N.T. Lesson 6 "They Straightway Left Their Nets."

"Lesson 6: “They Straightway Left Their Nets”," New Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, (2002)

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35681_000_008

http://institute.lds.org/manuals/new-testament-institute-student-manual/nt-in-02-2.asp 

http://beardall2000.com/nt/nt06.html 

http://gospeldoctrineplus.blogspot.com/2011/01/new-testament-lesson-6-they-straightway.html

7-4) What Is the Distinction Between a Disciple and an Apostle?

“Discipleship is general; any follower of a man or devotee to a principle may be called a disciple. The Holy Apostleship is an office and calling belonging to the Higher or Melchizedek Priesthood, at once exalted and specific, comprising as a distinguishing function that of personal and special witness to the divinity of Jesus Christ as the one and only Redeemer and Savior of mankind. The apostleship is an individual bestowal, and as such is conferred only through ordination. ” (Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p. 227. Italics added.)

7-6) Luke 6:13 . What Is an Apostle?

One of the most important things to know about apostles is that they are called to be witnesses of the Savior. This witness may come in several ways. (See item 9-8 .) Of this Elder Harold B. Lee has said:
“May I impose to bear my own testimony. I was visiting with one of the missionaries some years ago when two missionaries came to me with what seemed to be a very difficult question, to them. A young Methodist minister had laughed at them when they had said that apostles were necessary today in order for the true church to be upon the earth. And they said the minister said: ‘Do you realize that when they met to choose one to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Judas, that they said it had to be one who companied with them and had been a witness of all things pertaining to the mission and resurrection of the Lord? How can you say you have apostles, if that be the measure of an apostle?’ And so these young men said, ‘What shall we answer?’ I said to them: ‘Go back and ask your minister friend two questions. First, how did the Apostle Paul gain what was necessary to be called an apostle? He didn’t know the Lord; had no personal acquaintance. He hadn’t accompanied the apostles. He hadn’t been a witness of the ministry, nor the resurrection of the Lord. How did he gain his testimony sufficient to be an apostle? Now the second question you ask him: How does he know that all who are today apostles have not likewise received that witness?’ I bear witness to you that those who hold the apostolic calling may, and do know of the reality of the mission of the Lord.” (“Born of the Spirit,” Address to Seminary and Institute Faculty, 26 June 1962.)

 Elder Bednar on the Role of Apostles:

http://lds.org/pages/the-role-of-an-apostle?lang=eng 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBtE5QbcDbU

President Packer on the Twelve: http://lds.org/general-conference/2008/04/the-twelve?lang=eng 

Purpose

To help class members understand that Apostles are called to be special witnesses of Jesus Christ and that we are blessed when we sustain and follow them.

Preparation

1. 1. Read, ponder, and pray about the following scriptures:
   
   1. a. Luke 4:14–32. Jesus teaches in a synagogue in Nazareth and testifies that he is the Messiah of whom Isaiah prophesied. The people angrily reject him.

   This is after he had spent forty days fasting in the wilderness, and had been tempted by Satan:
   

   14¶And Jesus returned in the ^apower of the Spirit into ^bGalilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.

    15And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.

    16¶And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

    17And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

    18The ^aSpirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath ^banointed me to ^cpreach the ^dgospel to the ^epoor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to ^fpreach ^gdeliverance to the ^hcaptives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at ⁱliberty them that are bruised,

    19^aTo preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

    20And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

    21And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture ^afulfilled in your ears.

    22And all bare him witness, and ^awondered at the ^bgracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this ^cJoseph’s son?

    23And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in ^aCapernaum, ^bdo also here in thy country.

    24And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is ^aaccepted in his own country.

    25But I tell you of a truth, many ^awidows were in Israel in the days of ^bElias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;

    26But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.

    27And many ^alepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was ^bcleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.

    28And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,

    29And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.

    30But he ^apassing through the midst of them went his way,

    31And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.

    32And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with ^apower.

   
   

   
   b. Luke 5:1–11, 27–28;
    
   

    1And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,

    2And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

    3And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

    4Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a ^adraught. (draft -- probably from Old Norse drahtr,  of Germanic origin; related to draw)

    5And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have ^atoiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

    6And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net ^abrake.

    7And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

    8When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

    9For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:

    10And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt ^acatch men.

    11And when they had brought their ships to land, they ^aforsook all, and ^bfollowed him.

   
   6:12–16. 
   12And it came to pass in those days, that he ^awent out into a mountain to ^bpray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
   

    13¶And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he ^achose ^btwelve, whom also he named ^capostles;

    14Simon, (whom he also named ^aPeter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,

    15Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphæus, and Simon called Zelotes,

    16And Judas the brother of James, and Judas ^aIscariot, which also was the traitor.
   Jesus calls his Twelve Apostles.
   

   1. c. Matthew 10. Jesus ordains and instructs the Twelve Apostles and sends them forth to preach the gospel.
      
