February 11–17
“Ye
Must Be Born Again”
The power of Jesus Christ can
change me.
As you read about the Savior changing water into wine
in John 2:1–11, what insights do you gain about the
power of Christ to change you?
My Thoughts:
That’s a lot of wine!
150+ gallons!
If you think about it,
this is a perfect introduction to His future ministry and the Atonement in
general. Water and wine are the same basic form, a liquid. He was able to take
one for, very simple and basic, yet improve on it and make it better, even, “the
good wine”
He was able to do this
miracle without having to touch anything. He simple thought it, or said it and
it occurred.
Since Mary seemed to
be in charge somewhat, Bible scholars have thought that the wedding could have
been for one of her children. In that case Jesus is not only helping His mother
but also a sibling.
As for changing me, if
Christ can simply have water into wine with a thought what might He be able to
do with me if I am willing to let it happen?
What others have said:
Bruce R. McConkie
Scholars generally
feel that some member of the Holy Family was being married and that Mary was
supervising and guiding what went on. (Mortal Messiah)
James E Talmage
“The noun of address,
"Woman," as applied by a son to his mother may sound to our ears
somewhat harsh, if not disrespectful; but its use was really an expression of
opposite import.[332] To every son, the mother ought to be preeminently the
woman of women; she is the one woman in the world to whom the son owes his
earthly existence; and though the title "Mother" belongs to every
woman who has earned the honors of maternity, yet to no child is there more
than one woman whom by natural right he can address by that title of respectful
acknowledgment. When, in the last dread scenes of His mortal experience, Christ
hung in dying agony upon the cross, He looked, down upon the weeping Mary, His
mother, and commended her to the care of the beloved apostle John, with the
words: "Woman, behold thy son!"[333] Can it be thought that in this
supreme moment, our Lord's concern for the mother from whom He was about to be
separated by death was associated with any emotion other than that of honor,
tenderness and love?[334]
Sterling W. Sill
"One of the most
inspiring lines in all of the scripture was spoken by the mother of Jesus at
the marriage feast at Cana. She said to the servants, 'Whatsoever he saith unto
you, do it.' (John 2:5.) What an inspiring motto that would make for our
individual lives!" (Conference Report, October 1959, Third Day-Morning
Meeting 105.)"[One firkin equals] about nine gallons. Thus each of the six waterpots contained between twelve and eighteen gallons of water, with the result that Jesus then created some one hundred and fifty gallons of wine-a miracle showing the wedding celebration was one of no small size." (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1965-1973], 1: 136.)
You may gain additional insights by considering the
perspectives of the different people who were there, such as:
Mary, She must have known He
could do something or she would not have asked. She did not question on the how
or whys but simply told the servants to do whatever Christ said to do. She knew
He qwould help her and it would get done.
The disciples, This is the first recorded
miracle. They hearing the exchange must have wondered what in the world was
being asked. So far He had simply been teaching doctrine (we think). As they
watch the servants follow His direction and then to hear the host state it was
the best wine, how fast do you think they went over and tried it themselves?
Miracles help start and build testimony and this was a physical start for them
I think.
Others, Same as above. What
thoughts went through their minds. Think of the servants, they knew the jars had
water in them and then all of a sudden it is wine! Think of the servant that
drew forth and took it to the host. They must have been cringing a bit as they
presented the sample. How many of these simple servants started to believe on
Him due to this? Same with those guests that knew what happened.
How might these people have experienced the miracle?
John
3:1–21
I must be born again to enter the
kingdom of God.
Some
thoughts on Nicodemus:
(From Jesus Christ and
the World of the New Testament- Holzapfel, Huntsman, Wayment)
Nicodemus a Pharisee
who as “a ruler of Jews” seems to have been a member of the Sanhedrin, appears
three times in the Gospel of John. In the first and most famous incident, soon
after the cleansing of the temple, Nicodemus visited Jesus at night, presumably
to avoid detection by others of the Jewish leadership but perhaps on an
official visit as a Pharisaic delegate of the Sanhedrin to assess Jesus’
intentions and character. Their meeting provided the setting for Jesus’
discourse on the new birth., in which Jesus affirms the need for each person to
be “born from above” (John 3:3)by being born of both water and spirit.
Although Nicodemus
initially seemed confused, perhaps revealing that his previous opinions of
Jesus were being reshaped, Jesus stressed the source of this new life by
describing himself as the example of one who “came down from heaven,” whom God
sent because he “so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believers in him should not perish but have everlasting life”.
