The Second Comforter

In John 14, as Christ tries to prepare his disciples for the things to come, He lets them know that even though he will be leaving them physically, they will not be left alone.  He gives them the promise of a Second Comforter if they will love him and obey his commandments.  John 14:15-16, “If ye love me keep my commandments.  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.”  He promises that he will not leave his disciples orphans and he won’t just leave them the Holy Ghost but will come back to them himself.  Through the Holy Ghost, whom we receive when baptized, we can have Christ as a Comforter and through him we can have the Father as a Comforter too.  I really like what he says in John 16:7-8, “...It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement.”

I thought it was interesting when Dr. Holzapfel mentioned that the Second Comforter was a subject that Joseph Smith often spoke on.  I also like the idea that it’s such a sacred part of our gospel and that’s why it isn’t often mentioned anymore.  Joseph Smith once said, “After a person has faith in Christ, repents of his sins, and is baptized for the remission of his sins and receives the Holy Ghost, (by the laying on of hands), which is the first Comforter, then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every word of God . . . then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter, which the Lord hath promised the Saints. . . . Now what is this other Comforter? It is no more nor less than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 150–51).  I don’t think I had ever heard that until we discussed it in class and if I had I did not understand it.  But what a cool concept.  Something we can always strive towards.

John's Gospel

It’s funny how overlooked John often is, as one of the four gospels.  I know I focused on the most popular three before this class.  Matthew, Mark, and Luke are always the first gospels people reference and it seems funny to me now because there is so much in John that isn’t in any of the other gospels.  Like we’ve discussed in class, maybe the reason John is taken for granted is the fact that the way it was written and the information it gives on Jesus’ life is the most unique.  The other three share the majority of their information and are more similarly written.  John on the other hand, has a huge amount of information that you can’t find in any other gospel and is written from kind of a different perspective.  While the three main gospels discuss Jesus as a man, John seems to focus more on the fact that he is divine.  Also, because John does have so much extra information that none of the others back up, it might be possible that some people look at it as a less accurate account of Christ’s life.  Yet so many things make that claim almost ridiculous.

One huge thing John has that the other’s don’t is an almost guaranteed eyewitness writing the account.  He talks of the beloved disciple and it is almost surely him.  In John, Jesus is divine from the beginning, he always knows.  John also does not have Jesus speaking any parables which is such a significant part of the other three gospels.

Art Exhibit

I thought it was really fun to have Rita Wright come and change up the class for a few days.  I am also a huge fan of art history so I always enjoy hearing and analyzing new pieces.  

The Types and Shadows: Intimation of Divinity exhibit was really interesting with a lot of really different pieces that happened to relate through subtle details.  I think it was a great idea to discuss some of the exhibit in class before going to see it because there just isn’t time to get through everything in the short fifty minutes of class.  Truly, every piece was interesting but I did have my favorites.

I loved Exchange No. 8.  The realism and striking color contrast caught my attention and the concept is just fascinating.  The chairs seem to signify the throne of Christ and as it said in the pamphlet, the mercy seat.  It’s also interesting that the white chair is stable and upright while the red covered chair is lying on it’s back.  The cloth, a theme throughout the exhibit, possibly a symbol of the shroud that covered Christ and of course the colors that are so obviously significant.  Red, the blood of Christ, passion, sin  while white is purity, sacred, clean.  I absolutely love the contrast between those colors, including their meanings.  The background of this piece is also really intriguing.  The different geometric patterns overlapping and in more neutral colors.  I don’t think I understand this one very well but for some reason I just like it.

I also really like the Devotion painting.  I actually thought it was a photograph at first because the front part is so realistic.  I really like the idea that the woman in the background is from a time devoid of the truth and that the modern vase full of water represents the truth and light of Christ that is available now.  I don’t know if that’s what the artist was getting at but for me that’s what makes sense to me.  Her clothing and manner express that for me.

My absolute favorite though, had to be Christopher Young’s Man of Sorrows.  I think this piece is so beautiful.  We discussed how it was so ideal that it didn’t seem real but I still see it as a perfect representation for me.  I don’t think this is meant to represent a true moment in time, such as his journey to the hill he would die on.  I see this as a representation of his knowledge of the great things he had to and would do for us.  His expression and the title speak to me of his great burden that is incomprehensible for us.  The cross and crown represent the physical suffering he was to go through but they are not in the process of hurting him.  There is no blood on his head and he is not nailed to the cross but I get the sense that this portrays his entire mission in one piece and I love that he is portrayed so ideally, so perfect, because that’s what he is and temptations and even physical scars could not change that.