2. 2. Additional reading: Isaiah 61:1–2; Matthew 4:18–22; Mark 1:16–20; 3:13–19; 6:7–13; Luke 9:1–6; 12:1–12; Doctrine and Covenants 107:23–24, 33–35, 39, 58; Bible Dictionary, “Apostle,” 612.
   
3. 3. If the following pictures are available, use them during the lesson: Calling of the Fishermen (62496; Gospel Art Picture Kit 209) or Jesus and the Fishermen (62138; Gospel Art Picture Kit 210); Christ Ordaining the Apostles (62557; Gospel Art Picture Kit 211); and a picture of the current Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (from the most recent conference issue of the Ensign or the Liahona).
   
4. 4. Suggestion for teaching: Learn and use class members’ names. When you do so, class members see that you care about them as individuals. Knowing class members’ names can also help you encourage participation by enabling you to direct questions to specific people.
   

Suggested Lesson Development

Attention Activity

As appropriate, use the following activity or one of your own to begin the lesson.
Have a class member read the first part of Mosiah 27:31 (through “confess that he is God”). Explain that at Jesus Christ’s Second Coming, everyone will recognize him as the Savior. This was not true at his first coming. The Jews had studied prophecies about the Savior’s coming for centuries, but many of those who heard Jesus failed to recognize him as the Savior. Because Jesus did not free the Jews from Roman control, as they expected the Messiah to do, many of them rejected him and his message.
Point out that the first part of this lesson will discuss what happened when Jesus first announced that he was the long-awaited Messiah. Other parts of the lesson will discuss Jesus’ calling of Apostles to help spread his message.

Scripture Discussion and Application

As you teach the following scripture passages, discuss the blessings that come from knowing that Jesus Christ is the Savior and from following the Apostles.

1. Jesus announces that he is the Messiah.

Discuss Luke 4:14–32. Invite class members to read selected verses. Explain that Jesus was invited to read a passage of scripture and comment on it during the service in the synagogue in Nazareth.

• • Have a class member read Luke 4:16–19. (Point out that verses 18–19 are a quotation of Isaiah 61:1–2. Isaiah is called “Esaias” in Luke 4:17.) What are these verses about? (They are a prophetic description of things the Messiah would do; see lesson 1.)
  
• • When Jesus finished reading the passage from Isaiah, what testimony did he bear? (See Luke 4:21. He declared that he was the Messiah of whom Isaiah prophesied and for whom the Jews had been waiting for centuries.) How did the people in the synagogue respond to Jesus’ declaration? (See Luke 4:22–29.)
  
• • Why do you think the people in the synagogue had difficulty accepting Jesus as the Messiah? (See Luke 4:22. Answers may include that they knew him and had watched him grow up, so they could not see how he could be the great Messiah they were expecting.) Why do you think some people today have difficulty accepting Jesus Christ? How can we strengthen our testimonies that Jesus is the Savior?
  

2. Jesus calls his Twelve Apostles.

Read and discuss selected verses from Luke 5:1–11, 27–28; 6:12–16. Display the picture of Jesus and the fishermen and the picture of the current Twelve Apostles. As you discuss the scripture passages, help class members understand that Apostles are called to do what Jesus himself did in the synagogue in Nazareth—declare that he is the Messiah, the Savior.

• • What were Simon Peter, James, and John doing when Jesus came to them? (See Luke 5:1–2.) What did Jesus tell them about how their lives would change if they followed him? (See Luke 5:10.) How has your life been affected because of your decision to follow Jesus Christ?
  
• • How did the miracle with the fishing nets foreshadow the experiences that Peter, James, and John would have as “fishers of men”? (Mark 1:17). Have class members consider the following phrases:
  
  1. a. Luke 5:5: “At thy word I will let down the net.” (They would work where Jesus directed them.)
     
  2. b. Luke 5:6: “They inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.” (They would find many people who would accept the gospel.)
     
  3. c. Luke 5:7: “They beckoned unto their partners … that they should come and help them.” (They would call others to assist in the work.)
     
• • Point out that in Luke 5:1–11, Jesus called Peter, James, and John to be his disciples. Later he would call them to be Apostles. Write Disciple and Apostle on the chalkboard. What is the difference between a disciple and an Apostle?
  Explain that a disciple is any follower of Jesus Christ (Bible Dictionary, “Disciple,” 657). An Apostle is a disciple who has been called to be a special witness of Christ (D&C 107:23). The word Apostle means “one [who is] sent forth” (Bible Dictionary, “Apostle,” 612). The members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are sent forth to testify to the world that Jesus is the Savior and Redeemer of mankind.
  
• • Why was it important that Jesus call Apostles? (See Matthew 9:36–38; 16:19; Mark 3:14–15; John 20:19–21, 23; Ephesians 4:11–15. They would help Jesus preach the gospel and would lead the Church and carry on priesthood authority after Jesus was gone.) Why is it important that the Lord has called Apostles today?
  
