Acts 10 & 11

In our day, many people outside the Church continue to bring up the policy that the Church once held regarding blacks holding the priesthood. They suggest that God would never show prejudice to any group of people. Religous history doesn't support that concept. In the days of Moses, the Levites were seperated and only allowed to perform temple administration.

After the children of Israel returned from Babylon, they married women "of the land" who were not children of Israel. After being chastised by Ezra acknowledged -

"We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.
3 Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law." (Old Testament Ezra 10:2 - 3)

For the people of our day, this may seem quite harsh, unfair, and politically incorrect. But nonetheless, I am sure the Lord had a purpose or reason for the children of Israel to not mix with other nations even though we know he loves all his children. A reason may have been the concern that they may again enter into idolatry, but even so, we do not understand all the ways of the Lord, for -

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Old Testament Isaiah 55:8 - 9)

As Jesus ministered in his day -

"...a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil." (New Testament Matthew 15:22)

The Savior's disciples, knowing she was not Jewish and supposedly unclean said to Him -

"...Send her away; for she crieth after us." (New Testament Matthew 15:23)

The Lord seemed to agree as he explains -

"...I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." (New Testament Matthew 15:24)

It becomes clear at that time, that the Savior's mission was but to the sheep of the house of Israel, not to all people. We know that after much pleading by the woman, the Savior answered -

"...O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour." (New Testament Matthew 15:28)

Again we do not necessarily know the mind and will of the Lord on why he did not proselyte to those of other nations. Initial impressions might be that the Savior was prejudice, but you can sense that he still loved the woman.

I think what seems to provide the best example is in the conversion and baptism of Cornelius. Similar to the Church, priesthood, and the blacks, in the days of Peter the gentiles were considered "unclean" and they were not to go in their homes or allow them to be baptized members of the Church. It took a revelation to Cornelius -

"A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter..." (New Testament Acts 10:2 - 5)

About the time the servants of Cornelius were at the place Peter was -

"...Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven." (New Testament Acts 10:9 - 16)

The Spirit directed Peter to follow Cornelius's servants to his residence. There Peter enters in saying -

"...Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean." (New Testament Acts 10:28)

Upon learning of Cornelius's experience -

"...Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." (New Testament Acts 10:34 - 35)

After the Holy Ghost fell upon the house of Cornelius, Peter is inspired -

"...Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord." (New Testament Acts 10:47 - 48)

It didn't end there. This revelation from the Lord had to shared with the other apostles for -

"...when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them." (New Testament Acts 11:2 - 3)

When Peter related his vision and that had happened he said -

"Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." (New Testament Acts 11:17 - 18)

The more we search the scriptures, the more we realize that things are not done as man would but as God directs by revelation. In June, 1978, the following official declarations was given by the First Presidency -

To all general and local priesthood officers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout the world:

Dear Brethren:

As we have witnessed the expansion of the work of the Lord over the earth, we have been grateful that people of many nations have responded to the message of the restored gospel, and have joined the Church in ever-increasing numbers. This, in turn, has inspired us with a desire to extend to every worthy member of the Church all of the privileges and blessings which the gospel affords.

Aware of the promises made by the prophets and presidents of the Church who have preceded us that at some time, in God’s eternal plan, all of our brethren who are worthy may receive the priesthood, and witnessing the faithfulness of those from whom the priesthood has been withheld, we have pleaded long and earnestly in behalf of these, our faithful brethren, spending many hours in the Upper Room of the Temple supplicating the Lord for divine guidance.
He has heard our prayers, and by revelation has confirmed that the long-promised day has come when every faithful, worthy man in the Church may receive the holy priesthood, with power to exercise its divine authority, and enjoy with his loved ones every blessing that flows therefrom, including the blessings of the temple. Accordingly, all worthy male members of the Church may be ordained to the priesthood without regard for race or color. Priesthood leaders are instructed to follow the policy of carefully interviewing all candidates for ordination to either the Aaronic or the Melchizedek Priesthood to insure that they meet the established standards for worthiness.

