The Christ
If Jesus Christ asked people today, "Whom do men say that I the Son of Man am?" their answers would differ from the answers given by people in His time. What modern attitudes toward Jesus have you noticed?
This question got me thinking about the changes I have seen in even just the last few years. I can remember my initial surprise talking to a follower of Islam learning that they saw Christ as just another prophet. Compared to what I often see now in current media and society I would call that rather enlightened. What was once good is now bad, and what was once bad is now good. Claimed Christian churches are now denying that he was anything more than just another man, and some even claim nothing more than just a myth. Who do I say he is? It is more than just the words, it is the actions I take that show I believe in Christ.
When Jesus came into the coasts of Cæsarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 16:13,16-17
And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
Matthew 17:10-13
...Whom do men say that I am?
And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.
And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.
Mark 8:27-29
Last week's readings included a passage of disciples turning away from Christ and no longer following him. It may be a little sacrilegious, but I see Christ here asking his Twelve who they think he is as a way to remind himself that he had not lost all of his followers. That there were still men of faith following and learning from him. Not quite to the point he hit in the garden, but close. We all need the little things to help build us up and support us, even Christ.
For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
Luke 9:56
And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Luke 9:59-62
Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.
And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
Mark 9:37,42
And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.
Mark 9:10
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Matthew 16:25
The call of Christ to come follow him is not always and easy one. He will ask hard things of us at times. My wife today made drew out an interesting point:
With god nothing SHALL be impossible... not nothing is impossible. We still have to experience trials but he’s given us help
Signs
Isn’t it strange that the Pharisees and Sadducees would demand that Jesus show them "a sign from heaven"? ...
Their demand was prompted not by a lack of signs but by an unwillingness to "discern the signs" and accept them.
The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas...
Matthew 16:1,4
And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.
Mark 8:11-12
Do I demand a sign? Do I recognize signs I am given? I am reminded of the story of Korihor who demanded a sign:
But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.
Alma 30:44
Korihor had been givne many signs in the form of testimony and the scriptures. When he still did not back down he was struck dumb and then ended up being trampled in the streets. Can I accept these as my signs?
Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Matthew 16:6-12
And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.
And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?
Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?
When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.
And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.
And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?
Mark 8:15-21
Even the Twelve had a hard time understanding the signs they were given, and they were there with Christ in person. I think this fits in very well with the idea that things are in God's time. We do not have to understand it, but need to have the faith...
Faith
"I have never witnessed the removal of an actual mountain. But because of faith, I have seen a mountain of doubt and despair removed and replaced with hope and optimism. Because of faith, I have personally witnessed a mountain of sin replaced with repentance and forgiveness. And because of faith, I have personally witnessed a mountain of pain replaced with peace, hope, and gratitude. Yes, I have seen mountains removed"
-- Bishop Richard C. Edgley
"Faith--the Choice Is Yours," Ensign, Nov. 2010
I can honestly say I never thought of it this way. The mountain does not have to always be a litteral mountain. What are the mountains needing moved in my own life? Do I have the faith to move them?
The father mentioned in Matthew 17 and Mark 9 had reasons to doubt that Jesus could heal his son. He had asked Jesus’s disciples to heal his son, and they could not. But when the Savior invited him to exercise faith, he did not focus on his doubts. "Lord, I believe," he said, and then, in acknowledgment that his faith was not perfect, added, "Help thou mine unbelief."
And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Mark 9:24
This simple plee: I believe, help my unbelief. The amazing part of the atonement is that we do not need perfect faith, only that tiny little bit of a mustard seed. Christ understands we may have our doubts. Peter one of the greatest Apostles had his doubts and weaknesses. Just last week reading about him faltering walking on water is reminder of that. Christ can and does make up the difference!
Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
Luke 9:1-2
And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Matthew 17:16,19-21
And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?
And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
Mark 9:28-29
The Twelve were called and given power and authority to heal. However this authority is not enough on its own. It took faith, trusting and then going the extra mile and calling upon the power of heaven through prayer and fasting. I know that prayer combined with faith works. It can move mountains for I have seen it. I think back to near the end of my time in retail. I was on my last straw, I was tired and sick of dealing with the rigors of retail. I had been strung along with the hope of turning some side work into a full time position. I had gone through multiple interviews to try and find something new only to have opportunities disappear. I spent many a time crying to heaven asking for some guidance and direction forward. It took longer than I wanted, but eventually the right opportunity came my way. That opportunity has since grown and transformed into where I am today. I am very thankful for Christ's willingness to make up for my unbelief in favor of my little grain of mustard seed faith.