• • How did Jesus choose the original Twelve Apostles? (See Luke 6:12–13.) How did Jesus prepare himself to call them? How does this compare to the way people are chosen today to be Apostles and to serve in other Church callings? (Church leaders pray and seek inspiration to know whom the Lord would have serve in each calling.)
  
• • What do the scriptures tell us about the background and character of the men whom Jesus called as Apostles? (See Luke 5:5, 8, 11, 27–28. Answers may include that they had no formal training for the ministry, but they were humble, obedient, hardworking men who were willing to sacrifice everything to follow the Lord.) What does this suggest about how a person becomes qualified to serve the Lord? (See also D&C 4:3, 5–6; Articles of Faith 1:5.)
  

3. Jesus ordains and instructs the Twelve Apostles.

Read and discuss selected verses from Matthew 10. Display the picture of Christ ordaining the Apostles.

• • After Jesus called the Twelve Apostles, he gave them priesthood power and instructed them in their responsibilities. What do we learn about the powers and responsibilities of Apostles from Jesus’ counsel in Matthew 10? (List class members’ responses on the chalkboard. Answers may include those listed below.)
  
  1. a. They have power to heal the spiritually and physically sick (verse 1).
     
  2. b. They are sent to the lost sheep of Israel to preach that the kingdom of heaven is at hand (verses 6–7).
     
  3. c. They are to use their priesthood power to bless and heal people (verse 8).
     
  4. d. They are to seek out those who are prepared to hear the gospel (verses 11–14).
     
  5. e. They are to teach as guided by the Spirit (verses 19–20).
     
  6. f. They are to give their lives entirely to the Savior’s work (verse 39).
     
• • How do the powers and responsibilities given to the original Apostles compare to those given to latter-day Apostles? (See D&C 107:23, 33, 35;  

23The ^atwelve traveling councilors are called to be the Twelve ^bApostles, or special ^cwitnesses of the name of Christ in all the world—thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling.

112:14, 19–22, 30–31.)

14Now, I say unto you, and what I say unto you, I say unto all the Twelve: Arise and gird up your loins, take up your ^across, follow me, and ^bfeed my sheep. 

19Wherefore, whithersoever they shall send you, go ye, and I will be with you; and in whatsoever place ye shall proclaim my name an ^aeffectual door shall be opened unto you, that they may receive my word.

 20Whosoever ^areceiveth my word receiveth me, and whosoever receiveth me, receiveth those, the First Presidency, whom I have sent, whom I have made counselors for my name’s sake unto you.

 21And again, I say unto you, that whosoever ye shall send in my name, by the voice of your brethren, the ^aTwelve, duly recommended and ^bauthorized by you, shall have power to open the door of my kingdom unto any nation whithersoever ye shall send them—

 22Inasmuch as they shall humble themselves before me, and abide in my word, and ^ahearken to the voice of my Spirit.

30For unto you, the ^aTwelve, and those, the First Presidency, who are appointed with you to be your ^bcounselors and your leaders, is the ^cpower of this priesthood given, for the last days and for the last time, in the which is the dispensation of the ^dfulness of times.

 31Which power you hold, in connection with all those who have received a ^adispensation at any time from the beginning of the creation;

• How have you seen latter-day Apostles fulfill these responsibilities?
• 
  
• • What blessings are promised to those who follow the Apostles? (See Matthew 10:40–42;

40¶He that ^areceiveth you ^breceiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

 41He that ^areceiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s ^breward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.

 42And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the ^aname of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise ^blose his reward.

• see also D&C 124:45–46.)

 45And if my people will hearken unto my voice, and unto the voice of my ^aservants whom I have appointed to lead my people, behold, verily I say unto you, they shall not be moved out of their place.

 46But if they will not ^ahearken to my voice, nor unto the voice of these men whom I have appointed, they shall not be blest, because they ^bpollute mine holy grounds, and mine holy ordinances, and charters, and my holy words which I give unto them.

• 
  Elder Spencer W. Kimball said: “No one in this Church will ever go far astray who ties himself securely to the Church Authorities whom the Lord has placed in his Church. This Church will never go astray; the Quorum of the Twelve will never lead you into bypaths; it never has and never will” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1951, 104).
  

Conclusion

Testify that Jesus Christ is the true Messiah and that the Twelve Apostles are special witnesses of him. You may want to share an experience in which following the counsel of an Apostle blessed your life.

Additional Teaching Ideas

The following material supplements the suggested lesson outline. You may want to use one or more of these ideas as part of the lesson.

1. The current Twelve Apostles -- http://lds.org/church/leaders/quorum-of-the-twelve-apostles?lang=eng

Display pictures of the current Twelve Apostles and help class members learn their names. You may want to use the following quiz:
Give each class member a pencil and a piece of paper, and ask them to number their papers from 1 to 12. Display a picture of each Apostle without revealing his name, and ask class members to write the name on their papers next to the appropriate number. When you have shown all the pictures, review the correct answers.

