FDREL Week 6 Do you want to know will be the right hand?

Focus scriptures for this week: Matthew 25:1-26:35; Mark 14; Luke 22; John 13-18

 

Do you want to know will be the right hand and who inherit the kingdom?
These people will:
“Matthew 25:35 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

*I think a lot of folks around here will be shocked at the people on God’s right hand.  Will God give some a free pass on showing compassion or acceptance to the neighbor who has a drug addiction, simply because she is the RS president?  Will God say, you didn’t have anything in common with that lady across the street, so you don’t need to invite her to your weekly luncheons, furthermore you go to church every Sunday and your husband is in the bishopric.” Free pass
No, Gods right hand will be the ones who reach out to the LEAST of our brethren…  Naked, hungry, lonely, sick, prison.

#1) If we put off building up our reservoir of oil, it may be too late. 

verses 1-13 The parable of the 10 virgins is telling us how to prepare spiritually.
In regards to oil, President Henry B. Eyring said: “There is a danger in the word someday when what it means is ‘not this day.’ ‘Someday I will repent.’ ‘Someday I will forgive him.’ ‘Someday I will speak to my friend about the Church.’ ‘Someday I will start to pay tithing.’ ‘Someday I will return to the temple.’ ‘Someday …’ The scriptures make the danger of delay clear. It is that we may discover that we have run out of time”

  Luke 22:39–44. The Savior’s Suffering in Gethsemane is so vivid and horrible, however, he did this so that we can be saved.  It directly affects us and we need every detail to even begin to grasp the nature.

Historical evidence shows that scribes in the centuries following the Apostles’ deaths may have removed verses because they felt embarrassed at the description of Christ’s agony.

--> Jesus “prayed more earnestly” when He was suffering. Then think about the earnestness of your own prayers. How can you make your prayers more earnest? A few months ago as I lay by my dying dad just waiting for him to take his last breath I was in awe of how hard he was trying to stay alive.  He would go what seemed like minutes then suddenly gasp a breath of air.  I wanted nothing more at that moment then to keep my dad here on earth.  Every ounce of faith that I thought I had was gone and I wanted my dad to stay alive more than I wanted to hear “Gods plan” or “it is his time” etc. etc.  I wanted my dad to stay alive.  After hours of these painful and convulsing gasps for air, I stood to my feet in what I can attest is the most spiritual moment of my 37 years.  I offered a prayer to God asking if he wanted to take my father, that this is what needed to happen.  I told my dad how amazing my life has been and what a wonderful father he is.  I then looked up at the ceiling and told God in simple terms, if this is your will, we will be ok.  And in moments my sweet dad passed away.  Of course, I do not have enough faith to not want my dad here and of course my faith isn’t strong enough to 100% say that he is in a better place.  My faith is however enough to say that he is with my brother and that it was indeed Gods will.

In verse 14-30 Is one of my all-time favorites, Talents.  We are accountable to the lord for what we have done with the gifts he gave us.  We will be rewarded for developing those gifts.
President James E. Faust said the Lord will hold all people accountable for what they do with their talents: “Some of us are too content with what we may already be doing. We stand back in the ‘eat, drink, and be merry’ mode when opportunities for growth and development abound. We miss opportunities to build up the kingdom of God because we have the passive notion that someone else will take care of it. The Lord tells us that He will give more to those who are willing. They will be magnified in their efforts. … But to those who say, ‘We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have’ 2 Nephi 28:30. “The Lord entrusts all of His servants, including every priesthood holder, with spiritual talents. … While we are not all equal in experience, aptitude, and strength, we have different opportunities to employ these spiritual gifts, and we will all be accountable for the use of the gifts and opportunities given to us”

In verse 31-36 It is the parable of the Sheep and goats.  The Lord will judge us and decide who will be at “his right hand” 

Referring to the parable of the sheep and the goats, Joseph B. Wirthlin said “At the final day the Savior will not ask about the nature of our callings. He will not inquire about our material possessions or fame. He will ask if we ministered to the sick, gave food and drink to the hungry, visited those in prison, or gave succor to the weak. When we reach out to assist the least of Heavenly Father’s children, we do it unto Him. Matthew 24:40. That is the essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ” 

Mark 14 Many people were feeling threatened by Jesus and conspiracies started.  Many were trying to destroy Jesus, Harrod even ordered to have infants in Bethlehem murdered.  When Jesus cleaned the temple, chief priests were plotting to kill him and this is where secret combinations come into play.  People were trying to deceive him and ruin him.