We declare with soberness that the Lord has now made known his will for the blessing of all his children throughout the earth who will hearken to the voice of his authorized servants, and prepare themselves to receive every blessing of the gospel.

Sincerely yours,
Spencer W. Kimball
N. Eldon Tanner
Marion G. Romney

The First Presidency

Again, I do not profess to know the mind and will of the Lord, but I have speculated why at one time the blacks were not allowed to hold the priesthood may have had more to do with the attitudes of caucasion saints than the blacks - maybe much like the Jews and the gentiles. As one studies the great persecution and exodus of the saints during the early years of the Church, maybe, just maybe, that during this period, it may have been just to much to allow the blacks the priesthood with the historically acknowledged prejudices so apparent throughout the United States.

Acts 3

After Peter & John had healed the lame man at the temple -

"...all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering." (New Testament Acts 3:11)

As they wondered, Peter -

"...answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?" (New Testament Acts 3:12)

Explaining that through the Savior's -

"...name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all." (New Testament Acts 3:16)

And then Peter directly addresses them -

"And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled." (New Testament Acts 3:17 - 18)

It was Jesus Christ of Whom Peter said that Moses -

"...and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days." (New Testament Acts 3:24)

Saying to those at the temple -

"Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities." (New Testament Acts 3:25 - 26)

Blessing them through the principle of repentance and conversion. Establishing the fact that the Savior had come, Peter profoundly counsels and prophecies -

"...Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." (New Testament Acts 3:19 - 21)

This prophecy becomes clear of two future significant events related to the coming or second coming of Jesus Christ, 1) "times of refreshing", and 2) "times of the restitution of all things". Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained of the "times of refreshing" -

“If we are to catch the vision of Peter’s prophecy, we must know pointedly and specifically what is meant by the times of refreshing. It is elsewhere spoken of by Jesus as ‘the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory.’ (Matt. 19:28.) It is the day ‘when the earth shall be transfigured, even according to the pattern which was shown unto mine apostles upon the mount. . . .’ the Lord says. (D&C 63:21.) It is the day when ‘the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.’ (Tenth Article of Faith.) It is the day of the ‘new earth’ that Isaiah saw (Isa. 65:17), the earth which will prevail when wickedness ceases, when the millennial era is ushered in. . . . It is the day when men ‘shall beat their swords into plowshares, and hooks’ (Isa. 2:4), a day of universal peace and justice, a millennial era when Christ shall reign personally upon the earth.” (Bruce R. McConkie in CR, Oct. 1967, p. 43.)

The "times of the restitution of all things" required a complete restitution or restoration before His coming. This began in the spring of 1820 as a young man - Joseph Smith, in upstate New York, was visited by the Father and the Son as this great and last despensation began. Elder McConkie also wrote of the times of restitution -

“These words mean age of restoration, an age in which God has promised to restore all things that he spoke by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

Thus, Christ came once and ministered among men, climaxing his ministry with his atoning sacrifice and ascension to his Father. He is to come again, a second time, in a day of refreshing and renewal, to reign personally upon the earth. But he cannot come this second time until an age in the earth’s history commences which has the name the times of restitution, or in other words he cannot come until the age or period of restoration; and in that age or period all essential things that God ever gave in any age of the earth for salvation, betterment, blessing, and edification of his children will be restored again.” (Bruce R. McConkie in CR, Oct. 1967, p. 43.)

Acts 1 & 2

Luke writes that Jesus taught his disciples -

"To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God..." (New Testament Acts 1:3)

But after his ascension -

"....he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen..." (New Testament Acts 1:2)

It is significant here how his apostles continued to administer His Church in that His apostles continued to receive his teachings and commandments by revelation through the Holy Ghost. But not only teachings and commandments by revelation but also the spirit of prophecy or testimony through the Holy Ghost as the Savior said -

"...ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (New Testament Acts 1:8)

This witness to be -

"...of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (New Testament Revelation 19:10)

These Church leaders now understood how they were to call others to serve of God by revelation from the Holy Ghost as -

