T. Benson; Teachings
of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 71-72)
What does it mean to be “born of water
and of the Spirit”?
What is an ordinance?
Is it possible to perform the baptism of
water and be confirmed without receiving the baptism of fire or gift of the
Holy Ghost?
READ D&C 132:7 (minus the insertion)
“All covenants, contracts, bonds,
obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or
expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit
of Promise… are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection
from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end
when men are dead.”
Is ANYTHING binding unless it is sealed
by the Holy Spirit of Promise?
Why did Nicodemus “marvel” at Christ’s
answers?
What does it mean to be born of God?
How does one receive the baptism of the
Spirit or Fire – to be born of God?
READ Omni 1:26, 3 Nephi 9:19-20, Alma
22:18, and Moroni 4:3
What are the terms of the covenant that
we must offer up?
In a new
translation of the Testimony of St John (TSJ), the interchange is slightly
different.
READ: “Nicodemus
said to him, If I believe this, can I ascend in this life, or will it be
accomplished only in the afterlife? Jesus answered, In the name of Father Ahman
I say to you, except you receive the ordinance of baptism to join the new
dispensation, and thereby forsake your sins and receive forgiveness and an
outpouring of the Spirit, you will not ascend to God’s presence in this life or
the life to come. All who are devoted to the ambitions of the flesh remain
imprisoned by the flesh, and those who are born anew through the ordinances,
receive the Spirit of Truth, and are able to know the record of heaven by the
Spirit of Truth. Do not question if what I say is true because the Spirit of
Truth confers light, knowledge, and understanding of the mysteries of heaven
within every soul who receives it.”
What insights can you gain from this
translation?
What does it mean to remain imprisoned by
the flesh?
What is implied by Nicodemus’ questioning
if what Christ says is true?
READ John 3:8-15
Why does Christ say the person who has
been born of the Spirit is like the wind?
Why did the masters of Israel not know
that a new dispensation had begun?
What sign did Moses (who the Pharisees
greatly revered) give to Israel regarding the Messiah?
READ John 3:16-21 and John 3:32-36 (JST)
Why did the Father send the Son?
If you were assured the eternal rewards
of a god, and knowing what you know about the hell that can be this life, is
there anything that would cause you to risk all of that by coming (back) down
to an Earth?
Why did God send prophets prior to
Christ’s birth to testify of Him?
Living Water to the Samaritan Woman at
Jacob’s Well
After this early Judean ministry is
completed, Christ leaves Judea for Galilee, by way of apostate Samaria.
READ John 4:5-14
What happens when we run out of water on
a hot day?
What can happen if you are out in the hot
desert and you aggressively ration your water?
How would you compare the natural water
and the “living water” that Christ is talking about?
What similarities and differences exist
between drawing the water from Jacob’s Well and obtaining the living water?
READ D&C 63:23
Christ tells the woman that the living
water is His to give; how does He give us that water?
READ D&C 84:19-23
What are the mysteries of His kingdom
that yield this living water?
READ John 4:15-19
What can we learn from this exchange
between Christ and the woman?
READ John 4:20-26
What is Christ teaching her about how,
where and what to worship?
READ John 4:27-38
Christ had not eaten; what was the “meat
to eat” that the disciples didn’t know about?