2. The original Twelve Apostles

Help class members learn the names of the original Twelve Apostles (Matthew 10:2–4). Present the following information in your own words to help class members understand how various Apostles are referred to in the scriptures:
Two Apostles were named James: James the son of Zebedee and James the son of Alphaeus. Two were named Simon: Simon Peter and Simon the Canaanite, also called Simon Zelotes (“the zealot”). Two were named Judas: Judas (also called Lebbaeus Thaddaeus) and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Christ. Matthew is called Levi in Luke 5:27–28. Thomas was also known as Didymus, which means “twin.” The Apostle referred to as Bartholomew in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke is presumed to be the same person referred to as Nathanael in the gospel of John.

Matthew 10:2–4
2Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

 3Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the ^apublican; James the son of Alphæus, and Lebbæus, whose surname was Thaddæus;

 4Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also ^abetrayed him.

1. Simon Peter
2. Andrew
3. James
4. John
5. Philip
6. Bartholomew
7. Thomas
8. Matthew
9. James
10. Simon
11.  Judas -- Lebbaeus Thaddaeus
12. Judas

3. “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37)

Have class members read Matthew 10:35–38.

• • How are verses 35 and 36 sometimes fulfilled when a person joins the Church? Knowing that the Lord wants our families to be peaceful and united, why do you think he made these statements? To whom should our first and strongest loyalty go? (See verses 37–38; see also Luke 14:33.)
  

4. Video presentation

The first segment of “New Testament Customs,” a selection from New Testament Video Presentations (53914), may be useful in this lesson. This segment includes information on what it meant for Jesus to declare himself the anointed one, or Messiah (Luke 4:18); on worship in the synagogue; and on what it means to preach the gospel without purse or scrip, as Jesus instructed his Apostles to do (Matthew 10:9–10).

"Lesson 6: “They Straightway Left Their Nets”," New Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, (2002)

On Becoming Scriptorians

 Elder Pinnock   -- Learning Our Father's Will
https://lds.org/general-conference/1984/10/learning-our-fathers-will?lang=eng


Elder Packer  -- Teach the Children

http://lds.org/ensign/2000/02/teach-the-children?lang=eng

My Soul Delighteth in the Scriptures -- Julie B. Beck -- First Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency

http://lds.org/general-conference/2004/04/my-soul-delighteth-in-the-scriptures?lang=eng

 _________________________________________________________________________

-an

a suffix occurring originally in adjectives borrowed from Latin, formed from nouns denoting places ( Roman; urban ) or persons ( Augustan ), and now productively forming English adjectives by extension of the Latin pattern. Attached to geographic names, it denotes provenance or membership ( American; Chicagoan; Tibetan ), the latter sense now extended to membership in social classes, religious denominations, etc., in adjectives formed from various kinds of noun bases ( Episcopalian; pedestrian; Puritan; Republican ) and membership in zoological taxa ( acanthocephalan; crustacean ). Attached to personal names, it has the additional senses “contemporary with” ( Elizabethan; Jacobean ) or “proponent of” ( Hegelian; Freudian ) the person specified by the noun base. The suffix -an,  and its variant -ian  also occurs in a set of personal nouns, mainly loanwords from french, denoting one who engages in, practices, or works with the referent of the base noun ( comedian; grammarian; historian; theologian ); this usage is esp. productive with nouns ending in -ic  ( electrician; logician; technician ). See -ian  for relative distribution with that suffix.

Citation: 

"-an." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 15 Jan. 2011. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/-an>.

_________________________

http://radio.lds.org/eng/programs/mormon-identities-episode-38 

 

New Testament Lesson 4: Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord

"Lesson 4: “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord”," New Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, (2002)

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http://institute.lds.org/manuals/new-testament-institute-student-manual/nt-in-01-1-4.asp

Purpose

To inspire class members to draw near to the Savior by repenting of their sins, keeping their baptismal covenants, and withstanding temptation.

Preparation

1. 1. Read, ponder, and pray about the following scriptures:
   
   a. Matthew 3:1–12. John the Baptist preaches repentance and baptizes, preparing the way of the Lord Jesus Christ.
   
   and Alma 7:9  But behold, the Spirit hath said this much unto me, saying: Cry unto this people, saying—Repent ye, and prepare the way of the Lord, and walk in his paths, which are straight; for behold, the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and the Son of God cometh upon the face of the earth.  
   
   and D&C 33:10  Yea, open your mouths and they shall be filled, saying: Repent, repent, and prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand;
   
   

   The kingdom of God on earth is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (D&C 65). The purpose of the Church is to prepare its members to live forever in the celestial kingdom or kingdom of heaven. However, the scriptures sometimes call the Church the kingdom of heaven, meaning that the Church is the kingdom of heaven on earth.