"...they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen..." (New Testament Acts 1:24)

The Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Revelation, was not only to be had by the apostles but as for a witness to all if Christ and his mission. As the apostles spoke to those of many nations dwelling in Jerusalem, as they -

"...they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (New Testament Acts 2:4)

Those of many nations -

"...were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilæans?
8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?" (New Testament Acts 2:7 - 8)

Peter goes on to teach the words of the Prophet Joel -

"...it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy..." (New Testament Acts 2:17 - 18)

In other words, those that live worthily to receive the Spirit, will receive through the Holy Ghost a witness as Peter testified of -

"...the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him." (New Testament Acts 5:32)

And of those that receive the Holy Ghost will be able to bear testimony that Jesus is the Christ and this is His Kingdom on the Earth, as was promised -

"For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost..." (New Testament Acts 1:5)

For it is through the Holy Ghost that -

"...he will manifest the truth of it unto you...And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." (Book of Mormon Moroni 10:4 - 5)

Matthew 28, John 20 & 21

There are many that suggest that the Savior gave all his words and they are recorded in the New Testament and nothing more is needed or required. This doesn't appear to be the case as as Luke records -

"...he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God..." (New Testament Acts 1:3)

Nothing is written of these things, but we do recognize that during this period, there seemed to be a might change in vision and responsibility of the apostles. John emphasizes of these events -

"And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book..." (New Testament John 20:30)

And in the final verses of his record, John writes -

"And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written." (New Testament John 21:25)

The women at the sepulchre were told -

"...go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you." (New Testament Matthew 28:7)

"...go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me." (New Testament Matthew 28:10)

Matthew records a seperate place where they met the Savior where -

"...the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." (New Testament Matthew 28:16 - 18)

Paul later records that the Savior -

"...was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep." (New Testament 1 Corinthians 15:6)

Did the Savior invite these five hundred brethren with the eleven to the mountain? Was this event much like that which transpired amongst the Nephites? Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote -

“Of all the recorded appearances of the risen Christ to his disciples in Palestine, this one is paramount; and yet of it the present Bible preserves only a most fragmentary account. This was an appearance by appointment, by prearrangement, to which probably a great multitude of disciples was invited. It is likely the occasion of which, as Paul wrote later, ‘he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once.’ (1 Cor. 15:6.) If so, the seventies and leading brethren of the Church would have been present, as also perhaps the faithful women who are inheritors of like rewards with obedient priesthood holders.
“We do not know when Jesus specified the location of the meeting, but on the night of his betrayal and arrest, he gave this promise: ‘After I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.’ (Matt. 26:32.) Then the angels at the tomb, as part of their announcement to the women that ‘he is risen,’ commanded them to tell his disciples: ‘He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him.’ (Matt. 28:7; Mark 16:7.) And then to confirm again their previously made appointment, and in so doing to reemphasize its importance, the risen Jesus himself said to the women, as they held him by the feet, and worshipped him: ‘Go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.’ (Matt. 28:9–10.)
“We may suppose that great preparation preceded this meeting; that it dealt with many things, perhaps being similar to his resurrected ministry to multitudes of Nephites; and that from it, by the mouths of many witnesses, the sure testimony of his divine Sonship went forth to the world.” (McConkie, DNTC, 1:866–67.)

Based upon the gospel writers, it would be foolish to assume all the Saviors teachings and words are recorded in the New Testament.

Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20

Recently, there has been reported in the news the finding of a box and within the Savior's bones. As much as Christianity professes a belief in the resurrection and that Christ -

"...should be the first that should rise from the dead..." (New Testament Acts 26:23)

...many so called believers, do not necessarily believe in a literal resurrection of body and spirit and that He lives today. The very definition of resurrection or coming alive would mean the Savior would be restored to possess a perfect body. Alma taught -

"...concerning the resurrection of the mortal body. I say unto you that this mortal body is raised to an immortal body, that is from death, even from the first death unto life, that they can die no more; their spirits uniting with their bodies, never to be divided; thus the whole becoming spiritual and immortal, that they can no more see corruption." (Book of Mormon Alma 11:45)

Paul talked of resurrected bodies saying -

"There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption..." (New Testament 1 Corinthians 15:40 - 42)

The angel declared -
"...unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead..." (New Testament Matthew 28:5 - 7)

Being risen from the dead would suggest a reuniting with His body - a body of flesh and bones. We learn a great deal of the nature of a resurrected body as two men traveled on the road to Emmaus -

"...which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight." (New Testament Luke 24:13 - 31)

The first thing we would learn of the resurrected Lord was that he must have seemed much like other ordinary men as His glory was withheld. The second thing we learn that the "risen" Savior continues in much the same manner as He did during his mortal ministry as he continues to teach his disciples. The last thing we learn is about a resurrected body is that it doesn't have the same constraints we understand with the mortal body as the Savior "vanished out of their sight".

There is scriptural testimony upon testimony of witnesses of the Savior's resurrection, that He lives! But I believe we can know even as Job testified -

"...I know that my redeemer liveth..." (Old Testament Job 19:25)

...without necessarily seeing him. Alma said -

"...this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?
46 Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me." (Book of Mormon Alma 5:45 - 46)

Elder James E. Talmage wrote -

"...The resurrection of Jesus Christ is attested by evidence more conclusive than that upon which rests our acceptance of historical events in general. Yet the testimony of our Lord’s rising from the dead is not founded on written pages. To him who seeks in faith and sincerity shall be given an individual conviction which shall enable him to reverently confess as exclaimed the enlightened apostle of old: ‘Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus, who is God the Son, is not dead...” (Talmage, Jesus the Christ, pp. 698–99.)

I testify like Alma, that I too have received a personal assurance by the Spirit, that Jesus is the Christ, he has risen from the dead - I too know He lives!

Matthew 27:26, John 19:1

With limited detail, Matthew records of Pontius Pilate -

"...when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified...." (New Testament Matthew 27:26)

John writes that -

"...Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.
2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe..." (New Testament John 19:1 - 2)

Of this scourging, we know -

"...the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.
28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
29 ¶ And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head." (New Testament Matthew 27:27 - 30)

Many years before, Isaiah witnessed this scourging wherein he prophesied -

"...he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Old Testament Isaiah 53:5)

None of the gospel writers that I found described "the stripes" in relationship to the scourging. Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote of this event -

“This brutal practice, a preliminary to crucifixion, consisted of stripping the victim of clothes, strapping him to a pillar or frame, and beating him with a scourge made of leather straps weighted with sharp pieces of lead and bone. It left the tortured sufferer bleeding, weak, and sometimes dead. Pilate tried in vain to create compassion for Jesus as a result of the scourging. Teaching the need to bear chastisement, Paul, looking back on the scene, wrote: ‘Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.’ (Heb. 12:6.)

While Pilate watches, his cohort of six hundred soldiers mock and deride the Son of God. The scarlet robe, the crown of thorns, the reed in our Lord’s hand, the mocking obeisance, the cynical hailing of him as King—all devil-inspired substitutes of the respect rightfully his—plus the foul spittle and the smiting blows, all paint a picture of gross human debasement. The Roman soldiers have partaken of the spirit of the Jewish mob.” (McConkie, DNTC, 1:807.)

Elder Talmage explained of Roman scourging -

"Scourging was a frightful preliminary to death on the cross. The instrument of punishment was a whip of many thongs, loaded with metal and edged with jagged pieces of bone. Instances are of record in which the condemned died under the lash and so escaped the horrors of living crucifixion. In accordance with the brutal customs of the time, Jesus, weak and bleeding from the fearful scourging He had undergone, was given over to the half-savage soldiers for their amusement. He was no ordinary victim, so the whole band came together in the Pretorium, or great hall of the palace, to take part in the diabolical sport. They stripped Jesus of His outer raiment, and placed upon Him a purple robe. Then with a sense of fiendish realism they platted a crown of thorns, and placed it about the Sufferer's brows; a reed was put into His right hand as a royal scepter; and, as they bowed in a mockery of homage, they saluted Him with: "Hail, King of the Jews!" Snatching away the reed or rod, they brutally smote Him with it upon the head, driving the cruel thorns into His quivering flesh; they slapped Him with their hands, and spat upon Him in vile and vicious abandonment." (The Trial and Condemnation in Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage)

