****
TODAY'S THEME
 |
Nephi Rebuking His Rebellious Brothers -By Arnold Friberg |
In this beginning portion of Post (42u) we will focus on Nephi's amazing use of the power of the Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation. (I remind you that in the first post in this series of three posts, 42t, that same subject was addressed through words of the Prophet Nephi found in some of his earlier scriptural writings (in the book of 1Nephi, Chapter 11). Soon you will read more about that main focus of this series in Nephi's final words recorded in the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ (in the Book of 2Nephi, Chapter 33).
I now refer you to my past post, 35g to help you begin more intensely focusing on the subject I highlighted just above. Please, do not overlook viewing the video whose link you will be invited to click on near the end of that post (35g).
Post 35g
Next I invite each of you readers to review another of my past posts, 36g from which we will be assisted to become assured through the potent power of the Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation of our own certain future resurrections and those of our dear loved ones!
This next Post 36g, has been viewed much, according to Google's Blogspot Analytics, especially during the recent 2011 Easter Season. Then there were 421 page views of that single post (which could have come from about 101 countries/territories throughout the world), during a period of just thirty days.After you finish reading this next past post of mine which is on the subject of the Resurrection From the Dead, I invite you to click out of it which will automatically return you here to view the Tissot painting you will notice is located directly below my Post 36g link.
Then from that painting on please proceed through the final and perhaps, the most special portion of this post 42u because it deals with an important event in our Savior, Jesus Christ's life. I promise that you won't regret doing so even though this post has been somewhat long. I believe each of you will find this next portion of this post to be very interesting and and hopefully especially meaningful!
Post 36g Alma the Younger Tells Us What We Need to Know!
 |
Jesus Raising Lazarus From the Dead -by James Tissot |
I've always been touched spiritually and emotionally each time I've read John 11:11-44. Having read through it just now I know it fits this post perfectly! You may desire to scroll back up to view again the painting of Lazarus' tomb when you get to those verses below in that scripture which particularly deal with the scene depicted in that painting.
Please Look again, right now, at that painting! Lazarus's sisters, Mary and Martha are wearing white shawls and are looking on as our Savior, Jesus Christ is in the act of commanding Lazarus to come forth from death! You can see Lazarus's grave clothes unraveling and his legs and arms being extended and his face coming to life again!
You may also notice others, just outside of that tomb (or cave) who may be Jesus' disciples and/or other Jews that were said to have come with them, looking on in amazement!
Examining that painting makes me feel as if I were right there with all of them, looking on in amazement! It must make you feel that way too as you examine it!
Now we turn to this very special scripture from the New Testament:
John 11:11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. (This is clear evidence that He, Jesus, knew of Lazarus's death by the Power of the Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation, which originates with Him and with His and our Heavenly Father and, as you know is the main subject of this post of mine.)
15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:
19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. (Again, He knew that would happen, by the Spirit of Prophesy and Revelation)
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.
29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.
30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.
31 The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.
32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?
38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave (we call it a tomb), and a stone lay upon it.
39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
(Jesus knew exactly by His Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation that which would happen next.)
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. (explanations and emphasis added)A painting, if there were one representing the resurrection of someone or of his or her loved ones or of of any us at the time of or their or our resurrections, would be much different than depicted in that painting because our burials are most often in graves not in tombs as was the case with the Jews. But still those experiences we or our loved ones could have, would have much in common with the restoration of life described in that choice passage of scripture!
(By the way, I am always deeply touched when reading those choice forty four verses of scripture! Aren't you also?)However, in this marvelous painting we are not only shown the realities of Lazarus's initial raising from the dead. (I say initial, because it was not his eternal lasting resurrection because the very first actual Resurrection of all resurrections, was that of our Savior, Jesus Christ and it had not yet occurred. It is my understanding that a resurrected body will be eternally perfect and incapable of dying.
The scriptures don't tell of Lazurus' eventual death from which, I would suppose, Lazarus has many centuries ago experienced his eternal resurrection!
Nonetheless, I thought showing this marvelous painting of Jesus raising Lazarus from death would allow you and I to stretch our imaginations to more easily visualize with more sure faith, our sure future resurrections and those of whom we love so much!
Those Resurrections will come about because we have been informed of them happening in their own due time through the Power of the Spirit of Prophesy and Revelation! We will not be disappointed!____________
DISCLAIMER
This website is not owned by or affiliated with the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church.
____________
TO ACCESS NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX: To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This Blog Post, (Or To Search The Index For Any Other Blog Post You Desire To Access), After You Have Read All of This Paragraph, Please Scroll Back Up And Click on the Following: The Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation, the Second in a Series of Three Posts -Post 42u. When The Picture of Our Savior, Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy Comes Onto Your Screen, Please Scroll Down In The Index To Your Target Item Or Use the Alphabetical Scrolling Device (When It Has Been Installed).
____________
Have You Really Read the Book of Mormon?" Legal /Statement. Thank you for visiting. The author retains intellectual property and creative licensing rights. Permission to use or reprint must be given in writing. © Est.2008 Neil Birch Legal /Statement.
____________
I deeply appreciate your readership and hope you found very beneficial, that which was presented to you in this blog post.
If you have any questions about what you have read or viewed in this post or in any previous posts of mine, or if you even have a curiosity about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and or its teachings, please e-mail me. I'm Neil and my e-mail address is: jneilmelva@gmail.com. If you contact me I'll get back to you just as soon as possible.
I invite you to let your friends and relatives know about this blog if you think they would be interested in it. Please be advised that I also have an additional blog. It is in Spanish: Its content is translated from the English in this blog:
Neil Birch
