Acts 6-9

Acts 6-9

A LIVING, GROWING CHURCH

Christ's church is a living church--guided by revelation to meet the changing needs of its members within their cultures and eras.  The history of the use of Seventies through thousands of years is one of the best examples of this.

"And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration" (Acts 6:1)

The term "Grecians," alternatively translated as "Hellenists" "probably refers to Jewish Christians from the Diaspora [Jews who had been scattered out from Israel by conquering nations] whose native language was Greek and who spoke little or no Aramaic; Hebrews, by contrast, would be Christians from among those Jews who spoke only or primarily Aramaic.  Conflict could arise from their social and cultural differences and spill over into the daily distribution of food.  In a culture that allowed women little economic independence, widows, especially those of immigrants, would be among the most disadvantaged portion of the population" (Harper-Collins Study Bible).

"The division between Greek-speaking and Hebrew-speaking (or culturally Greek and culturally Hebrew) Jews dates from the conquest of Israel by Alexander the Great in 323 B.C.  He and his successors introduced the Greek language and Greek culture into the lands they ruled.  While Hellenistic (Greek) influence produced such [good] fruits as the Septuagint, Philo of Alexandria and Josephus, 'Hebraists' considered the 'Hellenists' to have developed an adulterated Judaism which had assimilated elements of the pagan cultures around them--although the Judaism of the Hebrew-speakers had not avoided these influences either" (David H. Stern, Jewish New Testament Commentary, p. 239).

The solution to the problem was to call "seven men of honest report" (Acts 6:3) to see to the physical and spiritual needs of the people.  They distributed food, and they performed missionary labors.  "All of the seven have Greek names, consistent with their identification with the Hellenists" (Harper-Collins).  All seven were Greek-speakers and could therefore communicate both in language and culture with the Greek widows.  Their modern-day counterparts would probably be the Presidents of the Seventy.

The number, organization, responsibilities, and purposes of the Seventies has been one of the most dynamic of church positions--meaning it has been in a state of change almost constantly.  They have been called when needed, where needed, and for what was needed at the time, including in these latter days.

"The seventy were first mentioned by the Prophet Joseph Smith one Sunday afternoon to Brigham and Joseph Young, whose voices raised together in song were pleasing to the Prophet. He listened to them for a while, then told Brigham to call a meeting of the Church for the following Saturday when he would organize the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; and said he: 'Brigham, you are to be one of them.' Turning to Joseph Young, he said: 'And you are to be a president of the seventy.'

"At that time, no one had any idea of what a seventy was or how an organization of them was to be effected. They knew only the references in the Bible where the Lord sent out 'other seventy' who had returned rejoicing (see Luke 10:1–17), and where an organization of seventy men was organized under Moses (see Ex. 24:1, 9; Num. 11:16). It was indeed a startling thing for them to learn that there were to be seventy men with a missionary calling, that their presidents should be seven in number. They were to assist the Twelve in preaching the gospel and in regulating the Church in all the world. (See D&C 107:25, 34.)

"On February 28, 1835, seven presidents were chosen to preside over the quorum. In order of their choosing, they were: Hazen Aldrich, Joseph Young, Levi Ward Hancock, Leonard Rich, Zebedee Coltrin, Lyman Royal Sherman, and Sylvester Smith....

"The Prophet also organized 2 1/2 more quorums of seventy, making a total of 3 1/2 quorums. They were presided over by the presidents of the First Quorum....

"The seventy were known as seekers of knowledge as well as preachers of the gospel. One reading the diaries of these men realizes that they took seriously the office of seventy. Their missionary labors were phenomenal...

"During the period of exodus from Nauvoo, the seventies quorum was left in charge of and supervised temple ceremonies. Joseph Young, the senior president, supervised this work and presided in the temple.

"In research from Nauvoo’s seventies’ records, Brother William G. Hartley, assistant Church historian, notes that: 'more than one-third of the Mormon Battalion consisted of seventies drawn from more than thirty separate quorums. They reformed into one ‘mass’ quorum in Los Angeles on April 18, 1847, electing their own seven presidents under the direction of Levi W. Hancock...'

"About one-half of the men in the pioneering company which led out in 1847 were seventies. One would expect the seventies to lead out, for they were mostly young men in their late twenties and early thirties when they were ordained in 1845...

"Of the 2,200 seventies ordained between 1835 and 1855, between one-third and one-half were foreign born, England alone providing no less than 500."  (S. Dilworth Young, "The Seventies: A Historical Perspective," Ensign, July 1976)



GREAT EXAMPLES FROM THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH

JOYOUSLY SEEKING AND SHARING THE GOSPEL: Philip and the Ethiopian

The preaching of the gospel followed the order which Christ had laid out in Acts 1.  The gospel was first preached in Jerusalem at Pentacost to the pilgrims who had come for the festival.  They then took it home with them to the neighboring areas.  After preaching the gospel in Jerusalem, the disciples carried it to her "black-sheep sibling" Samaria (Acts 8) where it was well-received and many joined the Saints.