Elder Neal A. Maxwell also wrote -

"Scholars say He was likely scourged with a Roman flagellum, which would resemble a "cat-o'-nine-tails," with sharp, metallic objects at the end of each thong. If he assumed the usual posture for scourging, He would have been kneeling over before His scourger, thus the tensed muscles of the back would be more easily torn and shredded. He would have lost much blood in addition to what He lost earlier while bleeding at every pore in Gethsemane. Therefore, wrote these physicians, Jesus was in serious if not critical condition before Calvary." (That Ye May Believe, Neal A. Maxwell)

"Several years ago, Christian physicians who wrote in the Journal of American Medicine indicated they felt that, because of the loss of blood when he was scourged, Jesus would have been in serious if not critical condition before He ever carried a portion of His cross to Calvary. No wonder He needed help to carry it." (That Ye May Believe, Neal A. Maxwell)

A follow up teaching of Elder Maxwell describes the usual number of blows -

He was scourged, most likely with a Roman flagellum of several thongs; at the end of each were sharp objects designed to tear the flesh. His tensed back muscles would have been torn. If he was struck with the usual number of blows, 39, the first blows would have bruised and the last blows would have shredded His flesh. Physicians wrote that, medically speaking, Jesus would have been in serious, if not critical, medical condition because of the loss of blood; and, as we know by revelation, He had previously bled from every pore in the Garden of Gethsemane (see William D. Edwards, Wesley J. Gabel, Floyd E. Hosmer, “On the Physical Death of Jesus Christ,” Journal of the American Medical Association, 21 March 1986, 1458). (Neal A. Maxwell, “Enduring Well,” Liahona, Apr 1999, 10).

As we ponder just the single event of scourging said of the gospel writers, we gain a greater perspective as we ponder the words of Isaiah.

Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, John 18

King Benjamin foresaw that the Savior would -

"...suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 3:7)

The gospels provide very little detail of the significant event that transpired in the Garden of Gethsemane where the Savior recounts -

"Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 19:18)

Of his suffering, Matthew only records that the Savior took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee into the Garden and as he did, he -

"...began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death..." (New Testament Matthew 26:37 - 38)

Mark gives the impression the intensity of his sorrow was somewhat surprising as the the Savior-

"...began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;
34 And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death" (New Testament Mark 14:33 - 34)

Luke records that his suffering was so intense that -

"...there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." (New Testament Luke 22:43 - 44)

Though John was close by, I wonder if he intentionally did not record that which transpired due to its sacred nature. But there have been much written by latter-day prophets on this matter - what happened in the Garden of Gethsemane and later on the cross -

“Where and under what circumstances was the atoning sacrifice of the Son of God made? Was it on the Cross of Calvary or in the Garden of Gethsemane? It is to the Cross of Christ that most Christians look when centering their attention upon the infinite and eternal atonement. And certainly the sacrifice of our Lord was completed when he was lifted up by men; also, that part of his life and suffering is more dramatic and, perhaps, more soul stirring. But in reality the pain and suffering, the triumph and grandeur, of the atonement took place primarily in Gethsemane.

It was there Jesus took upon himself the sins of the world on conditions of repentance. It was there he suffered beyond human power to endure. It was there he sweat great drops of blood from every pore. It was there his anguish was so great he fain would have let the bitter cup pass. It was there he made the final choice to follow the will of the Father. It was there that an angel from heaven came to strengthen him in his greatest trial. Many have been crucified and the torment and pain is extreme. But only one, and he the Man who had God as his Father, has bowed beneath the burden of grief and sorrow that lay upon him in that awful night, that night in which he descended below all things as he prepared himself to rise above them all.” (McConkie, DNTC, 1:774–75.)