Nicodemus is mentioned
again when the Pharisees and chief priests seek to arrest Jesus while he is
attending the Feast of Tabernacles at Jerusalem (John 7:45-53). Recalling that
he was the same man “who came to Jesus by night” (John 7:50), John notes that
Nicodemus was rebuked when he reminded the gathering that the law condemned no
man without a fair trail.
Nicodemus is sometimes
seen as a secret disciple of Jesus or as one who represents those who lacked
sufficient faith to support him openly. However, in this third appearance in
the Gospel of John at the burial of Jesus (John 19:38-42), Nicodemus who
earlier had come to Jesus when it was dark, came out into the light, bringing a
kingly amount of spices to assist Joseph of Arimathea in preparing Jesus’ body
to be placed in the tomb and making his discipleship open. Significantly, this
event occurred after Jesus had been lifted up on the cross, allowing Nicodemus
to see the fulfillment of a prophecy made by Jesus that he would be lifted up
“as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness” (John 3:14)
Sanhedrin
The Jewish senate and
the highest native court in both civil and ecclesiastical matters. Under the
presidency of the high priest it regulated the whole internal affairs of the
Jewish nation. It is first definitely mentioned in the days of Antiochus the
Great (223–187 B.C.), but it may date from a somewhat earlier period. No
historical connection can be established between it and Moses’ council of 70
elders. It consisted of 71 members and had an aristocratic character, being
drawn from the three classes of chief priests, scribes, and elders. In the time
of the Lord the Pharisees had the predominating influence upon it (Acts 5:34,
40), but there were Sadducean elements (chief priests, Acts 5:17; scribes,
23:6, 9). The powers of the Sanhedrin were extensive, for the Greek and Roman
masters of the Jews granted them a considerable amount of self-government. From
the New Testament we gather that it was the supreme court of justice in all
cases, and that it had officers of its own who arrested accused persons and
carried out its sentences and decrees. Questions involving life and death were
removed from its cognizance 40 years before the destruction of Jerusalem (John
18:31; the stoning of Stephen cannot be regarded as a formal execution), and
the Roman authorities could remove a prisoner from its jurisdiction (as Paul
was in Acts 23).
The extent of the
legal jurisdiction of the Sanhedrin varied at different times. Herod, when he
was governor of Galilee (47 B.C.), was summoned before it. At the time of the
Lord its jurisdiction was restricted to Judea proper. In Galilee Christ was
beyond its power (John 7:1). Its decisions were nevertheless regarded as morally
binding all over the Jewish world. Thus we find it issuing letters to the
synagogue of Damascus, ordering the arrest and removal to Jerusalem of the
Christians of that place. Besides the supreme national Sanhedrin of Jerusalem,
there were inferior local courts in all the Jewish cities. To these the name
Sanhedrin (council) was given (Matt. 10:17). LDS Bible Dictionary--
What teachings do you find in John 3:1–21 that might have inspired
Nicodemus to follow Jesus and be born again?
My Thoughts:
Jesus made sense. The
spirit was telling Nicodemus that this truly was the Christ. Not only did
Christ tell him the physical thing that had to happen, being baptized, which he
probably understood following the letter of the law, He also taught him that His
gospel was so much more.
Jesus also was able to
help him understand that items of the spirit cannily be understood with the
spirit. Perhaps Nicodemus had been thinking the
same things and had discussed with his fellows that the God of Israel
requires more than just checking off things on the must do or not do list.
What Others have said:
Jesus' answer seems to
have been given in response to an unrecorded question. We may wonder if
Nicodemus first asked, "Rabbi, what must a man do in order to see the
kingdom of God?" Christ responded that he must be born again, but there
are two equally correct interpretations of Christ's response. The first is that
one must be baptized in order to enter the celestial kingdom. The second is
that one must be born again in order to recognize the kingdom of God on earth.
Christ preached, 'the kingdom of God is at hand' (Mark 1:15), but there were
few who saw it. "Some have a certain spiritual awakening which makes it
possible for them to 'see' the kingdom of God-that is, recognize that the
gospel has been restored and the true Church has been reestablished on the
earth. Then, if they are 'born of the water and of the Spirit,' they are able
to enter the Church; and, if they endure to the end, they can enter into their
rest in God's kingdom." (Glenn L. Pearson and Reid E. Bankhead, Building
Faith with the Book of Mormon [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1986], 107.)