And then one investigator appeared from quite far out of the range of the missionary labors so far:

"And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip [one of the seven], saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.  And he arose and went: and behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet" (Acts 8:26-28).

"The conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch, who is from a region vastly removed from Jerusalem, signals the fulfillment of the promise to all those who are 'far away' (Acts 2:39)...Ethiopian, in Luke's world, referred to anyone with dark skin, particularly to persons from territories south of Egypt.  Various ancient writers depict Ethiopians as handsome people who come from the ends of the known world.  As a eunuch, he could not be a Jew or a proselyte to Judaism, and thus his conversion foreshadows that of Cornelius, which formally opens the Christian mission to Gentiles.  Candace is the title traditionally given to the Queen of Meroe (a Nubian realm along the upper Nile), making the eunuch's position one of considerable power.  That he has been to Jerusalem to worship indicates his interest in Israel's religion, as does his reading of Isaiah.  Gentiles could worship in the temple enclosure, although they were restricted to the outer court.  Reading was a customary activity during travel; here it sets the stage for Philip's approach.  The prompting of the Spirit suggests that God stands behind this overture.  The passage quoted is Isa. 53:7-8" (Harper-Collins).

"Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.  And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?  And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me?  And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him" (Acts 8:29-31).

Of course, most of us have the same reaction when we read Isaiah!  But the Ethiopian's comment was a true reflection of the use of the scripture in his day. "No ancient sacred books were intended to be read without a teacher: hence the Ethiopian comment in the Acts says to St. Philip 'How can I understand unless someone tells me?'" (C.S. Lewis, The C.S. Lewis Bible, p. 1238).  Not being a Jew, he had no synagogue to study with.

So the man read to Philip the verses that concerned him at the moment, which were prophesies about Christ.  "Then Philip opened his mouth" (a most important step in missionary work) "and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.  And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.  And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.  And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing" (Acts 8:35-39).  It may be that Philip immediately vanished from the man's sight and was transported to his next area of labor (keep in mind that they were traveling in the chariot all the time that Philip was teaching him, and may have gotten quite a ways away), or it may be Luke's way of saying that the Spirit prompted Philip to go preach in another area, and the eunuch was left on his own to continue to learn and grow as a new convert.

"Later church tradition holds that the eunuch became the first Christian missionary to Africa" (Harper-Collins).

CHANGING DIRECTION: Saul of Tarsus and Ananias of Damascus

Saul was a young leader of the Jewish church, with orders from the Sanhedrin to persecute those "defecting" to Christianity.  He carried out his duties faithfully, sincerely, and violently--an early example of the fulfilling of the prophecy to the disciples that "the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service" (John 16:2).

"And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem, and as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks" (Acts 9:1-5).

"Pricks" is alternatively translated as "goads."  This phrase, "It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks," was a proverb used by both Greek and Latin writers.  (For my reference, click here.)  It basically refered to a pointy stick that was used to prod work animals to move in a certain direction.  If they kicked against it, it only inflicted more pain upon them.  The proverb was a tool for teaching not to resist powerful authority.

Saul's next question reveals his marvelous heart:  "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" (Acts 9:6).  He was told that he must go to Damascus with the exact opposite aim from what he had planned--rather than persecute the Saints, he was to join them.  Rather than bind Ananias (and others) and send him to Jerusalem, he was to submit to him and receive healing in the name of Christ from the blindness that had struck him when discovering he was serving the wrong master.

At the same time, "There was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias, and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias.  And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord" (Acts 9:10).  Ananias' answer was a statement very similar to Saul's.  "I am here" meant "I am ready to serve; what would you have me do?"  He also was told to do the exact opposite from what he had planned--rather than hiding from the infamous Saul, he was to seek him out, heal him, baptize him, and give him the Gift of the Holy Ghost

Saul became one of the greatest missionaries ever, and his epistles continue to preach the gospel 2,000 years after he wrote them, to peoples on every continent, even places of which he'd never heard in his lifetime.  But even though he made a 180-degree paradigm and allegiance shift on the spot, he still had much to learn before he became that great missionary.  He stayed and learned from the disciples in Damascus, and then "straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God" (Acts 9:19-20).