“It seems, that in addition to the fearful suffering incident to crucifixion, the agony of Gethsemane had recurred, intensified beyond human power to endure. In that bitterest hour the dying Christ was alone, alone in most terrible reality. That the supreme sacrifice of the Son might be consummated in all its fulness, the Father seems to have withdrawn the support of His immediate Presence, leaving to the Savior of men the glory of complete victory over the forces of sin and death.” (Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p. 661.)

“Sweet and welcome as would have been the relief of death in any of the earlier stages of His suffering from Gethsemane to the cross, He lived until all things were accomplished as had been appointed.” (Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p. 662.)

“How perfect the example is! Though he were the Son of God, yet even he, having been strengthened by an angelic ministrant, prays with increased faith; even he grows in grace and ascends to higher heights of spiritual unity with the Father. How well Paul wrote of this hour: ‘In the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.’ (Heb. 5:7–9.)” (McConkie, DNTC, 1:776.)

“Jesus had to take away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. . . . And as He in His own person bore the sins of all, and atoned for them by the sacrifice of Himself, so there came upon Him the weight and agony of ages and generations, the indescribable agony consequent upon this great sacrificial atonement wherein He bore the sins of the world, and suffered in His own person the consequences of an eternal law of God broken by men. Hence His profound grief, His indescribable anguish, His overpowering torture, all experienced in the submission to the eternal fiat of Jehovah and the requirements of an inexorable law.

The suffering of the Son of God was not simply the suffering of personal death; for in assuming the position that He did in making an atonement for the sins of the world He bore the weight, the responsibility, and the burden of the sins of all men, which, to us, is incomprehensible. . . .

Groaning beneath this concentrated load, this intense, incomprehensible pressure, this terrible exaction of Divine Justice, from which feeble humanity shrank, and through the agony thus experienced sweating great drops of blood, He was led to exclaim, ‘Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.’ He had wrestled with the superincumbent load in the wilderness, He had struggled against the powers of darkness that had been let loose upon him there; placed below all things, His mind surcharged with agony and pain, lonely and apparently helpless and forsaken, in his agony the blood oozed from His pores.” (Taylor, The Mediation and Atonement, pp. 149–50.)

“Christ’s agony in the garden is unfathomable by the finite mind, both as to intensity and cause. The thought that He suffered through fear of death is untenable. Death to Him was preliminary to resurrection and triumphal return to the Father from whom He had come, and to a state of glory even beyond what He had before possessed; and, moreover, it is within His power to lay down His life voluntarily. He struggled and groaned under a burden such as no other being who has lived on earth might even conceive as possible. It was not physical pain, nor mental anguish alone, that caused Him to suffer such torture as to produce an extrusion of blood from every pore; but a spiritual agony of soul such as only God was capable of experiencing. No other man, however great his powers of physical or mental endurance, could have suffered so; for his human organism would have succumbed, and syncope would have produced unconsciousness and welcome oblivion. In that hour of anguish Christ met and overcame all the horrors that Satan, ‘the prince of this world’ could inflict. The frightful struggle incident to the temptations immediately following the Lord’s baptism was surpassed and overshadowed by this supreme contest with the powers of evil.

In some manner, actual and terribly real though to man incomprehensible, the Savior took upon Himself the burden of the sins of mankind from Adam to the end of the world.” (Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p. 613.)

To make a point, I would like to recount the following experience of the Prophet Joseph Smith -

20. Wherefore, I command you again to repent, lest I humble you with my almighty power; and that you confess your sins, lest you suffer these punishments of which I have spoken, of which in the smallest, yea, even in the least degree you have tasted at the time I withdrew my Spirit. (D&C 19:20.)

The revelation was given to Martin Harris, who had been responsible for the loss of 116 pages of the manuscript of the translation of the Nephite record. It had been only through sore repentance that he had become one of the three witnesses. On this occasion, the Lord commanded Martin to repent of subsequent transgressions lest he suffer the same punishment as endured by the Savior in Gethsemane, “which in the smallest, . . . in the least degree you have tasted at the time I withdrew my Spirit.”