"It is one thing
to see the kingdom of God, and another thing to enter into it. We must have a
change of heart to see the kingdom of God, and subscribe the articles of
adoption to enter therein." (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 vols. 6:58)
Joseph F. Smith
"The Savior said
to Nicodemus, 'Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God,'
and that is true today. A man must be born from ignorance into truth, today,
before he can expect to see any difference between a Latter-day Saint and
another not of the faith. If he is not so born, he is more blind than the one
whom Christ healed, for having eyes he sees not, and having ears, hears not.
Joseph Smith
"This eternal
truth settles the question of all men's religion. A man may be saved, after the
judgment, in the terrestrial kingdom, or in the telestial kingdom, but he can
never see the celestial kingdom of God, without being born of water and the
Spirit. He may receive a glory like unto the moon, (i.e. of which the light of
the moon is typical), or a star, (i.e. of which the light of the stars is
typical), but he can never come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the
living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels; to
the general assembly and Church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven,
and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and
to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, unless he becomes as a little child,
and is taught by the Spirit of God." (History of the Church 1:283.)
"It may be asked
whether any person can be saved, except those who are baptized. Yes, all the
inhabitants of the earth will be saved, except those that sin against the Holy
Ghost. Will they come into the presence of the Father and the Son? Not unless
they are baptized for the remission of sins, and live faithfully in the
observance of the words of life, all the rest of their days." (Journal of
Discourses, 26 vols. [London: Latter-day Saints' Book Depot, 1854-1886], 9:
315.)
Joseph Smith
"You might as
well baptize a bag of sand as a man, if not done in view of the remission of
sins and getting of the Holy Ghost. Baptism by water is but half a baptism, and
is good for nothing without the other half-that is, the baptism of the Holy
Ghost." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 314)
Spencer W. Kimball
"He who has a
testimony does not know exactly of what it is made, or where it came from. He
cannot measure it. He cannot weigh it. He cannot count it. He can only feel it.
That is the testimony, and it is like a breeze or the dew. We were in Upper
Galilee the other day...It is a warm day. You stand perspiring in the warmth
and all at once there is a little cooling wind or breeze. You feel it, a pleasant
cooling sensation. You do not know from where it comes, but all at once you are
cooled and refreshed and that is like the Spirit when a man is born again. 'The
wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst
not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born
of the Spirit.' (John 3:8.) " (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, edited
by Edward L. Kimball [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1982], 67.)
What role did your baptism (being “born of water” [John 3:5]) and confirmation (being born “of the
Spirit” [John 3:5]) play in being born again?
I remember being
interviewed by the Bishop, I remember it was a huge snow storm so all the
family from down south did not get there until the next day for my
confirmation.
I remember I was only
7 years old, but that was ok since I was confirmed only 8th birthday the next
day. (According to the Bishop)
Study, daily
reflection, making the sacrament a part of my life.
John
3:16–17
Heavenly Father shows His love for
me through Jesus Christ.How have you felt the love of God through the gift of His Son?
My Thoughts:
Every day, if I truly
think about it, I feel His love for me through His Son. All that I have in my
life is due to Him. Any Joy I have ever felt can be traced back to Him.
What Others have said:
Jeffrey R. Holland
"I am a father,
inadequate to be sure, but I cannot comprehend the burden it must have been for
God in His heaven to witness the deep suffering and Crucifixion of His Beloved
Son in such a manner. His every impulse and instinct must have been to stop it,
to send angels to intervene-but He did not intervene. He endured what He saw
because it was the only way that a saving, vicarious payment could be made for
the sins of all His other children from Adam and Eve to the end of the world. I
am eternally grateful for a perfect Father and His perfect Son, neither of whom
shrank from the bitter cup nor forsook the rest of us who are imperfect, who
fall short and stumble, who too often miss the mark." ("The Hands of
the Fathers," Ensign, May 1999, 14-15)
Melvin J. Ballard
"I love to
contemplate what it cost our Father in heaven to give us the gift of his
Beloved Son, that worthy Son of our Father...I think as I read the story of
Abraham's sacrifices of his son Isaac that our Father is trying to tell us what
it cost him to give his Son as a gift to the world. You remember the story of
how Abraham's son came after long years of waiting and was looked upon by his
worthy sire, Abraham, as more precious than all his other possessions; yet, in
the midst of his rejoicing, Abraham was told to take this only son and offer
him as a sacrifice to the Lord. He responded. Can you feel what was in the
heart of Abraham on that occasion? You love your son just as Abraham did;
perhaps not quite so much, because of the peculiar circumstances, but what do
you think was in his heart when he started away from Mother Sarah, and they
bade her goodbye? What do you think was in his heart when he saw Isaac bidding
farewell to his mother to take that three days' journey to the appointed place
where the sacrifice was to be made? I imagine it was about all Father Abraham
could do to keep from showing his great grief and sorrow at that parting, but
he and his son trudged along three days toward the appointed place...They
ascended the mountain, gathered the stones together, and placed the fagots upon
them. Then Isaac was bound, hand and foot, kneeling upon the altar. I presume
Abraham, like a true father, must have given his son his farewell kiss, his
blessing, his love, and his soul must have been drawn out in that hour of agony
toward his son who was to die by the hand of his own father. Every step
proceeded until the cold steel was drawn, and the hand raised that was to
strike the blow to let out the life's blood when the angel of the Lord said:
'It is enough.'