   The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the kingdom of God on the earth, but it is at present limited to an ecclesiastical kingdom. During the Millennium, the kingdom of God will be both political and ecclesiastical. (http://lds.org/scriptures/gs/kingdom-of-god-or-kingdom-of-heaven?lang=eng&letter=k)
   
   Isaiah 40:3   ¶The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
   
   D&C 88:66  Behold, that which you hear is as the voice of one crying in the wilderness—in the wilderness, because you cannot see him—my voice, because my voice is Spirit; my Spirit is truth; truth abideth and hath no end; and if it be in you it shall abound.  John was the voice crying in the wilderness, but the voice of the Spirit also cries/calls to us.  
   
   ? Lehi saw John the Baptist.   He saw the baptism of the Savior. 1 Nephi 10:8   Did he receive this information through vision himself, or were their scriptures available to him that told of this -- or both?
   
   
   JST Matthew 3:38-40
   38  I indeed baptize you with water, upon your repentance; and when he of whom I bear record cometh, who is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear, (or whose place I am not able to fill,) as I said, I indeed baptize you before he cometh, that when he cometh he may baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire.
   39  And it is he of whom I shall bear record, whose fan shall be in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but in the fulness of his own time will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
   40  Thus came John, preaching and baptizing in the river of Jordan; bearing record, that he who was coming after him had power to baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire.
   
   ___________________________
    
   
   b. Matthew 3:13–17. Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist.
   
   
   c. Matthew 4:1–11. Jesus withstands Satan’s temptations in the wilderness.
   
   Matthew 4:1
   

   JST Matt. 4:1 … to be with God.

    Mosiah 3:7 And lo, 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.

   40 days and nights  -- Moses, too Exodus 24:18 

   JST Matt. 4:2 … and had communed with God, he was afterwards an hungered, and was left to be tempted of the devil,

   Deuteronomy 8:3  And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.

   JST Matt. 4:5 Then Jesus was taken up into the holy city, and the Spirit setteth him on the pinnacle of the temple.

   JST Matt. 4:8 And again, Jesus was in the Spirit, and it taketh him …

   JST Matt. 4:11 … and now Jesus knew that John was cast into prison, and he sent angels, and, behold, they came and ministered unto him (John) … (Acc. to JST ms. 1, p. 7.) 
    

   
   d. John 1:35–51. Some of John the Baptist’s disciples decide to follow Jesus.
   
   

   GR Stone, Pebble. JST John 1:42 … Cephas, which is, by interpretation, a seer, or a stone. And they were fishermen. And they straightway left all, and followed Jesus.

   
   Come and See -- John 1: 39-46
   
   GR deceit, fraud. TG Guile. D&C 41:11 And this because his heart is pure before me, for he is like unto Nathanael of old, in whom there is no guile.
   
   
   
   ___________________________________
    
   
   
2. 2. Additional reading: Mark 1:1–13; Luke 3:1–22; 4:1–14; John 1:19–34; 2:1–25; 2 Nephi 31; Bible Dictionary, “Baptism,” 618–19; “John the Baptist,” 714–15; “Repentance,” 760–61.
   
3. 3. If the following pictures are available, use them during the lesson: John Preaching in the Wilderness (62132; Gospel Art Picture Kit 207) and John the Baptist Baptizing Jesus (62133; Gospel Art Picture Kit 208).
   
4. 4. Suggestion for teaching: Use class time wisely. Plan what you will discuss and how much time you want to spend on each part of the lesson, but then let the Spirit guide you. Do not end a meaningful discussion just so you can cover the entire lesson. It is more important for class members to learn and feel the Spirit than for every point in the lesson to be discussed.
   

Suggested Lesson Development

Attention Activity

As appropriate, use the following activity or one of your own to begin the lesson.
Write the following on the chalkboard, and ask class members if they know what it says:

Explain that this is the Hebrew word Messiah, which means anointed. The Jews had waited centuries for the coming of the Messiah, who, according to prophecy, would be their anointed King and Deliverer. The Greek word for Messiah is Christ. Jesus Christ was the long-awaited Messiah, and John the Baptist was the prophet sent to prepare the way for him.
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Messiah definition

