Day 14 - Mosiah 13-18, D&C 53-56

[pam]

Discussion

[KeithLBrown]

A Portrait of the Suffering Messiah

Scripture Reference: Mosiah 14 (Compare Isaiah 53)

In Alma 7:11, 12 we read these words, "And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." The prophet Isaiah also prophesied about Jesus' death and resurrection. In the 12 verses that comprise Isaiah 53, he refers to Christ as the Servant of the Lord and teaches us four very important lessons about this Servant. In Isaiah 53:1-3, we learn about the Servant's submission; in verses 4-6, the Servant's substitution; in verses 7-9, the Servant's sinless nature; and in verses 10-12, the Servant's satisfaction.

First, the Servant's Submission. He did not draw the admiration of the religious leaders of His day. They despised and rejected Him. He spoke, it was with power and authority, and the common people wondered at the gracious words that came from His mouth.

Second, the Servant's Substitution. He did not suffer death because of anything that He had done or because He was a martyr. He suffered for others. The words our and us are used repeatedly here, indicating that He died for th sins of mankind; He died for all the people. He became the sacrificial lamb to atone for the sins of mankind. He paid sin's debt in full. He paid a debt that He did not owe, a price that none of us could ever pay. He who knew no sin became sin for us.

Third, the Servant's Sinless Nature. You will recall that at the trial of the Lord Jesus Christ when false witnesses were brought against Him and brought false charges against Him, He did not strike back at the abuse. He willingly accepted it. Even though He was sinless, He died with the wicked. However, even though His grave was appointed to be with wicked men, He was a rich man in His death. Allow me to explain this. Victims of crucifixion were ususually thrown into a common grave with other thieves and robbers who had been crucified. But there was an exception to that practice in Jesus' case. Joseph of Arimathea, a secret believer in the Lord Jesus, interceded for the family and requested His body. Loving hands took the body of Jesus down from the cross, wrapped Him, and put Him into the tomb, thus fulfilling Isaaih 53:9 which reads, "And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

Fourth, the Servant's Satisfaction. It was the Father's plan that His Servant [son] would suffer death. His death would be an offering for sin [atonement]. His death did not signify finality for He would be rsurrected. And so, there was a purpose to His death - that many will believe on Him and be justified and declared righteous.

People all over the world today have many different views of who Jesus Christ is. Many are skeptical and critical about the life of this One who lived a perfect, sinless life and gave that life a ransom for the world that the world might be redeemed from sin and have a means by which to one day return to their Father in Heaven who awaits them with open arms. However, in spite of all the scepticism and criticism, I believe that it is safe to say that almost everyone would agree that Jesus Christ was not, and is not, just an ordinary man. His life had a major impact on the entire world.

I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of the True and the Living God. I know that the grave could not hold Him. He is indeed alive and lives forevermore seated at the right hand of the Father. I am eternally grateful for the price that He paid for all of our sins - past, present, and future. I can bodly testify that He is my Savior, my Redeemer, my Lord, my Master, my Friend. If I could only recall one verse of Scripture out of the entire library of Scriptures that we have, it would be my humble prayer that I would always have written on my heart the words of John 3:16-17, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."Contained within those verses is the summation of the Gospel message. And now, may we always "remember the words of him who is the life and the light of the world, [our] Redeemer, [our] Lord and [our] God." Even Jesus the Christ. Amen.

[Seanette]

I’m in the home stretch on catching up, since I’m up to material that’s only one day behind schedule! It’s still 7/15, and I’m chugging along.

Mosiah 12 – Abinadi is imprisoned for continuing to prophesy. He is now warning that failing to repent will lead to the destruction of the people and the death of King Noah. The priests claim to be teaching the Law of Moses, but do not keep it themselves, being materially greedy and sexually immoral. Abinadi teaches the first two of the Ten Commandments and states that the priests do not do or teach these things.

Mosiah 13 – God’s power protects Abinadi from attack. He teaches the entirety of the Ten Commandments and says the priests are not teaching the people. The priests claim that salvation comes by the Law of Moses. Abinadi tells them the law is a type of what is to come and speaks of the Messiah.

Mosiah 14 – Compare Isaiah 53. The Messiah’s sufferings are described. He is the offering for our sins and intercedes for transgressors.

Mosiah 15 – Abinadi explains how Christ is both Father and Son. He will bear the transgressions of His people. Prophets are His seed. Abinadi teaches of the resurrection and the innocence of children. He warns against rebellion against God.

Mosiah 16 – Abinadi teaches of judgment and redemption. He preaches repentance and resurrection.