"Our Father in
heaven went through all that and more, for in his case the hand was not stayed.
He loved his Son, Jesus Christ, better than Abraham ever loved Isaac, for our
Father had with him his Son, our Redeemer, in the eternal worlds, faithful and
true for ages, standing in a place of trust and honor, and the Father loved him
dearly, and yet he allowed this well-beloved Son to descend from his place of
glory and honor, where millions did him homage, down to the earth, a
condescension that is not within the power of man to conceive. He came to
receive the insult, the abuse, and the crown of thorns. God heard the cry of
his Son in that moment of great grief and agony, in the garden when, it is
said, the pores of his body opened and drops of blood stood upon him, and he
cried out: 'Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me.'
"I ask you, what
father and mother could stand by and listen to the cry of their children in
distress, in this world, and not render aid and assistance? I have heard of
mothers throwing themselves into raging streams when they could not swim a
stroke to save their drowning children, rushing into burning buildings, to
rescue those whom they loved.
"We cannot stand
by and listen to those cries without its touching our hearts. The Lord has not
given us the power to save our own. He has given us faith, and we submit to the
inevitable, but he had the power to save, and he loved his Son, and he could
have saved him. He might have rescued him from the insult of the crowds. He
might have rescued him when the crown of thorns was placed upon his head. He
might have rescued him when the Son, hanging between the two thieves, was
mocked with, 'Save thyself, and come down from the cross. He saved others;
himself he cannot save.' He listened to all this. He saw that Son condemned; he
saw him drag the cross through the streets of Jerusalem and faint under its
load. He saw that Son finally upon Calvary; he saw his body stretched out upon
the wooden cross; he saw the cruel nails driven through hands and feet, and the
blows that broke the skin, tore the flesh, and let out the life's blood of his
Son. He looked upon that.
"In the case of
our Father, the knife was not stayed, but it fell, and the life's blood of his
Beloved Son went out. His Father looked on with great grief and agony over his
Beloved Son, until there seems to have come a moment when even our Savior cried
out in despair: 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?'
"In that hour I
think I can see our dear Father behind the veil looking upon these dying
struggles until even he could not endure it any longer; and, like the mother
who bids farewell to her dying child, has to be taken out of the room, so as
not to look upon the last struggles, so he bowed his head, and hid in some part
of his universe, his great heart almost breaking for the love that he had for
his Son. Oh, in that moment when he might have saved his Son. I thank him and
praise him that he did not fail us, for he had not only the love of his Son in
mind, but he also had love for us. I rejoice that he did not interfere, and
that his love for us made it possible for him to endure to look upon the
sufferings of his Son and give him finally to us, our Savior and our Redeemer.
Without him, without his sacrifice, we would have remained, and we would never
have come glorified into his presence. And so this is what it cost, in part,
for our Father in Heaven to give the gift of his Son unto men." (Sermons
and Missionary Services of Melvin J. Ballard [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co.,
1949], 151-155.)
What hymns help you feel this love?
I know that my
Redeemer lives, I am a Child of God, Most of the Sacrament songs, Let me in by
the Osmonds (it is really about repenting not a old girlfriend, according to a
fireside I heard.)
What could you do to make the sacrament more meaningful?
My
Thoughts:
The sacrament is my one on one time with the Spirit. I need to start
thinking about it way before I am sitting in Church singing the hymn.
It should be part of my daily review when I pray in the morning and
report back each night.
What
Others have said:
The sacrament and the partaking of
these emblems is the very heart of our Sabbath worship. It includes a renewal
of covenants with God. It carries with it a promise of His Holy Spirit to be
with us. As we partake of the sacrament we can all stand on a level plane
before the Lord in that magnificent and beautiful and simple ordinance of the
gospel which carries with it such tremendous meaning.