 (Heb. mashiah), in all the thirty-nine instances of its occurring in the Old Testament, is rendered by the LXX. "Christos." It means anointed. Thus priests (Ex. 28:41; 40:15; Num. 3:3), prophets (1 Kings 19:16), and kings (1 Sam. 9:16; 16:3; 2 Sam. 12:7) were anointed with oil, and so consecrated to their respective offices. The great Messiah is anointed "above his fellows" (Ps. 45:7); i.e., he embraces in himself all the three offices. The Greek form "Messias" is only twice used in the New Testament, in John 1:41 and 4:25 (R.V., "Messiah"), and in the Old Testament the word Messiah, as the rendering of the Hebrew, occurs only twice (Dan 9:25, 26; R.V., "the anointed one"). The first great promise (Gen. 3:15) contains in it the germ of all the prophecies recorded in the Old Testament regarding the coming of the Messiah and the great work he was to accomplish on earth. The prophecies became more definite and fuller as the ages rolled on; the light shone more and more unto the perfect day. Different periods of prophetic revelation have been pointed out, (1) the patriarchal; (2) the Mosaic; (3) the period of David; (4) the period of prophetism, i.e., of those prophets whose works form a part of the Old Testament canon. The expectations of the Jews were thus kept alive from generation to generation, till the "fulness of the times," when Messiah came, "made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law." In him all these ancient prophecies have their fulfilment. Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, the great Deliverer who was to come. (Comp. Matt. 26:54; Mark 9:12; Luke 18:31; 22:37; John 5:39; Acts 2; 16:31; 26:22, 23.)
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

 Citation:

messiah. Dictionary.com. Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/messiah (accessed: January 17, 2011).

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Scripture Discussion and Application

Discuss how the teachings in the following scripture passages can help us draw nearer to the Savior. Because it would be difficult to ask every question or cover every point in the lesson, prayerfully select those that will best meet class members’ needs.

1. John the Baptist prepares the way of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Read and discuss Matthew 3:1–12.

1In those days came ^aJohn the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judæa,

 2And saying, ^aRepent ye: for the ^bkingdom of heaven ^cis at hand.

 3For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet ^aEsaias, saying, The ^bvoice of one crying in the wilderness, ^cPrepare ye the way of the Lord, make his ^dpaths straight.

 4And the same John had his ^araiment of ^bcamel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was ^clocusts and wild honey.

 5Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judæa, and all the region round about Jordan,

 6And were baptized of him in Jordan, ^aconfessing their sins.

 7¶But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his ^abaptism, he said unto them, O ^bgeneration of vipers, who hath ^cwarned you to flee from the wrath to come?^d

 8Bring forth therefore fruits ^ameet for ^brepentance:

 9And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham ^ato our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

 10And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which ^abringeth not forth good fruit is ^bhewn down, and cast into the fire.

 11^aI indeed ^bbaptize you with water unto ^crepentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not ^dworthy to bear: he shall ^ebaptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with ^ffire:

 12Whose ^afan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the ^bgarner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable ^cfire.

Display the picture of John preaching, and share the following background information in your own words:
Centuries before John’s birth, many prophets foresaw his ministry and testified of his greatness as the one who would prepare the way for the Messiah

(Isaiah 40:3  3¶The ^avoice of him that crieth in the wilderness, ^bPrepare ye the ^cway of the Lord, make straight in the desert a ^dhighway for our God.

1 Nephi 10:7–10   7And he spake also concerning a ^aprophet who should come before the Messiah, to prepare the way of the Lord—

 8Yea, even he should go forth and cry in the wilderness: ^aPrepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for there standeth one among you whom ye know not; and he is mightier than I, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. And much spake my father concerning this thing.

 9And my father said he should baptize in ^aBethabara, beyond Jordan; and he also said he should ^bbaptize with water; even that he should baptize the Messiah with water.

 10And after he had baptized the Messiah with water, he should behold and bear record that he had baptized the ^aLamb of God, who should take away the sins of the world.

 In preparation for John’s ministry, the angel Gabriel announced John’s forthcoming birth (Luke 1:13–19),

13But the angel said unto him, ^aFear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a ^bson, and thou shalt call his name John.

 14And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

 15For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither ^awine nor strong drink; and he shall be ^bfilled with the ^cHoly Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.

 16And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

 17And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of ^aElias, to turn the hearts of the ^bfathers to the children, and the ^cdisobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people ^dprepared for the Lord.

 18And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I ^aknow this? for I am an ^bold man, and my wife well ^cstricken in years.

 19And the ^aangel answering said unto him, I am ^bGabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

Zacharias prophesied on the day of John’s naming and circumcision (Luke 1:67–79)

67And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and ^aprophesied, saying,

 68^aBlessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath ^bvisited and ^credeemed his people,

 69And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

 70As he ^aspake by the mouth of his holy ^bprophets, which have been since the world began:

 71That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

 72To perform the mercy ^apromised to our fathers, and to remember his holy ^bcovenant;

 73The ^aoath which he sware to our ^bfather Abraham,

 74That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without ^afear,

 75In ^aholiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

 76And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to ^aprepare his ways;

 77To give ^aknowledge of salvation unto his people by the ^bremission of their sins,

 78Through the ^atender mercy of our God; whereby the ^bdayspring from on high hath visited us,

 79To give ^alight to them that sit in ^bdarkness and in the shadow of ^cdeath, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

, and an angel ordained eight-day-old John to his mission
(D&C 84:27–28). 27Which ^agospel is the gospel of ^brepentance and of ^cbaptism, and the ^dremission of sins, and the ^elaw of ^fcarnal commandments, which the Lord in his wrath caused to continue with the house of Aaron among the children of Israel until ^gJohn, whom God raised up, being ^hfilled with the Holy Ghost from his mother’s womb.

