Calling the Twelve (Luke 4-6; Matthew 10; Mark 3; John 4)

Healing the Nobleman’s Son

Christ returns to Galilee and begins His ministry there in earnest. 

READ John 4:46-54

Why did Christ say “except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe”?

The man had the faith to leave his home in Capernaum and seek out Jesus to heal his dying son but he thought that Jesus needed to come to his home to heal his son.

He did not realize that all that was necessary was for him to have faith in the power to heal.

Given the father’s need to see Christ lay hands on his son, what was it that changed his mind?

He wanted to believe Christ when He said that his son would recover and live.

Having met Christ in person, he chose to trust that it was possible – that Christ spoke the truth and His speaking it alone would suffice to heal the boy.

Leaving for home was his act of faith.

Why did Christ heal the boy, given the father’s level of faith?

Christ really can do all things; He could have healed the boy through His own faith and power despite the father’s lack of faith.

The father begged Christ and continued to cry unto Him – pleading Him to come – pleading for mercy.

He had faith that Christ could heal.

The man found the faith to walk away and leave it in Christ’s hands, one way or the other.

Implied in this is that he gained faith not only in Christ’s power to heal but also in His love and mercy for those who come unto Him in humility.

We also learn from this that Christ’s mercy extends to those without perfect faith.

 

 

Preaching in the Synagogue at Nazareth

READ Luke 4:16-22

What did this scripture mean to the Jews?

It was a Messianic passage from Isaiah 61:1-2.

The one anointed was the Messiah.

What did Christ mean when He said, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears”?

“I am the one Isaiah was writing about – I am the Messiah”.

Why did the Jews say, “Is not this Joseph’s son”?

They did not think He was the son of God.

They all knew the family extremely well – and thought Joseph was the father.

They think He’s just a carpenter, not a Messianic (which they considered a military…) deliverer.

 

READ Luke 4:23-30

Why is no prophet accepted in their own country?

Real prophets don’t align with ignorant people’s imaginations of what a prophet should be like; and if you grow up near someone, you’ve already labeled them according to your own biases.  There is an interesting insight here about how Christ always was the Messiah from His birth but that the people in Nazareth never saw it – that we think we know people but we rarely are curious enough about others to try to understand who they really are.

A prophet will tell people what God wants them to hear (“repent and come unto me”) not what the people want to hear (“all is well in Zion”), so the easiest road is to reject the messenger so that you can reject the uncomfortable message.

What was Christ implying when He brought up the widow of Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian?

Being one of the “chosen” people does not guarantee that you will have miracles performed among you or that you will come unto God and be saved.

God is no respecter of persons – He will go to those who have faith and perform miracles among them (see Mormon 9:19-20).

Why do they try to kill Jesus – why are they so indignant?

Because He said He was the Messiah – they thought it was absolutely blasphemous.

Because He insulted them – He said they would not believe His (the Messiah’s) words and works because He did not align with their expectations, which were based on their own prideful understanding.

Because they lack charity – they hate those who see things differently from them; they are filled with enmity and pride.

Because they are completely devoid of the Spirit – they can’t recognize a message from God unless it comes from a bonafide expert scholar or religious leader.

What does telling the truth to those who are unprepared to receive it produce?

Rejection of the message.

Hate and persecution.

They thought they were making a bold statement about their fidelity to their religious traditions and holding fast to the truth.  Instead, they were cutting themselves off from the lifeline sent to save them.

Irony is not a strong enough word to describe this singular scene.  It would be repeated throughout Christ's ministry among the religious hierarchy and Church leadership of His day, ultimately culminating in His death at their hands.  These were the only people who would kill their own God (see 2 Nephi 10:3).  They were devout.  They were misinformed.  They were very religious, but entirely mistaken.

This event occurred on the Sabbath; incidentally, as the cliff face they tried to throw Him off was over a mile away from the village, which of their religious laws did they break in their self-righteous indignation?

Thou shalt not murder.

They had a restriction on the number of steps they could take on the Sabbath day and a mile was over the limit.

How did Christ escape from the mob?

He “passed through the midst” or middle of the group and “went His way”.

He did not yet have the physical body He attained to at the time of His resurrection that could pass through walls but He was able to perform a miracle: men had grabbed Him and were wrestling Him towards a cliff and yet somehow they lose their grip and He just walks through the crowd and leaves.

In the last days, some of us may need to be able to call down similar miracles: having soldiers pass by without hearing or seeing us – even though we are in plain sight and making noise with children present.

God can enable these miracles through our faith and His angels - using His light or energy, which is a real (albeit invisible) element in this mortal world, but which can affect it in very tangible ways – think about all of the healing that Christ did, as an example of light affecting the physical world.

 

 

Calling the Twelve

READ Luke 5:1-9

Why do you think Christ performed this miracle of the fish?

To set up the object lesson of how many “men” they would catch after Christ had made them “fishers of men” – the gospel net would be full to overflowing.

To increase their faith in Him as a miracle worker and the Messiah.

To give them one large “pay-day” before their call as apostles – to ease their faith into the “without purse or script” routine – to increase their faith in the fact that Christ could perform miracles which would sustain their lives, if they had faith to step out into the dark with Him.