Gordon B Hinckley “Stand a Little Taller”Melvin J Ballard Improvement Era Oct 1919
It is at the sacrament meeting, when
you see the emblems of the broken body and the spilled blood being prepared,
that is the time for every man and woman to go into secret conference with
himself of herself and discover, whether or not they are in sin and
transgression, whether they have yielded to the tempter, whether there are
things they need to repent of, and if so, to cleanse themselves and purify
their souls
Melvin J. Ballard Yesterday, Today, and Forever pg 48
“If we are to be His disciples and to
be committed members of His Church, we must remember and reverence the
sacrament. It allows each of us to express with broken hearts and contrite
spirits our willingness to follow the Savior, to repent, and to become a Saint
through the Atonement of Christ.”
Elder Quentin L. Cook “We Follow Jesus Christ,” Ensign, May 2010,
84Gordon B Hinckley “Stand a Little Taller”
Since the administration of President
Heber J. Grant, the First Presidency has emphasized the precaution through the
General Handbook of Instructions to avoid and set form, or uniformity in
procedures. These instructions apply to the dress of Aaronic Priesthood youth
who pass the sacrament. Boys should be neat and clean, but they are not
required to all dress alike. It also refers to any practice, such as Aaronic
Priesthood young men walking with one arm behind their back, or standing with
arms folded, or priests raising their arm to the square when blessing the
sacrament.
(David B. Haight, "Understanding the Lord’s Sacrament," Tambuli, Mar. 1989, 9)
(David B. Haight, "Understanding the Lord’s Sacrament," Tambuli, Mar. 1989, 9)
"It was instituted by the Savior
in the place of the law of sacrifice which was given to Adam, and which
continued with his children down to the days of Christ, but which was fulfilled
in his death, he being the great sacrifice for sin, of which the sacrifices
enjoined in the law given to Adam were a similitude" (Joseph F. Smith
Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [1939], 202).
With the partaking of the sacrament,
we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and obligate ourselves to keep his
commandments by covenant. This makes the partaking of the sacrament a renewal
of the covenants we made at the time of baptism into the Church. Thus, by the
sacrament, we declare repeatedly, ordinarily weekly, our allegiance to the plan
of salvation and its obligations and blessings. (L. Tom Perry, "Sacrament
of the Lord’s Supper," Ensign, May 1996, 53)
"Its observance is as necessary
to our salvation as any other of the ordinances and commandments that have been
instituted in order that … people may be sanctified" (Discourses of
Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1941], 171).
My brethren and sisters, do we always
stop to think, on that sacred Sabbath day when we meet together to partake of
the sacrament, that we witness, promise, obligate ourselves, in the presence of
one another, and in the presence of God, that we will do certain things? Note
them.
"The first: We are willing to take upon ourselves the name of the Son. In so doing we choose him as our leader and our ideal; and he is the one perfect character in all the world.
"Second: That we will always remember him. Not just on Sunday, but on Monday [and the other days of the week], in our daily acts, in our self-control. …
"The third: We promise to ‘… keep his commandments which he has given …’—tithing, fast offerings, the Word of Wisdom, kindness, forgiveness, love. The obligation of a member of the Church of Jesus Christ is great, but it is as glorious as it is great, because obedience to these principles gives life, eternal life. …
"Order, reverence, attention to divine promises—the promise to enter into the fold of Christ, to cherish virtues mentioned in the gospel of Christ, to keep them ever in mind, to love the Lord wholeheartedly, and to labor, even at the sacrifice of self, for the brotherhood of man—these and all kindred virtues are associated with the partaking of the sacrament. It is good to meet together and especially to renew our covenants with God in that holy sacrament" (David O McKay Gospel Ideals [1954], 146-47).
"The first: We are willing to take upon ourselves the name of the Son. In so doing we choose him as our leader and our ideal; and he is the one perfect character in all the world.
"Second: That we will always remember him. Not just on Sunday, but on Monday [and the other days of the week], in our daily acts, in our self-control. …
"The third: We promise to ‘… keep his commandments which he has given …’—tithing, fast offerings, the Word of Wisdom, kindness, forgiveness, love. The obligation of a member of the Church of Jesus Christ is great, but it is as glorious as it is great, because obedience to these principles gives life, eternal life. …
"Order, reverence, attention to divine promises—the promise to enter into the fold of Christ, to cherish virtues mentioned in the gospel of Christ, to keep them ever in mind, to love the Lord wholeheartedly, and to labor, even at the sacrifice of self, for the brotherhood of man—these and all kindred virtues are associated with the partaking of the sacrament. It is good to meet together and especially to renew our covenants with God in that holy sacrament" (David O McKay Gospel Ideals [1954], 146-47).