Mosiah 17 – King Noah sentences Abinadi to death. Alma, one of the priests, believes Abinadi’s words and records them. Alma tries to plead for Abinadi’s release, and is cast out for doing so. King Noah sends servants to kill Alma, who escapes. Abinadi is offered his life if he recalls his words, but he refuses. King Noah almost releases Abinadi, but the priests talk him into carrying out the death sentence. Abinadi is burned to death, prophesying disease and death by fire to his killers.

Section 53 – Sidney Gilbert is to be ordained an elder and serve as bishop’s agent.

Section 54 – The Saints must keep their covenants to obtain God’s mercy and be patient in tribulation.

Section 55 – W. W. Phelps is to be ordained an elder and preach the Gospel. He is to print, select, and write books for children in the church schools. He is also to travel to Missouri.

Section 56 – The Saints must follow God and keep His commandments to be saved. The disobedient will be cast off. The rich are to help the poor. The poor are to be humble and contrite, and work for their support. The poor who are pure in heart are blessed.

Abraham 3-4 – Abraham learns about Kolob and about God’s time. He learns that spirits are eternal and is shown the pre-mortal Council in Heaven and Lucifer’s rebellion. The Gods plan the Creation.

[pam]

I'm a day behind and I feel I am truly being tested here. My stress level on so many things is raised to the highest (kind of like the security level for the country). Now to get back to reading again.

[pam]

Mosiah 13

Elder Cree-L Kofford

“…having been confounded by the word of God’s servant and following the command of their king, the wicked priests of Noah attempt to lay their hands on him that they might slay him. At this critical moment in the life of this great man, when his life hangs in the balance, his words reach out to us over a span of more than two thousand years. You can almost see his shoulders square noticeably as he draws himself to his full height and majestically proclaims: ‘Touch me not, for God shall smite you if ye lay your hands upon me, for I have not delivered the message which the Lord sent me to deliver’ (Mosiah 13:3; emphasis added).

“Can you feel the electricity of that moment? Can you begin to understand now why Abinadi is such a special prophet? Words like heroic, courageous, obedient, fearless, powerful, dynamic, and faithful all come flooding into your mind as you replay that moment in Abinadi’s life over and over in your mind; and as you do, Abinadi rises to the very heights of what a servant of God should be.” (Heroes From the Book of Mormon, p. 71)

[pam]

In Mosiah 13:10 Abinadi makes a comment about "shall be as a type and shadow." I wasn't sure what this meant but I found this explanation:

The justice of God repaid wicked king Noah for his murder of Abinadi. The Lord granted him the same painful death that he had prepared for the prophet of God. We are later told that Noah had angered his fleeing people such that they caused that he should suffer, even unto death by fire (Mosiah 19:20). Imagine if he had treated Abinadi with appropriate respect and love. He would have been requited with the same. However, like Pontius Pilate, he responded more to political pressure than spiritual promptings, and Abinadi’s death became a type and a shadow for Noah’s.

[pam]

Mosiah 15

We are used to differentiating Elohim from Jehovah with the terms “Father” and “Son.” To refer to the Son as “the Father” can be confusing. This particular passage of Mosiah has confused many readers. Nevertheless, understanding those scriptures which refer to the Jehovah as the Father will help the reader to better understand the great role of our Redeemer. The doctrine is simple if you remember the three ways in which Jehovah is referred to as the Father.

First, he is referred to as the Father by virtue of divine investiture. If one is the Son of God, given all his power, authority, and grace, then one is also God and should also be referred to as “the Father.” Abinadi describes it with the phrase, because he was conceived by the power of God. Jesus explained that He is the Father because he gave me of his fulness (DC 93:4).

Second, Christ is the Father by virtue of his role as the Creator of heaven and earth. He is, in effect, the Father of creation. No one would argue that He created under the direction of Elohim, but if He, as a pre-mortal Spirit, could create all things in heaven and earth, then he is, indeed, the Father of Creation. Accordingly, Samuel the Lamanite prophesied of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and of earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning (Hel 14:12, italics added).

Third, Christ is the Father by virtue of his redeeming sacrifice. All those who are born again through the mighty power of the atonement become the sons and daughters of Christ. As logic would have it, this spiritual rebirth is not without parentage. The Lord, Jesus Christ, becomes the Father of our Spirits. Benjamin’s people experienced this mighty change. Therefore, they were called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters (Mosiah 5:7). As Abinadi explains the meaning of Isaiah, he repeats this doctrine, And who shall be his seed?…they whose sins he has borne; these are they for whom he has died, to redeem them from their transgressions. And now, are they not his seed? (v. 10-12)