Why did Simon Peter say “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man”?

Because he was a sinful man – there is no pretense to lie when in the presence of one who knows all things.

Because, in the presence of Jehovah, all of his sins and iniquities were kindling a “flame of unquenchable fire” within him (see Mormon 9:3-5).

 

READ Luke 5:10-11

What do these fishermen do when called by Christ?

They forsook ALL and followed Him.

Are they being called as Apostles at this point?

No, that comes in the next chapter (see Luke 6:12-16).

At this point they are “only” being called to follow, to be disciples of Christ, and yet they “forsook all” to do it.

 

READ Mark 3:13-15

What were the Apostles called to do?

Preach the gospel of repentance and baptism (from the LDS Bible Dictionary: apostle means “one who is sent forth”).

Heal.

Cast out Satan.

Not to lead a church…

 

In 1835, Oliver Cowdery gave the following charge to the modern-day Apostles: “It is necessary that you receive a testimony from heaven to yourselves; so that you can bear testimony to the truth of the Book of Mormon, and that you have seen the face of God. That is more than the testimony of an angel. When the proper time arrives, you shall be able to bear this testimony to the world. When you bear testimony that you have seen God, this testimony God will never suffer to fall, but will bear you out; although many will not give heed, yet others will. You will therefore see the necessity of getting this testimony from heaven.  Never cease striving until you have seen God face to face. Strengthen your faith; cast off your doubts, your sins, and all your unbelief; and nothing can prevent you from coming to God. Your ordination is not full and complete till God has laid his hand upon you. We require as much to qualify us as did those who have gone before us; God is the same. If the Savior in former days laid his hands upon his disciples, why not in latter days? . . .  The time is coming when you will be perfectly familiar with the things of God. . .. You have our best wishes, you have our most fervent prayers, that you may be able to bear this testimony, that you have seen the face of God. Therefore, call upon him in faith in mighty prayer till you prevail, for it is your duty and your privilege to bear such a testimony for yourselves. (DHC, 2:192-98.) 

What are true apostles of Jesus Christ required to do in all ages?

They must receive a testimony that they have seen God face to face – that He lives and that He is who He says He is (see 3 Nephi 11:14-15).

They must be prepared to share that testimony with the world in clarity when called to do so by God, regardless of the consequences.

 

READ Matthew 10:1 and 7

Why does Christ give the Apostles power to cast out and heal?

It is not to show signs and create a following – He’s already told several people NOT to tell others what He has done for them.

It is to minister – relieve the suffering of others.

Signs or the gifts of the spirit FOLLOW the truth, which is what they are to teach (see D&C 84:64-72).

This call actually takes place after the Sermon on the Mount, so that is probably the doctrine they are teaching; however, they are “rookies” in this doctrine.

 

READ Matthew 10:19-20

Why does Christ send them out to preach with confidence?

They will be successful if they have done the internal spiritual work necessary to be filled with the Spirit.

It is not about how much they know – remember they are teaching to a culture with a deep tradition of very learned, paid “doctors of the law” while they are just normal people; on their own, they will NEVER be able to convince anyone of the doctrine.

They must preach with the Spirit.

 

READ Matthew 10:28-31

Does the knowledge that the Father knows the number of hairs on your head comfort you when facing persecution and possible death?

It should.

The fact that we are His work and glory and He is so intimately acquainted with us and our situation from day to day should give us immense confidence in the face of other people, regardless of how many or how well armed, or any stumbling block.

 

READ Matthew 10:32-33

What happens when you “confess Christ before men”?

They will disbelieve, mock and persecute you.

He will save you… at the last day (maybe not in mortality, though, as rams are not always found in thickets).

What happens when you “deny Christ before men”?

They will embrace you as one of their own.

Christ will not testify of you as His to the Father – you will be damned (see D&C 88:73) because you are on your own and the world that loves you cannot save you as it is in the same situation as you are, at the last day.

 

READ Matthew 10:37-39

Why does the natural man (even or especially the “honorable” natural man) love parents or children more than they love Christ?

Because they don’t know Christ.

Because they are attached to those relationships, because those relationships give them pleasure or are beneficial in some way.

What happens when the natural man becomes attached to others?

They are at their mercy – if the relationship is going well, they feel good, but if it is not, they feel bad.

This can lead to trying to control or “manage” those relationships so that they are mostly positive (or always positive).

This is an impossible goal, as they are dealing with other natural men and women.

And controlling others for your benefit is a Satanic objective.

But even if we succeed, we are faced with the constant fear of losing those relationships or people.

What does loving God more than anyone give you?

The love of a perfect God who will never let you down.

A portion of His love, which fills you and causes you to love others more deeply and unconditionally than you ever could coming from a place of fear of loss or hurt.

What life is Christ talking about “losing”?

The natural, fallen life of attachment to external things – to people, possessions, power, pride, sin, hurt and anger, past accomplishments, and future aspirations.

What life do you find when you sacrifice these things?

Your core spiritual nature.

Who you REALLY are, were and will be… the TRUTH about yourself.

Who God really is and your relationship to Him.

A depth of love for others that is unconditional because it comes from God through you.