John
4:24
Is God a
spirit?
My Thoughts:
What Others have said:
Gordon B. Hinckley
"I remember the
occasion of more than 50 years ago when, as a missionary, I was speaking in an
open-air meeting in Hyde Park, London. As I was presenting my message, a
heckler interrupted to say, 'Why don't you stay with the doctrine of the Bible
which says in John [4:24], God is a Spirit?'
"I opened my
Bible to the verse he had quoted and read to him the entire verse: 'God is a
Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.'
"I said, 'Of
course God is a spirit, and so are you, in the combination of spirit and body
that makes of you a living being, and so am I.'
"Each of us is a
dual being of spiritual entity and physical entity. All know of the reality of
death when the body dies, and each of us also knows that the spirit lives on as
an individual entity and that at some time, under the divine plan made possible
by the sacrifice of the Son of God, there will be a reunion of spirit and body.
Jesus' declaration that God is a spirit no more denies that he has a body than
does the statement that I am a spirit while also having a body.
"I do not equate
my body with His in its refinement, in its capacity, in its beauty and
radiance. His is eternal. Mine is mortal. But that only increases my reverence
for Him. I worship Him 'in spirit and in truth.' I look to Him as my strength.
I pray to Him for wisdom beyond my own. I seek to love Him with all my heart,
might, mind, and strength. His wisdom is greater than the wisdom of all men.
His power is greater than the power of nature, for He is the Creator
Omnipotent. His love is greater than the love of any other, for His love
encompasses all of His children, and it is His work and His glory to bring to
pass the immortality and eternal life of His sons and daughters of all
generations (see Moses 1:39)." ("The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,"
Ensign, Mar. 1998, 4)
Eldred G. Smith
"'The Father has
a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's, the Son also.' (D&C
130:22.)
"Now John says,
'God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in
truth.' (John 4:24.)
"Man is also a
spirit clothed with flesh and bones, so, too, is God. Again the Lord has said
in modern revelation 'For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit
and element, inseparably connected, receive a fullness of joy.' (D&C
93:33.) Birth is the uniting of this spirit and elements of physical bodies.
Death is the separation. The resurrection is the reuniting of the spirit and
the physical body, which the Lord says, 'inseparably connected, receive a
fullness of joy.' (Conference Report, October 1961, Afternoon Meeting 27.)
John
4:7–26
Christ
offers me His living water.
What might Jesus have meant when He told the Samaritan
woman that whoever drinks the water He offers will never thirst?
My Thoughts:
Water is everything to
everybody. We cannot survive without it. Once we have the spirit truly inour
lives and it is a part of us, we are never the same. We never need to wonder or
worry about how our life will go since we have trust and faith in the one who
guides us.
What Others have said
Spencer J. Condie
"When Jesus
encountered the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, the Savior said that if she
knew who He was, she would have asked a drink of Him who would be able to give
her living water which would be 'a well of water springing up into everlasting
life' (John 4:5-14).
"In his vision of
the Lord's second coming Zechariah foresaw that the Savior shall stand upon the
Mount of Olives and 'living waters shall go out from Jerusalem: half of them
toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea' (Zech. 14:8). Of
this same event, Ezekiel prophesied that these living waters would 'go down
into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea,
the waters [of the Dead Sea] shall be healed. ... And every thing shall live
whither the river cometh.' (Ezek. 47:8-9.)
"These dual
prophecies are profound not only in their geographical and geological
implications but also because of their metaphorical promise. Of all the places
on earth, the Dead Sea is one of the most inhospitable to life. Even burning
deserts of sand provide a home for hardy insects and reptiles and for certain
plants with extremely deep roots. Concrete sidewalks and asphalt tennis courts
sometimes crack, allowing a brave weed or two to survive above the surface. But
the Dead Sea, because of its extreme salinity, harbors no life of any kind.
"Thus, using the
example of the Dead Sea, the Lord's prophets have chosen the worst possible
case to illustrate the power of the living waters to heal that which is dead.
