Matthew 11:1–19; Luke 7:18–35. John the Baptist

Another week of the New Testament! This time it might be repetitive since I already talked about John the Baptist, but that is okay. This block had to do with Matthew 11:1-19 and Luke 7:18-35. It will make more sense if you read the scriptures before you embark on my ramblings :)


What did the two disciples of John the Baptist ask Jesus Christ? “Art thou he that should come? Or look we for another?”

The Savior told them to go back to John and tell what they saw and heard. After reading these accounts, explain things you would have told John if you had been with those two men. The Savior told John’s disciples to tell John certain things. I would tell John that Christ performs miracles, and that he is indeed the Son of God.

Explain why John wanted his disciples to go to Jesus Christ. John wanted his disciples to learn for themselves that Christ was the Messiah. John had told them several months before to follow Jesus because he was the Savior, but some of his disciples were reluctant. John gave them a question to ask Jesus as a learning experience for them, not him. John wanted to make sure they knew that he was a prophet, but Christ was the Son of God.

What did the Savior say about John the Baptist in Matthew 11:11 and Luke 7:28? Christ said that there was no greater prophet than John. The student manual says, “Whom did Jesus have reference to as being the least? Jesus was looked upon as having the least claim in God’s kingdom, and [seemingly] was least entitled to their credulity as a prophet; as though He had said— ‘He that is considered the least among you is greater than John—that is I myself.’”

Provide three reasons given by Joseph Smith why John the Baptist is considered among the greatest prophets.

• He was entrusted with preparing the way before the face of the Lord
• His mission was to baptize Jesus Christ
• John was the only legal administrator of the priesthood keys at this time

What does John 3:30 suggest about John the Baptist and his attitude toward the Savior? Briefly describe how we could apply a similar attitude in our own lives. This verse says, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” This shows that John the Baptist knew that Christ was the Messiah. John knew that since Christ had come, John’s mission was to direct people towards Christ and not take the limelight. John was completely selfless and only concerned about others’ salvation. I know that we can look at the eternal perspective and try to be selfless too. Sometimes we get so caught up in the moment we don’t see the right perspective, but let’s be like John.

Matthew 8-9; Mark 2. Miracles Are Evidence of Faith and God's Power

Okay. I read these scripture blocks and identified what miracle took place, and who had faith.

Matthew 8:1-4 Christ healed a leper, and the leper had to have faith to be healed.

Matthew 8:5-13 Christ healed a servant sick with the palsy. A centurion asked Christ to heal him without actually seeing him, so the centurion had to have faith. Christ even said that he had great faith.

Matthew 8:14-15 Christ healed Peter’s mother-in-law. Peter would have to have faith for this, so would his wife and mother-in-law.

Matthew 8:16 Christ cast out spirits, and healed all that were sick. I think a lot of people would have to faith… especially those that Christ heals.

Matthew 8:23-27 While the disciples and Christ were on a ship, a tempest came and Christ calmed the seas. Christ says that the disciples didn’t have much faith, so I think this was a lesson for them and a faith-growing experience.

Matthew 8:28-34 Christ cast spirits out of bodies into swine. I think this was meant to be a lesson of faith as well.

Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-34 Christ healed the woman who touched his clothes. She had an extraordinary amount of faith. She knew that if she just touched him, she would be made whole.

Matthew 9:27-31 Christ gave two blind men their sight. They had to have enough faith for this to happen.

Mark 2:1-12 Christ healed the person sick with palsy. Those who brought him in had faith enough, but this was also a learning experience for the scribes who didn’t believe that Christ was the Son of God.

I think that all these miracles are pretty amazing. I had a friend who once told me that you have to expect a miracle. You have to have complete faith that it WILL happen, or else you don't have enough faith. He told me that a few years ago, but I carry it with me still because miracles still happen. I know that because they happen in my life when I need them. It amazes me that God has such power, but then I am not really surprised because He did create the world, didn't he? We have the priesthood on the earth now, which is the authority to act in God's name. Some people don't believe in revelations or miracles in the latter days, but it is so obvious that they do still occur. God would never abandon us.

The Baptism of Christ

And back to another week of school, and another blog post! This post is about the baptism of Jesus Christ. For this, I read Matthew 3:13-17.

As we know, John the Baptist baptized Christ. When Christ asked John to do it, John hesitated because he knew that Christ was so perfect. John was hesitant because he didn’t feel that Jesus needed to be baptized, but Jesus assured him that he needed to set the example and that all men must be born of water and of the spirit before entering the Kingdom of God. Even if he was the most perfect man in the world, he still needed to be baptized. Another reason Christ needed to be baptized is that he needed to keep the commandments of God and be obedient.

In this scripture passage, we read that the Holy Ghost descended "like a dove." The Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead, and as we (LDS people) believe, the Godhead is 3 separate personages. The Holy Ghost didn’t change into a dove… the Holy Ghost descended as a personage (because that is what he is) and it was “like unto a dove” because the sign of the dove is a token of truth and innocence. Also, there is scriptural proof of the Godhead being 3 separate people. Matthew 3:16-17 says that Jesus was being baptized, and the Holy Ghost was descending, and God spoke from the heavens saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." If they weren't separate, how could this happen? I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior, and that the Godhead are 3 separate beings. TCIT (the church is true)!

The New Testament

Hello, all!

I am in an online New Testament class this Fall, so I wanted to blog about it. Blogging is a great way to spread the Gospel, so I thought this was an excellent idea.

This week we read Matthew 1-2, Luke 1-2, John 1:1-18, and John 17:1-5. It was all about the birth and childhood of our Savior Jesus Christ, but for this blog, I will focus on Luke 1:5–80.

This scripture passage is all about John the Baptist. as I was reading it, I realized how important he is, and how his birth was essential to Christ's mission. The scriptures talk about how John the Baptist was going to be a powerful man and assist Christ in his mission.

Luke 1:15-16 says, "For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Hold Ghost, even from his mother's womb. and many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God."
This scripture reminded me of Doctrine and Covenants 18:10 "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;"
John the Baptist's job is a great one: he is responsible for returning many children of Israel to the Lord. He makes their salvation possible in a way.

So I am supposed to discuss reasons why people would rejoice over John the Baptist's birth and mission. Luke 1:17 explains, "And he shall go before him in the spirit and the power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." So that scripture basically defines his mission. Without him, many people wouldn't be baptized. They wouldn't know the joy that the Gospel brings, and they wouldn't be able to return to their Heavenly Father.

John the Baptist was truly an amazing man. It would be great if we were all more like him :) I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior, and that he sacrificed himself so we could return to live with our God.