Joseph Smith’s mother provides an account of the anguish faced by Martin when the Spirit was withdrawn.

"When Joseph had taken a little nourishment, . . . he requested us to send immediately for Mr. Harris. This we did without delay. . . . we commenced preparing breakfast for the family; and we supposed that Mr. Harris would be there, as soon as it was ready, to eat with us, for he generally came in such haste when he was sent for. At eight o’clock we set the victuals on the table, as we were expecting him every moment. We waited till nine, and he came not—till ten, and he was not there—till eleven, still he did not make his appearance. But at half past twelve we saw him walking with a slow and measured tred towards the house, his eyes fixed thoughtfully upon the ground. On coming to the gate, he stopped, instead of passing through, and got upon the fence, and sat there some time with his hat drawn over his eyes. At length he entered the house. Soon after which we sat down to the table, Mr. Harris with the rest. He took up his knife and fork as if he were going to use them, but immediately dropped them. Hyrum, observing this, said ‘Martin, why do you not eat; are you sick?” Upon which Mr. Harris pressed his hands upon his temples, and cried out in a tone of deep anguish, ‘Oh, I have lost my soul! I have lost my soul!’

Joseph who had not expressed his fears till now, sprang from the table, exclaiming, ‘Martin, have you lost that manuscript? Have you broken your oath, and brought down condemnation upon my head as well as your own?’
‘Yes; it is gone,’ replied Martin, ‘and I know not where.’


‘Oh, my God!’ said Joseph, clinching his hands. ‘All is lost! all is lost! What shall I do? I have sinned—it is I who tempted the wrath of God. I should have been satisfied with the first answer which I received from the Lord; for he told me that it was not safe to let the writing go out of my possession.’ He wept and groaned, and walked the floor continually.

At length he told Martin to go back and search again.

‘No’; said Martin, ‘it is all in vain; for I have ripped open beds and pillows; and I know it is not there.’

‘Then must I,’ said Joseph, ‘return with such a tale as this? I dare not do it. And how shall I appear before the Lord? Of what rebuke am I not worthy from the angel of the Most High?’

I besought him not to mourn so, for perhaps the Lord would forgive him, after a short season of humiliation and repentance. But what could I do to comfort him, when he saw all the family in the same situation of mind as himself; for sobs and groans, and the most bitter lamentations filled the house. However, Joseph was more distressed than the rest, as he better understood the consequences of disobedience. And he continued pacing back and forth, meantime weeping and grieving, until about sunset, when, by persuasion, he took a little nourishment. . . .

I well remember that day of darkness, both within and without. To us, at least, the heavens seemed clothed with blackness, and the earth shrouded with gloom. I have often said within myself, that if a continual punishment, as severe as that which we experienced on that occasion, were to be inflicted upon the most wicked characters who ever stood upon the footstool of the Almighty—if even their punishment were no greater than that, I should feel to pity their condition.” (Lucy Mack Smith, History of Joseph Smith, pp. 127–32. Emphasis added.)

It is later during great persecution and suffering that the Lord revealed to the Prophet -

"The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?" (Doctrine and Covenants Section 122:8)

Again, as King Benjamin said He-

"...shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 3:7)

John 16:33

I remember during the sixties, there was a great deal of turmoil and unrest. My generation began to use the common expression "peace". The peace they referred to was a state where there was no war and they could live their life as they chose with no opposition or control. This is not the peace the Savior referred to as he said to his disciples -

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (New Testament John 16:33)

He promised that all who lived in the world would have tribulation, but he also promised that we could also experience peace -

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (New Testament John 14:27)

He taught where this peace "not as the world giveth" comes from -

"...I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." (New Testament John 14:16 - 17)

This -

"...Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (New Testament John 14:26)

But the Savior leads with a condition to have this Comforter -

"If ye love me, keep my commandments." (New Testament John 14:15)