 28For he was baptized while he was yet in his childhood, and was ^aordained by the angel of God at the time he was ^beight days old unto this power, to overthrow the kingdom of the Jews, and to ^cmake straight the way of the Lord before the face of his people, to prepare them for the ^dcoming of the Lord, in whose hand is given ^eall power.

The crowning statement of John’s greatness came from the Savior himself, who said, “Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist”
(Luke 7:28).  28For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is ^aleast in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

John was born about six months before Jesus. Shortly after Jesus’ birth, Herod, feeling threatened by the announcement that a new king of the Jews had been born, “slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under”
(Matthew 2:16).
16¶Then Herod, when he saw that he was ^amocked of the wise men, ^bwas exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and ^cslew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the ^dcoasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

To protect Jesus, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and directed him to take Jesus and Mary to Egypt (Matthew 2:13–15).

13And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

 14When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

 15And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of ^aEgypt have I called my son.

To protect John, “Zacharias caused [Elisabeth] to take him into the mountains, where he was raised on locusts and wild honey” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 261). John began his public ministry many years later, first preaching in the wilderness and then in Jerusalem and “all the region round about Jordan” (Matthew 3:5).

• • What was John the Baptist’s mission? (See Luke 1:76–79; 3:3–4.) Why do you think it was important that someone prepare the way of the Lord?
  
• • What message did John preach to prepare the people for the coming of the Savior? (See Matthew 3:1–2.) What does it mean to repent? (As class members discuss answers to this question, list on the chalkboard some aspects of repentance as shown below. You may want to invite class members to read the accompanying scriptures.)
  
  1. a. Feeling godly sorrow for sin (2 Corinthians 7:9–10).
     
  2. b. Confessing and forsaking sins (D&C 58:42–43).
     
  3. c. Making amends, where possible, for wrongs done (Luke 19:8).
     
  4. d. Obeying the commandments (D&C 1:31–32).
     
  5. e. Turning to the Lord and serving him (Mosiah 7:33).
     
• • How does repentance help us prepare to dwell with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ? (See 3 Nephi 27:19.) How does repentance help us draw nearer to them each day?
  
• • The Pharisees and Sadducees witnessed baptisms performed by John but chose not to be baptized (Matthew 3:7; Luke 7:29–30). John rebuked them, urging them to “repent … and bring forth fruits meet for repentance” (Joseph Smith Translation, Matthew 3:35; note that the word fruits refers to results and that the word meet means worthy or appropriate). What are the fruits of repentance? (See Moroni 8:25–26.)
  
• • John baptized “with water unto repentance” and promised that Jesus would baptize “with the Holy Ghost, and with fire” (Matthew 3:11). What does it mean to be baptized “with the Holy Ghost, and with fire”?
  We are baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire when we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands (D&C 20:41). “The gift of the Holy Ghost is the right to have, whenever one is worthy, the companionship of the Holy Ghost. … It acts as a cleansing agent to purify a person and sanctify him from all sin. Thus it is often spoken of as ‘fire’” (Bible Dictionary, “Holy Ghost,” 704).
  

2. Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist.

Read and discuss Matthew 3:13–17. Display the picture of John baptizing Jesus.

• • Why was John hesitant to baptize Jesus? (See Matthew 3:14.) Why did Jesus need to be baptized? (See Matthew 3:15; 2 Nephi 31:6–7, 9–11.) Why do we need to be baptized? (See 2 Nephi 31:5, 12–13, 17–18; D&C 20:71; 49:13–14.)
  
• • What covenants do we make when we are baptized? (See D&C 20:37.) How should these covenants affect our daily actions? (See Mosiah 18:8–10.)
  

3. Jesus withstands Satan’s temptations in the wilderness.

Look for quotes at http://www.gospeldoctrine.com/NewTestament/ntindex.html  see Luke 4

 This is one of the quotes from there  -- Joseph B. Wirthlin

“Willing obedience provides lasting protection against Satan’s alluring and tantalizing temptations. Jesus is our perfect example of obedience. Learn to do as He did when Satan tempted Him in the wilderness. Even though He was weakened by fasting, His answer was quick and firm: ‘Get thee behind me, Satan.’ Elder Neal A. Maxwell said this of the Savior’s example in resisting temptation: ‘Jesus noticed the tremendous temptations that came to Him, but He did not process and reprocess them. Instead, He rejected them promptly. If we entertain temptations, soon they begin entertaining us!’  When Satan comes calling, cast him out as quickly as possible. Do not let temptation even begin to entertain you.” (“Live in Obedience,” Ensign, May 1994, 40)

Read and discuss Matthew 4:1–11 (see also the footnotes to Matthew 4:1–2, 5–6, 8–9, and 11, which contain the Joseph Smith Translation of these verses).