The living waters of the gospel of Jesus Christ and His atonement can heal dead
marriages, dead relationships between parents and children, dead friendships
between business partners and neighbors, and spiritual death from years of
alienation from the Church. His promise is sure: 'Learn of me, and listen to my
words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me'
(D&C 19:23D&C 19:23)." (Your Agency, Handle with Care [Salt Lake
City: Bookcraft, 1996], 102-103.)
D. Kelly Ogden
"Just as he
intimated at the foot of Mount Hermon that he was the Rock of Salvation, and at
Capernaum where mills were produced that he was the Bread of Life, so now at
Jacob's Well he described himself as the Living Water, a source from which any
person could draw spiritual water and quench spiritual thirst: 'The water that
I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting
life.' (John 4:14.)" (D. Kelly Ogden, Where Jesus Walked: The Land and
Culture of New Testament Times [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1991], 29.)
Bruce R. McConkie
"How graphically
Jesus uses the simple truths of everyday life to teach the eternal spiritual
realities of his gospel! For the thirsty and choking traveler in a desert
wilderness to find water, is to find life, to find an escape from agonizing
death; similarly, the weary pilgrim traveling through the wilderness of
mortality saves himself eternally by drinking from the wells of living water
found in the gospel.
"Living water is
the words of eternal life, the message of salvation, the truths about God and
his kingdom; it is the doctrines of the gospel. Those who thirst are invited to
come unto Christ and drink. Where there are prophets of God, there will be
found rivers of living water, wells filled with eternal truths, springs
bubbling forth their life-giving draughts that save from spiritual death."
(Commentary 1:151-52.)
The scriptures teach
us what the living water represents (see 1 Ne. 11:25, Jn. 7:37-39, and DC
63:23). They teach that because of God's great love for his obedient and
faithful children, he has given them the Spirit whereby they may know 'the
mysteries of the kingdom, and the same shall be in him a well of living water,
springing up unto everlasting life' (DC 63:23). Those who hunger and thirst
after righteousness can only be filled by the Spirit and the truths taught by
the Spirit (3 Ne. 12:6)."We need not thirst, He tells us. In this world of disappointment and pain, where even our best hopes fail us and our mouths are dry and our tongues are swollen, He tells us that He has a gift for us-freely given without price. It is a spring of water that will never run dry. It is His love and protection that is constant. It is His promise of an abundant life...That same promise is given to all of us-to those of us who wander in the desert with parched souls of sin, sorrow, disappointment, and despair-thirsting after truth and peace and hope. His gift to us is the promise of everlasting water-His love, His gift, His forgiveness, His spirit. That is a wonderful promise to all of us in this life who travel so often in the desert." (Lloyd D. Newell, May Peace Be with You [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1994], 100.)
How is the gospel like living water?
My Thoughts:
What Others have said:
As I have met with
many women this last year—and their priesthood leaders—I have heard numerous
accounts of Christ’s healing power. There is so much suffering in mortality, so
many causes for pain. I know people who have sent loved ones into harm’s way and
who daily pray for their safety in battle. I talk to parents who are frightened
for their children, aware of the temptations they face. I have dear friends who
are suffering from the ravaging effects of chemotherapy. I know single parents,
abandoned by spouses, who are rearing children alone. I have dealt myself with
the debilitating effects of depression. But I have learned from my own
experience, and I learn from those I meet, that we are never left to our own
resources. We are never abandoned. A wellspring of goodness, of strength and
confidence is within us, and when we listen with a feeling of trust, we are
raised up. We are healed. We not only survive, but we love life. We laugh; we
enjoy; we go forward with faith.
The living water also
nourishes. I testify to you that just as He promises, Christ comes to all who
are heavy laden; He gives us rest (see Matt. 11:28). He sustains us when we are
weary. A wellspring is a flowing well, offering continual refreshment—if we
drink of it. Pride can destroy its effects, as can mere inattention. But those
who drink deeply not only become whole themselves, but they become a fountain
to others, as one spirit nurtures and feeds another. (Blessed by Living
Water-Kathleen H. Hughes First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency April Conference 2003)
Joseph B. Wirthlin
"These latter
days are a time of great spiritual thirst. Many in the world are searching,
often intensely, for a source of refreshment that will quench their yearning
for meaning and direction in their lives. They crave a cool, satisfying drink
of insight and knowledge that will soothe their parched souls. Their spirits
cry out for life-sustaining experiences of peace and calm to nourish and
enliven their withering hearts.
"Indeed, 'there
are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are
blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive,
and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.'