I don’t know if that’s what I was supposed to write about but I really enjoyed the opportunity we had to see some of that art if only just because I got to see Man of Sorrows.  I loved it so much.

Early Christian Hymn

One of the early Christian hymns that we discussed in class was Psalm 118 which was probably sung by Christ and his disciples as they left the upper room right before Christ went to the garden.

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.  Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.  Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.  Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.  I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.  The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?  The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.  All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.  They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.  They compassed me about like bees: they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.  Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.  The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.  The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.  The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.  I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.  The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.  Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:  This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.  I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.  The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.  This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.  This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.  Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.  Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.  God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.  Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Christ's Death in Matthew

 Compared to Mark’s account of Christ’s death, Matthew’s account is much more detailed.  Matthew includes many of the same events that Mark does but then adds on to  those.  One of the things he includes is the change of heart that comes over Judas soon after he betrays Christ and his desire to repent of his betrayal starting in 27:3,

3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.  And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

Something we really don’t get from Mark’s account.   Another addition is the specifics about the trials Jesus has to go through before he is officially condemned to death.  Starting in 27:11 it describes what happened when Christ met with Pilate.  There is also a larger emphasis on Barrabus, the man that the people chose to set free rather than Christ.  His is a valuable story because it adds to the irony and ridiculousness of Christ’s death.  Barrabus literally means “Son of God”, he was one of the many false Messiah’s.  It is interesting to realize that part of the reason for the civil wars in about 70 AD were people like Barrabus and Pilate released him.  Christ on the other hand brought peace and got rid of contention.  Barrabus was a rebel fighting the government.  Part of the reason Barrabus was seen as more of Messiah was because he was more of the warrior idea that most people had of the Messiah.  He would come in and vanquish the Romans through violence.  They believed a Messiah like that would bring them the justice they deserved.  

Another thing unique to Matthew is his telling of the resurrection of Christ.  Matthew focuses on Christ’s revealing himself to the disciples more than Mark who emphasizes the women’s sighting of him.

The Crandall Museum

This week I went to the Crandall Museum for the second time and it was just as interesting as it was the first time.  The men who run that museum are so adorable and so passionate about every aspect of printing.  That love for their work is contagious.  You want to find out every piece of knowledge they have on this subject, and that’s quite  a bit of information.

I love the story of Gutenberg and learning about the incredible amount of things he had to invent to make printing the written word possible and the amount of years his inventions were the most advanced is absolutely unbelievable.  He created his printer and method of printer in the 1400’s and they were still using almost all the same technology in the early twentieth century.  The whole time I was listening to Gutenberg’s story I just kept thinking “how did he have the time and the brilliance to come up with so many different things?!”  I mean, he came up with the grape press as the basis of the printing press, he came up with the modifications to the machine that would make printing possible, he invented all the tools to create letters and molds, including the formula  for the type of metal used for the letters, and the formula for the sticky ink that had to be used.  I can’t even fathom coming up with that type of technology at that time in the world.  There is not another person I can think of that came up with that advanced of technology and that much technology.  The impact of that technology too, so huge.

One of the coolest part of the museum is the American room that is completely focused on how Gutenberg’s inventions effected the founding of America.  It’s crazy to realize that the America we know today would probably not exist without Gutenberg’s printer.  It was fun to have Benjamin Franklin tell us about everything.  In the America room you start to realize just how inspired Gutenberg must have been, as well as the Founding Fathers.  Like Benjamin Franklin, who was one of the biggest printers in America at the time.  Things like the pamphlet, Common Sense, by Thomas Paine, were so influential to the founding of America but would never have happened without the printing press.

The final room makes it clear how inspired the printing press was.  It’s a room based on the exact room the Book of Mormon was printed in.  It’s completely dedicated to how the Book of Mormon was printed as well as bound.  It’s incredible how little Palmyra, New York was the site of a master printer as well as a master bookbinder.  I know that it was all God’s doing.  He made history fall into place just the way it had to for the Restoration to be possible.

It’s just such a cool little place because it gives such a testimony of God’s hand in this world and the inspiration he provides.  I love the idea that all the missionaries will get to go through it.  I would definitely go back to refresh my memory on all that great information.

Christ's Birth

Unlike Mark, both Matthew and Luke tell the story of Jesus’ birth. There is a huge difference in the way they each tell it though. Matthew’s description of the birth seems hurried and the focus ends up being on Herod and the political turmoil that surrounds the birth of a Messiah. This is the entirety of Christ's birth story in Matthew:

18 ¶ Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Luke, on the other hand, is the story traditionally told at Christmas time because of the detail used in the telling. Where Matthew’s entire description is eight verses, Luke’s covers almost two entire chapters. Another aspect of Luke’s story that contrasts with Matthew’s is the introduction of Zacharias and Elisabeth’s involvement. He not only uses it as a prelude to Christ’s story, but it is in a way, a comparison. Mary’s reaction to the angel’s news in contrast to Zacharias’ reaction.