In verses 3-9 A woman anointed Jesus for his Burial.  The woman who anointed Jesus was Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus.  The alabaster box was a jar containing ointment of spikenard.  This was an aromatic ointment used as perfume and anoint the dead.  By anointing Jesus while he was still alive symbolizes that she acknowledged that Jesus would be dying soon.  This anointing would have cost a year’s worth of wages. Jesus mentioned that this act would be spoken about throughout the world.  And that she is worthy of being remembered. 
Elder James E. Talmage said: “To anoint the head of a guest with ordinary oil was to do him honor; to anoint his feet also was to show unusual and signal regard; but the anointing of head and feet with spikenard, and in such abundance, was an act of reverential homage rarely rendered even to kings. Mary’s act was an expression of adoration; it was the fragrant out welling of a heart overflowing with worship and affection”

  

Location of Topic in Luke	Also found in:
Luke 22:1–6. Chief priests and scribes sought to kill Jesus; Judas arranged to betray Him.	Matthew 26:1–5 and Matthew 26:14–16
Luke 22:7–18. The Last Supper took place.	Matthew 26:17–30 and John 13:1–17
Luke 22:21–23. Jesus announced Judas’s betrayal.	Matthew 26:21–22 and John 13:18–30
Luke 22:24–27. The disciples had strife about who was the greatest.	Mark 9:33–37; 10:35–45
Luke 22:33–38. Jesus prophesied that Peter would deny Him.	Matthew 26:31–35
Luke 22:47–53. Judas betrayed the Savior.	Matthew 26:47–50
Luke 22:54–62. Peter denied Christ three times.	Matthew 26:69–75 and John 18:15–18, 25–27
Luke 22:63–71. The trial before the chief priests took place.	Matthew 26:59 and Matthew 26:61–66 and Matthew 26:66–68 and Mark 14:53–65

Luke 22:19–20. “This Do in Remembrance of Me”

Both Luke and Paul wrote that when the Savior introduced the symbols of the bread and wine, He instructed His disciples, “This do in remembrance of me”
Luke 22:28–30. “Ye Are They Which Have Continued with Me in My Temptations”
Luke 22:28 reminds us that the three temptations in the wilderness were not the only times the Savior faced temptation, trial, and testing
Luke 22:31. “Satan Hath Desired to Have You, That He May Sift You as Wheat”

Luke 22:32. “When Thou Art Converted, Strengthen Thy Brethren”

Elder Dallin H. Oaks explained that the Savior’s words to Simon Peter at the Last Supper, “confirmed the importance of being converted, even for those with a testimony of the truth”:

Luke 22:39–44. The Savior’s Suffering in Gethsemane

Historical evidence shows that scribes in the centuries following the Apostles’ deaths may have removed verses because they felt embarrassed at the description of Christ’s agony.  With these findings, it verifies the testimony of the Book of Mormon prophet Nephi: “They have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious” 1 Nephi13:26

Luke 22:43. “There Appeared an Angel unto Him from Heaven, Strengthening Him”

Luke recorded that an angel appeared to the Savior to strengthen Him as He suffered in Gethsemane. Elder Dallin H. Oaks said that this angel was there with Jesus because he prayed and asked for an angel.  In Luke, it explains that he knelt down and prayed: ‘Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done’
The Father’s answer was to deny the plea of his Only Begotten Son. The Atonement had to be worked out by that lamb without blemish. This plan had to be exact to make sure all would be covered.  Therefore, Jesus’ request was denied however his prayer was answered. The scripture records: ‘And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him’ Luke 22:43

Soon even that angel had to leave Jesus, for He was required to complete the great atoning sacrifice by Himself. In these latter days, the Savior has declared that when He comes to earth in glory, His voice will be heard saying, “I have trodden the wine-press alone, and have brought judgment upon all people, and none were with me” The Savior’s triumph over sin and death is complete.

Luke 22:44. “Being in an Agony He Prayed More Earnestly”

Luke 22:44. “His Sweat Was as It Were Great Drops of Blood Falling Down to the Ground” The Savior’s unparalleled suffering—the extreme pressure caused by taking upon Himself the infinite sin, sorrow, and guilt of all mankind—caused a physical condition in his body known as hematidrosis. This condition leads to the rupture of capillaries just under the surface of the skin, causing the skin to exude a bloody sweat. Any other person would have died before this condition reached the point of bleeding from every pore, but the Savior was the Son of God and so was able to endure this great agony for us. King Benjamin testified that Christ 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”. In his Epistle to the Hebrews, Paul encouraged early Christians to remain faithful by remembering that Christ had “resisted unto blood, striving against sin”.  The Lord Himself spoke of bleeding from every pore.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie testified that through the Savior’s suffering in Gethsemane is beyond our ability to comprehend, we do know some of what He endured in Gethsemane:

“We do not know, we cannot tell, no mortal mind can conceive, the full import of what Christ did in Gethsemane.

“We know he sweats great gouts of blood from every pore as he drained the dregs of that bitter cup his Father had given him.

“We know he suffered, both body and spirit, more than it is possible for a man to suffer, except it be unto death.

“We know that in some way, incomprehensible to us, his suffering satisfied the demands of justice, ransomed penitent souls from the pains and penalties of sin, and made mercy available to those who believe in his holy name.

“We know that he lay prostrate upon the ground as the pains and agonies of an infinite burden caused him to tremble and would that he might not drink the bitter cup.

“We know that an angel came from the courts of glory to strengthen him in his ordeal, and we suppose it was mighty Michael, who foremost fell that mortal man might be.

“As near as we can judge, these infinite agonies—this suffering beyond compare—continued for some three or four hours”

Not even an angel stayed by his side, as he died...  For me.