(DC 123:12) Let us work with all our heart, might, mind, and strength to show
our thirsty brothers and sisters where they may find the living water of the
gospel, that they may come to drink of the water that springs 'up unto
everlasting life.'
"The Lord
provides the living water that can quench the burning thirst of those whose
lives are parched by a drought of truth. He expects us to supply to them the
fulness of the gospel by giving them the scriptures and the words of the
prophets and to bear personal testimony as to the truth of the restored gospel
to alleviate their thirst. When they drink from the cup of gospel knowledge,
their thirst is satisfied as they come to understand our Heavenly Father's
great plan of happiness."
As at Jacob’s well, so
today the Lord Jesus Christ is the only source of living water. It will quench
the thirst of those suffering from the drought of divine truth that so afflicts
the world. The words of the Lord to ancient Israel spoken by the prophet
Jeremiah describe the condition of many of God’s children in our own day: “My
people … have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out …
broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”15 Too many of our Heavenly Father’s
children spend their precious lives carving out broken cisterns of worldly gain
that cannot hold the living water that satisfies fully their natural thirst for
everlasting truth. (Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Living Water to Quench Spiritual
Thirst," Ensign, May 1995, 19)
James E. Faust
"May I suggest
five beginning, essential measures that will greatly clear the channel for a
daily flow of 'living water' from the very source of the spring (see John
4:7-15).
"First, a daily
communion involving prayer. A fervent, sincere prayer is a two-way
communication that will do much to bring the Spirit flowing like healing water
to help with the trials, hardships, aches, and pains we all face. What is the
quality of our secret prayers? As we pray, we should think of our Heavenly
Father as being close by; full of knowledge, understanding, love, and compassion;
the essence of power; and having great expectations of each of us.
"Second, a daily
selfless service to another. The followers of the divine Christ have to be
weighed on the scales of what their actions are rather than on solemn
professions of belief. The true measure is found in Matthew: 'Inasmuch as ye
have done it unto one of the least of these...ye have done it unto me' (Matt.
25:40). A wise man observed, 'The man who lives by himself and for himself is
apt to be corrupted by the company he keeps' (Charles Henry Parkhurst, quoted
in The International Dictionary of Thoughts [1969], 659).
"Third, a daily
striving for an increased obedience and perfection in our lives. 'What manner
of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am,' said the Savior (3
Ne. 27:27). Because of the perfect Atonement of Jesus, we may be made perfect
(see D&C 76:69).
"Fourth, a daily
acknowledgment of His divinity. To have a daily, personal relationship with the
Master, we must be His disciples. 'For how knoweth a man the master whom he has
not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and
intents of his heart?' (Mosiah 5:13).
"Fifth, a daily
study of the scriptures. President Spencer W. Kimball said: 'I find that when I
get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine
ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I
immerse myself in the scriptures the distance narrows and the spirituality
returns' (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball [1982],
135)." ("That We Might Know Thee," Ensign, Jan. 1999, 3-4)
Christ’s gospel is the
living water that nourishes our soul.
What are you doing to “worship the Father in spirit and
in truth”?
Ideas
for Family Scripture Study and Family Home Evening
What items in your home can you use to teach spiritual
truths?
Everyday items seem to
help make things real. Jesus used stories and things that His listeners could
relate to and understand easily. Same goes for us as we teach
What does your family need to keep out of your home so it
will be a sacred place?
So much eveil is accepted
in the world. We and our children are surrounded by it wherever we go.School, work, even Church. The home is to be a place of safety, peace and refuge. We need to make sure evil has no place or way into our homes.
What will you do
to keep those things out?
What we watch on TV,
what we listen to, what we discuss and talk about, what we view in private and
as a family affects our home and the spirit there. In turn in effect everyone
who comes into our home.
We must be ever
watchful and diligent in guarding our home.
John 3:1–6
Why is rebirth a good metaphor for the change required of
us before we can enter the kingdom of God? How have we experienced the process
of spiritual rebirth?
We need to change.
Like water becoming wine. We need to improve our basic self into something
grand and better.
How has Christ helped us feel God’s love in our lives?
John 4:5–15
What was the Savior teaching us when He compared His
gospel to living water?
Water is vital for all
life. Every culture understands this example. We need it for more than just
drinking, without water nothing will survive.
Why do we need to drink water every day?
It is a simple piece
of life. Just as the spirit and having it in our lives is a simple basic piece
for spiritual safteyJust like our bodies can not function very long or well without Water, our spirits cannot survive or work to their full potential without the spirit.