Luke

Though only mentioned three times in the New Testament, Luke’s influence on the book includes an entire gospel as well as the whole of Acts.  A huge chunk of the New Testament.  What do those scriptures say about Luke?

• Colossians 4:14 “Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.”
  
• 2 Timothy 4:11 “Only Luke is with me.  Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.”
  
• Philemon 1:24 “Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.”
  

Not the most informative bunch.

So what do we know from these three scriptures?

• Luke is a physician, apparently beloved.
  
• He seems to be a companion of Paul and was the only one with him during his second Roman imprisonment.
  

Besides these small insights we can get from the scriptures, who was Luke?  There are a few instances in some scripture passages that we can assume the person being described is Luke.  In Acts 16:10, we know that Luke is the author so when he begins to say how “we” did this and “we” did that, we can assume he is included in the group he is describing.  From these small insights we know that Luke was a convert to the church, was sometimes the traveling companion of Paul, and he met James, the brother of Jesus, in Galilee so was able to receive information about Jesus’ early life. 

Another way we can find out about Luke is to, of course, read his writings.  The knowledge that he was indeed a doctor helps us to understand the way he presents his narrative of Christ’s life in the Gospel of Luke.  He obviously thinks in a linear fashion, this, plus this, equals that.  He is also one of the first historians because history comes from medical history.  Luke is also interesting in the way he describes and incorporates women.  Gentiles were known for their contempt for women so Luke must have been fascinated by Jesus’ treatment of women.  He usually doubles up parables so that there are two related parables that have to do with a man and then a woman, one after the other, probably to show that Jesus treated both equally.  One of his comparisons is that of Zacharias and Elisabeth and Mary and Joseph.  Though both Zacharias and Mary are righteous people, only one of them faithfully trusts in God when the time comes for them to be tested.  Surprisingly it is the young Mary instead of the wise, temple worker Zacharias.  Luke seems to be reminding us not to judge whomever God may call.

Even though we may have to assume a lot about Luke and who he was, it is obvious to me that he was a disciple of Christ and a faithful follower, whether he actually saw the Savior in the flesh or not.  It is even thought that he died as a martyr, spreading the word of Christ.

The Death of Christ in Mark

Christ’s death and resurrection is the climax, the point, the culmination of the entire Bible.  The significance of it is too monumental for words and all we have recorded of it is in the four short gospels and they are all very similar in the amount of information they give.  So what do we know...

We know that Jesus died on a Friday, the night of Passover.  Why would Jesus not celebrate the Passover?  As Dr. Holzafel mentioned, the last supper was a Passover dinner possibly without the lamb.  At the last supper Christ instituted the sacrament and prophesied of the betrayals his apostles would commit against him the following day.  Mark 14:18, “Jesus said, ‘Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.’”  In Mark 14:27 Jesus told them, “All ye shall be offended because of me this night.”  Mark expresses the denial of the apostles, especially Peter’s.  In Mark 14:29 Peter says, “Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.”  Christ tells him in 14:30 that “this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.

After the supper is finished, Christ took Peter, James, and John to the Garden of Gethsemane where he tried to explain what was to happen to him and ask them to wait and watch for him.  As he suffered for the sins of the world, his three disciples fell asleep, three times.  When he was finished and had woken Peter, James, and John, they saw Judas come upon them followed by a large entourage of soldiers and priests.  Judas kissed Jesus because he had told the group that whomever he kissed would be Jesus.  It would be the first and probably most monumental betrayal of the night.  The men with Judas took Christ and began to take him away but one of the men with Christ took his sword and cut off the ear of the servant of one of the high priests.  Today in class we discussed what happened next.  The apostles who went with Christ to the garden originally stood to defend him, as mentioned before, but when they realized he wasn’t going to defend himself, they fled.

What followed next were trials full of false witnesses and Pilate asking the people to choose between Jesus and Barabbus, an enemy of the government.  The people chose Christ to die and Barabbus was set free.  During all this, as Peter was questioned multiple times, he denied Christ all three times.  Mark 14:72, “And when he [Peter] thought thereon, he wept.”  Finally, Christ was put on the cross and he cried, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”  Unlike the other gospels, Jesus’ last words are not given in the book of Mark but we know that a centurion who watched cried, “Truly this man was the Son of God.”  It’s interesting to realize that chapter sixteen is not all Mark.  What we do know is that Mark at least implies that Christ had risen three days later.