• • Soon after Jesus was baptized, the Spirit led him into the wilderness to be with God (Joseph Smith Translation, Matthew 4:1). How do you think this experience prepared Jesus to withstand Satan’s temptations? How do fasting, prayer, and being “led … of the Spirit” fortify us against temptation?
  
• • To what desire did Satan try to appeal when he tempted Jesus, who had been fasting, to turn the stones into bread? (See Matthew 4:2–3. He tried to appeal to the desire to satisfy physical appetite.) How does Satan tempt us to give in to physical appetites? How can we recognize and resist these temptations?
  
• • Satan tried to appeal to pride when he tempted Jesus to cast himself down from the pinnacle and prove that he had the power to be saved by angels (Matthew 4:5–6). How does Satan try to appeal to our pride? How can we recognize and withstand temptations to gratify prideful desires?
  
• • What did Satan offer if Jesus would worship him? (See Matthew 4:8–9.) How does Satan tempt us with worldly riches and power? How can we recognize and resist these temptations? (See Matthew 4:10.)
  
• • What was false about Satan’s offer to give Jesus the kingdoms of the world? (See D&C 104:14.) What are some false offers Satan makes today to entice us to sin?
  
• • Jesus responded to each of Satan’s temptations by quoting from the scriptures (Matthew 4:3–4, 6–7, 8–10). How do the scriptures give us strength to withstand temptation? (See Helaman 3:29–30.)
  
• • Satan twice questioned whether Jesus was the Son of God (Matthew 4:3, 6). Why do you think Satan raised this question? How does he raise this question in the world today? When we face temptation, how does it help to know that we are children of God? (See Moses 1:12–22.)
  
• • How can it help us to know that Jesus, the Son of God, faced temptations similar to those we face? (As class members discuss this question, you may want to have them read Hebrews 4:14–15.)
  Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin said: “The Lord is well aware of our mortality. He knows our weaknesses. He understands the challenges of our everyday lives. He has great empathy for the temptations of earthly appetites and passions” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1996, 46; or Ensign, May 1996, 34).
  

4. Some of John the Baptist’s disciples decide to follow Jesus.

Read and discuss selected verses from John 1:35–51.

• • When Jesus began his mortal ministry, what did John the Baptist encourage his own disciples to do? (See John 1:35–37.) When Jesus saw two of John the Baptist’s disciples following Him, what did He do? (See John 1:38–39.)
  
• • When Andrew heard and recognized the Savior, what did he do? (See John 1:40–42.) After receiving a witness that Jesus was the Messiah, how did Philip answer Nathanael’s doubts? (See John 1:43–46.) What can we do to invite others to “come and see” the Savior?
  

Conclusion

Testify that the invitation to “come and see” the Savior is extended to each of us. Explain that we can accept that invitation by repenting, being baptized, keeping our baptismal covenants, and withstanding temptation.

Additional Teaching Ideas

The following material supplements the suggested lesson outline. You may want to use one or more of these ideas as part of the lesson.

1. Insights from the Savior’s baptism

Review Matthew 3:16–17.

• • How does the account of the Savior’s baptism show that baptism should be performed by immersion? (See Matthew 3:16; see also John 3:23; Romans 6:3–6; 3 Nephi 11:23–26; Bible Dictionary, “Baptism,” 618, which explains that the word baptism is “from a Greek word meaning to dip or immerse.”)
  
• • What did John see after he baptized Jesus? (See Matthew 3:16.) Whose voice did he hear? (See Matthew 3:17.) What does the account of the Savior’s baptism teach about the nature of the Godhead? (Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are separate beings.)
  

2. Jesus shows respect and love for his mother

Explain that after Jesus was baptized, he and his disciples attended a wedding feast in Cana (John 2:1–11). When his mother told him that there was no wine for the feast, he replied, “What wilt thou have me do for thee? that will I do” (Joseph Smith Translation, John 2:4; see John 2:4, footnote 4a).

• • What did Jesus’ words to his mother reveal about his feelings toward her? What did he do to help her? (See John 2:6–11. Point out that this is Jesus’ first miracle recorded in the New Testament.)
  

3. Jesus shows reverence as he cleanses the temple

Have class members read John 2:13–17, which contains an account of Jesus finding merchants and money changers desecrating the temple. If the picture Jesus Cleansing the Temple (62163; Gospel Art Picture Kit 224) is available, display it. Point out that Jesus showed respect and reverence when he “drove them all out of the temple, … and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables” (John 2:15). Explain that reverence for our Heavenly Father includes more than merely sitting quietly in Church. It includes demonstrating by our actions that we love him and that we acknowledge his power.

ClassicLDS.org
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