For -

"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." (New Testament John 14:21)

"If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." (New Testament John 14:23)

As the Savior taught all of the signs of his coming and the end of the world, he said -

"...see that ye be not troubled..." (New Testament Matthew 24:6)

Not "troubled" would suggest "peace". As we keep his words, this peace will come for -

"...whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived..." (Pearl of Great Price JS-Matthew 1:37)

Paul summarized this peace that comes through obedience to his words as -

"...the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (New Testament Philippians 4:7)

John 15

In parable, the Savior taught his disciples -

"I AM the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman." (New Testament John 15:1)

And of his disciples he taught -

"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." (New Testament John 15:2)

Which purging he explains -

"Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." (New Testament John 15:3)

The Savior makes it perfectly clear that the branch depends upon the vine to bring forth fruit, saying -

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (New Testament John 15:4 - 5)

Those that refuse to depend or "abide in the vine" -

"...he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned." (New Testament John 15:6)

But those who truly "abide in the vine" -

"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples." (New Testament John 15:7 - 8)

It is clear that the branches are dependent upon the vine, not vice versa. Branches grow out of the vine. The branch cannot survive on its own. As the Savior reminds us -

"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." (New Testament John 15:16)

President John Taylor wrote -

“As a Saint you say, ‘I think I understand my duty, and I am doing very well.’ That may be so. You see the little twig: it is green; it flourishes and is the very picture of life. It bears its part and proportion in the tree, and is connected with the stem, branches, and root. But could the tree live without it? Yes, it could. It need not boast itself and get uplifted and say, ‘How green I am! and how I flourish! and what a healthy position I am in! How well I am doing! and I am in my proper place and am doing right.’ But could you do without the root? No: you bear your proper part and position in the tree. Just so with this people. When they are doing their part—when they are magnifying their calling, living their religion, and walking in obedience to the Spirit of the Lord, they have a portion of his Spirit given to them to profit withal. And while they are humble, faithful, diligent, and observe the laws and commandments of God, they stand in their proper position on the tree: they are flourishing; the buds, blossoms, leaves, and everything about them are all right, and they form a part and parcel of the tree. . . .” (John Taylor in JD, 6:108.)

As members of the Church, if we do receive constant nourishment and strength that comes from the Savior, through his words and his atonement, by the power and guidance of the Holy Ghost, we will wilt and dry and will eventually fall from the vine.

Matthew 26:22

During the last Passover meal the Savior begins to indicate his betrayer by saying -

"...Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me." (New Testament Matthew 26:21)

At which his apostles -

"...were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?" (New Testament Matthew 26:22)

I think the question "Lord, is it I?" demonstrates a great deal of spiritual maturity and character amongst the disciples. It is a response of individuals that look inward first before considering the blame of others. Those with less spiritual maturity or character may first accuse others in the group. Those with less maturity might have suggested that Judah sure has been acting kind of strange, maybe it is him or another that may not necessarily be trusted.

The Savior had taught earlier -

"...why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?" (New Testament Matthew 7:3 - 4)

But we witness that on this evening that these brethren seemed more focused to -

"...first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." (New Testament Matthew 7:5)

Elder Boyd K. Packer said -

“I remind you that these men were apostles. They were of apostolic stature. It has always been interesting to me that they did not on that occasion, nudge one another and say, ‘I’ll bet that is old Judas. He has surely been acting queer lately.’ It reflects something of their stature. Rather it is recorded that: "They were exceedingly sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?" (Matthew 26:22.)

Would you, I plead, overrule the tendency to disregard counsel and assume for just a moment something apostolic in attitude at least, and ask yourself these questions: Do I need to improve myself? Should I take this counsel to heart and act upon it? If there is one weak or failing, unwilling to follow the brethren, Lord, is it I?” (Boyd K. Packer, “Follow the Brethren,” Speeches of the Year, 1965, p. 3.)

The Savior taught -

"Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." (New Testament John 7:24)

Righteous judgement should first include "Is it I?"