Astonish

I feel oblivious to so many things during the school year, especially in my history and religion classes.  For instance, I never really thought about how the scriptures were originally written in other languages, ancient ones at that.  I mean I knew they were but I never thought about what that meant for me as a reader.  Many of the words can’t be directly translated into English.  Because most other languages are so much more complex, especially when expressing emotions, then English, some of the meaning of passages can be lost or end up not having the same impact it was meant to have.  So it’s interesting to look at certain words and see how they have been used and changed in the translations.  So, we’re talking about certain words in the New Testament gospels and one of them is ‘astonished’ or ‘astonishment’ and specifically it’s role in the book of Mark.

One of the roles of the word ‘astonishment’, as well as ‘marvel’ and ‘amazed’ is of course its use to express true astonishment and wonder at the miracles Christ performed.  Crazy thought, I know. 

I also think one of the uses for these words would’ve been to express the fear that all the pharisees and doubters had of Christ.  We sort of discussed this in class today, not in reference to ‘astonish’ but it made sense to me when I was reading through Mark again.  Some of the time when we read the word ‘astonished’ in Mark, fear is also mentioned.  Like in Mark 10:32 where it says, “And Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid.”

The most important role of ‘astonished’ to me is the idea that these people just don’t understand what or who Christ is.  That is why it is used over and over to describe people’s reactions to Jesus’ miracles.  Why does Mark repeatedly use this kind of word?  Why after so many wonders were so many people amazed by them?  Why was it so surprising to them that Christ could do those sorts of things.  There are so many references, Mark 1:22, 1:27,2:12, 5:20, 5:42, 6:6, 6:51, 10:24, 10:26, 10:32, 14:33.  It’s also interesting because in 7:36 it says, “And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it.”  To me that means they saw his miracles almost as gossip or entertainment to spread around.  I mean, they knew it happened but it was almost like magic to them.  To some it was good and to others it was evil.  Basically, they didn’t understand what Christ’s mission was.  Those who believed he was the Messiah thought he would turn into a great warrior and save them from the Romans and everyone else thought he was either a prophet or a great teacher.  ‘Astonished’ portrays their ignorance to the meaning of the things they witnessed and the most important person in their lives.

Witnesses in the New Testament Gospels

Until Dr. Holzapfel pointed it out, I probably never would have noticed the importance of the role the eyewitnesses take in the four gospels of the New Testament.  For some reason I don’t usually think of scripture stories so technically, as if there was a specific reason for every word, every name.  It makes total sense to do that, but I seem to read the scriptures to often like I would a novel, for the story.  The best part of religion classes is that I’m pushed to read the scriptures more closely, to look for something more.  

Back to witnesses in the New Testament...

I love that we are able assume that the eyewitnesses are the people that are named in the gospels, otherwise why would some people be left anonymous while others are named for no apparent reason?  Even though the gospels were recorded years after Christ’s death, there is no doubt that many of the people who had witnessed or been the recipient of Christ’s blessings were alive to tell of them.

 

In Mark 5 it portrays the story of the woman who was healed when she touched Jesus’ clothes.  In verse 25 she is only described as “a certain woman, which had an issue of blood”, and never given a name.  In chapter 8 Christ heals “a blind man” and in chapter 9 casts out the spirit of a “son, which hath a dumb spirit”.  It really is interesting that all these characters are completely anonymous when in other similar stories people are specifically named.  Like in Mark 5 Jesus raises “Jairus’ daughter from the dead, and in 11 he heals “blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus”. 

Why does Mark give these people a name?  If he didn’t identify these people it would not affect the story in anyway or take away from the spiritual message or miracle the story is trying to get across, so why does Mark take the time to make sure these people are identified?  Because they were witnesses to these events while the anonymous stories were told from someone other than the main characters of the event.  Giving credit to eyewitnesses was important because it gave the works authority, they became fact.  They weren’t just stories passed down orally, which was the most common way of making sure stories and history were passed on, they came straight from the source.

I really do find that amazing.  There are so many misconceptions about the Bible.  We always hear that things have been added or mistranslated, and in some cases that is true, but ultimately, these miracles are real, historical events that actually happened.  We know this because these men cared enough to leave proof by giving the names of the people who were there and saw these things take place.  Knowing that those names are there to remind me of that is so amazing!  The New Testament is true even if it has been tampered with and changed over the years.  The basis of it, Christ, is true.