John 12

John humbly confesses that when -

"...Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,
15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.
16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him."  (John 12:14–16)

It reminded me of the words of Nephi -

"...behold, I proceed with mine own prophecy, according to my plainness; in the which I know that no man can err; nevertheless, in the days that the prophecies of Isaiah shall be fulfilled men shall know of a surety, at the times when they shall come to pass.  (2 Nephi 25:7)

I believe we will all be enlightened when prophecies begin to be fulfilled.

Luke 21

With all the Savior's warnings concerning the signs of the times, He said - 

"...take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."  (Luke 21:34–36)
"Surfeiting" means "excess or overindulgence"  We are to always remember Him.

Mark 12

We begin to understand the Savior's Godly logic with the widow that -

"...threw in two mites, which make a farthing."  (Mark 12:42)

He explained -

"...this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living."  (Mark 12:43–44)

Salvation is all about individual commitment and faithfulness.

JST - Matthew 1

I believe I have already blogged on this but reading JST Matthew 1 -

"...what I say unto one, I say unto all men; watch, therefore, for you know not at what hour your Lord doth come.
47 But know this, if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to have been broken up, but would have been ready."  (Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:46–47)

"Blessed is that servant whom his lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing; and verily I say unto you, he shall make him ruler over all his goods."  (Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:50)

I believe this is a specific warning and counsel to my generation.  The recently introduced "Come Follow Me" is watching.

John 12

Just before His death the Savior teaches -

"Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour."  (John 12:24–26

A simple explanation of the "plan"...grace for grace.

Luke 19

To be honest, when I was young, I couldn't figure out why, in the parable of the pounds, that when the Lord learned that a servant was scared and hid his Lord-given pounds in a napkin so he wouldn't lose it.  But when the Lord said -

"...unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him."  (Luke 19:24–26)

It now makes sense.  The Lord expects us to use the gifts we have given to move His kingdom forward.

Matthew 23

We get a higher perspective as the Savior chastises the Scribes and Pharisees -

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."  (Matthew 23:23)

Obviously, the Lord considers ministering is a higher demonstration of faith than basic commandments even though essential.

Matthew 21

As wicked leaders continued to attempt to trap the Savior at the temple, He responds with several parables (note: the parables of the two sons and the wicked husbandmen).  Matthew specifically comments that  -

"...when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them."  (Matthew 21:45)

There is no question in my mind that these men knew what they were doing and will be held accountable.

Luke 24

Luke records that after the two in Emmaus recognized the resurrected Lord -

"...they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them..."  (Luke 24:33)

Which makes it clear that when the Savior appeared to His eleven apostles, there were also other disciples present.

Luke 23

After the Savior is sent to Herod and then returned to Pilate, Luke notes -

"And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves."  (Luke 23:12)

Luke doesn't conclude why.  I have no idea.  But maybe it was that they worked together.

Luke 22

As the Savior suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane, Luke records that -

"...being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground."  (Luke 22:44)

King Benjamin also prophesied -

"...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."  (Mosiah 3:7)

Much of Christendom miss the truth that the majority of the Savior's suffering and atonement took place in Gethsemane, not on the cross.

Mark 10

When His disciples asked Him -

"...Who then can be saved?"  (Mark 10:26)

He answered -

"...With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible."  (Mark 10:27)

Obviously, it is the power of Christ unto salvation, or justification, that allows men to be saved.

Joseph Smith translated that verse -

"...With men that trust in riches, it is impossible; but not impossible with men who trust in God and leave all for my sake, for with such all these things are possible."

Matthew 20

As the Savior concluded the parable of the Laborers in the vineyard, He taught -

"Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen."  (Matthew 20:14–16)

In my mind, the "chosen" are those that with broken heart and contrite spirits that repent even late in the game.  These are "the first".

Luke 19

We don't talk much about Zacchaeus, head of publicans, whom Jesus saw in a tree and said -

"...make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house."  (Luke 19:5)

Afterwards,  Zacchaeus declares to the Savior -

"...Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold."  (Luke 19:8)

Obviously, he was an honest, humble man of integrity.  The Savior knew that and told him -

"...This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham."
(Luke 19:9)

Luke 18

In my mind, the Savior speaks a parable concerning the Power of Christ unto Salvation and the law of justification as He compares a Pharisee to a publican where -

"The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."  (Luke 18:11–14)

Obviously, being humble is more required than a checklist (transactional obedience).

Luke 15

I continue to sense the need for humility, meekness, and being submissive to be justified or obtain God-like attributes.  In the parable of the Prodigal Son we read -

"...the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son."  (Luke 15:21)

It was at this state of humility and repentance -

"...the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet..."  (Luke 15:22)

Those words suggest to me salvation and exaltation.

Luke 12

The Savior taught -

"...that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more."  (Luke 12:47–48)

Which suggest to me that even those that are ignorant, having the "light of Christ" has some responsibility in finding truth, and repentance and will be punished for sins.  Though with "few stripes" when compared to those that are given much.

John 10

The Savior declared an very interesting truth -

"Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again."  (John 10:17–18)

There was never anyone else that had the power to just die as well as power to live again.  When we read the last days of the Savior's mortal life.  He had complete control of what happened to Him.

One more thought (hoping not to offend)...in reviewing the contentious conversation as a result of the healing of the Blind Man (John 8), I couldn't help but compare much of it today with so called modern-day Christians with members of the Restored Church.

Luke 12

During His ministry -

"...one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth."  (Luke 12:13–15)

It appears to me that the "one" wanted social justice and fairness when it came to social distribution.  Obviously, he was greedy and wanted the Savior to be a distributor or social divider..  The Savior refused.  I believe the Savior was speaking against socialism or social justice.  It was more about not being covetous, but inequality, righteousness,  and earning.  Just a thought

John 8

I find it interesting that as the Savior was teaching in the temple -

"...the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act."  (John 8:3–4)

Where was the man that was involved in the act?

It seems to me that they were trying to protect their own.

Luke 14

As the Savior speaks of the rich or elite that always take pride in seating with the most important people, He speaks of justification explaining -

"For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."  (Luke 14:11)

It appears His grace is conditioned upon humility and meekness.