"[An] aspect that many readers seem to miss is concerned with Paul’s preparation to represent the Lord. There is a nine-to-ten-year period from Paul’s conversion until the time of his so-called first missionary journey. Obviously, it was as necessary for Paul to mature and season in the gospel, grow and develop, as it is for the rest of us. Even so, considering the fervent zeal of this famous convert, we can assume that Saul was very involved in missionary efforts from the time of his conversion, wherever he was. But the first detailed reference to a mission is in Acts 13, when he is called to accompany Barnabas to Cyprus and some Asia Minor cities. For the first part of the journey, Luke implies that Barnabas is the leader, and Saul continues to use his Jewish name. However, when the missionary company meets the Roman proconsul Sergius Paulus, Saul seems to take the lead in preaching to him and in pronouncing a curse of blindness upon the interfering Jewish magician, Elymas. Including the incident with Paulus, several events signal a change in leadership. Paul was a Roman citizen; the missionaries were entering a predominantly gentile phase of their journey; and John Mark returned to Jerusalem (he may not yet have been prepared to proselyte among the gentile nations). Paul may simply have been the one best equipped to lead the group during that phase of their travels. From this time onward, Luke never refers to Saul by his Jewish name, but instead calls him Paul (probably his Roman cognomen) and refers to the group as “Paul and his company.” (Acts 13:13.)  (C. Wilfred Griggs, "Paul: The Long Road from Damascus," Ensign, Sept. 1975).

One more oft-overlooked lesson to learn from Saul--and one which many of us struggle to learn--is forgiveness of oneself.  How could Saul have succeeded in doing the Lord's work if he had continued to be wracked in guilt?  We all will spend some time suffering in one hell or another, as did Saul and his Book of Mormon counterpart, Alma the Younger, for our sins, weaknesses, and mistakes.  It is necessary.  We learn from the experience how to avoid misery in the future, and how to help others avoid it, and how to help them be freed from it when it comes.  But while suffering the misery of remorse, we are severely limited in our ability to bless others.  Although it is temporarily necessary, it is a self-centered existence--centered in our suffering.  Once we have passed through "our Gethsemane," we must allow Christ to free us by forgiving ourselves completely (while still remembering the lesson learned), so we can focus on freeing others.

GIVING EVERYTHING: Stephen and Tabitha

We are quite familiar with the story of the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 7).  He was the first of the Seven to be chosen, "a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 6:5).  His performance of "great wonders and miracles among the people" (Acts 6:8) led to his persecution, trial, and death by stoning at the hands of Jews, an act which was illegal under Roman rule, just as was the trial, conviction and execution of Christ.  (See a previous post.)  He did not desist in teaching the gospel, even at threat of death.  He saw a vision of the Father and the Son.  As Jesus Christ called upon his Father as he died, so Stephen "[called] upon God, [saying] Lord Jesus receive my spirit.  And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge" (Acts 7:59-60).  He was truly a disciple of Christ who gave all.

Another great example of a disciple of Christ (the only instance in the New Testament in which the feminine form of the word "disciple" is used, according to Harper-Collins) is found in the story of Tabitha.  Tabitha "was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.  And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber" (Acts 9:35-37).  They sent for Peter, who went into the room, "and all the widows stood by him weeping, and [showing] the coats and garments which [Tabitha] made while she was with them."  Tabitha had given her life in service to others.  But unlike Stephen, her work was not finished and she was allowed to return to continue her discipleship.  "Peter put them all [out of the room] and kneeled down, and prayed: and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise.  And she opened her eyes; and when she saw Peter, she sat up.  And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.  And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord" (Acts 9:40-42).  By raising the dead just as Christ had done, Peter showed the people that he had the power of God.

Stephen's testimony resulted in his death as a martyr; Tabitha's testimony resulted in being raised from the dead.  Stephen served in a public way, as the first "President of the Seventy," working miracles and wonders.  Tabitha served in a homely way, working with her hands to clothe the needy. 

Each of us, likewise, has our own mission to perform, our own ways in which we can best exemplify Christ.  It may be a miraculously extended life.  It may be an early death.  It may be in travels and leadership and public speaking.  It may be in staying home and filling the needs among our neighbors.  It may be in calling down the powers of Heaven through Priesthood blessings.  It may be in nurturing children.  It may be in changing our perspective, lifestyle and friends completely.  It may be in keeping perspective, and serving lifelong friends.  If we live "full of faith and the Holy Ghost" as did Stephen; and "full of good works and almsdeeds" as did Tabitha; if we ask, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" as did Saul and Ananias, and if we follow the direction of the Spirit as did Philip, no matter how our lives turn out, we will have filled our missions as disciples of Christ.

On a Personal Note...Requesting Prayers

If any of you readers wouldn't mind praying for my son Nathaniel Hyrum Jensen and the rest of the U.S. Army Blackhawk Brigade, it would be greatly appreciated.  If you think about adding him to your temple prayer rolls, that would be even better.  He will be flying from his home in Germany to Afghanistan within the next few days for a year deployment. 

Hyrum and his wife, Chloe

He's already been shot once (in training in Bulgaria a year ago), had four surgeries, and was left with a 14-inch scar and a limp.  He narrowly missed being hit by a 50-caliber machine gun misfire this week while working in his office.  (An SUV was destroyed in the parking lot, several cars damaged, and a bullet lodged in the outer wall of the building.)  This same boy fell off a 30-foot cliff in Canyonlands as a 5-year-old, somersaulted in the air, landed on his feet in the sand, and did not break a bone, lose consciousness or require stitches.  (I have a photograph of him standing beside the cliff to prove the height.)  I won't even mention the teenage years...

We are thinking we should have named him after Wilford Woodruff instead of after Hyrum Smith, since he seems to narrowly escape death on a regular basis.  Here's hoping that trend continues for another year.

Acts 1-5: Witnesses

Acts 1-5

THE WITNESSES OF LUKE

The book of Acts was written by Luke as a sequel to his Gospel.  He began both with an introduction and dedication to someone named Theophilus. "The former treatise have I made [speaking of the Gospel of Luke], O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen" (Acts 1:1-2).  Who is Theophilus?  "Following a literary custom of his day, Luke gives his work a formal dedication.  Theophilus, literally 'lover of God,' may refer to a [particular] historical person or to anyone who loves God" (Harper-Collins Study Bible, p. 2057).

Understanding that Luke and Acts are connected books makes each of them a stronger witness.  "Because the Gospels were grouped together in the [Bible], Acts stands separate from luke.  Yet readers of Acts will be helped if they bear in mind its many connections with the Third Gospel.  Among the most important...themes is the fulfillment of God's promises in the ministry of Jesus and the life of the church.  From the annunciation to Mary (Luke 1:35) to the mission of the church (Acts 1:8) to Paul's journey to Rome (Acts 27:24), Luke underscores the absolute reliability of God's word.  Another overriding theme is the work of the Holy Spirit, which plays a prominent role in Jesus' ministry (Luke 4:1), in the empowering of the church (Acts 2:1-13), and in guiding the church's witness (15:28; 16:6-7).  A third connection between the two volumes is that important figures in Acts duplicate aspects of Jesus' life, [such] as when Peter raises the dead (Acts 9:36-43; Luke 7:11-17) or when Paul's final journey to Jerusalem and Rome echoes that of Jesus to Jerusalem (Acts 19:21; Luke 9:51-52)" (Dr. Beverly Roberts Gaventa, Associate Professor of New Testament, Princeton Theological Seminary, writing for the Harper-Collins Study Bible, p. 2057.)

Women Witnesses
Richard Neitzel Holzapfel notes that women as witnesses is a theme carried over from the Gospel of Luke.  Once again, only a woman was witness to two great events:  The birth of Christ (Luke 2:1-19) and the birth of the Christian church (Acts 1:1-14).

Temple the Focal Point
He also points out that the temple is a point of focus in both books.  When Jesus was just a child, his parents came up to Jerusalem for the Passover and lost Jesus, thinking he was with relatives in the same traveling company.  It was three days before they found him in the temple teaching the priests the things he had already learned at such a young age from God (Luke 2:46, JST footnote).  The temple mount was 40 acres, 4 times the size of Salt Lake City's Temple Square.  There would have been approximately 180,000 people on the temple mount during Passover, although it can actually hold twice that number.  And yet, little Jesus said to his parents, in essence, "Why did you have such a hard time finding me?  You should have known I would have been at the temple!"  (See Luke 2:41-50.) 

The temple is at the beginning of Luke's account of Jesus' life, and the temple is at the end:  Each day at the 9th hour (3:00 p.m.), the Jews would pray with their hands over their heads.  At the end of his Gospel, Luke notes that as Christ hung on the cross, "there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.  And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.  And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost" (Luke 23:44-46). So as the Jews were praying with their hands over their heads at the temple at Passover, Jesus died on the cross, with his hands over his head, and God the Father heard Christ's prayer, opened the veil between heaven and earth, and allowed Christ, the great and new High Priest to enter his presence so that all others who desired might do the same. 

The final words of Luke's first book are that after Christ's ascension, the disciples "were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God.  Amen" (Luke 24:53). 

Working of Miracles
The first healing done by the apostles that is recorded by Luke in his second book, was at the Feast of Pentecost, when "Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour" (Acts 3:1), when there would have been a large number of people at the temple praying, and performed a public healing of a man well-known to have been lame from birth.  It was just like the miraculous healings performed by Christ:  it was a bold and irrefutable witness that they had power from Christ.  Upon seeing the man begging, Peter answered, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk" (Acts 3:6). 

(Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, "Temple Worship and Symbolism in the New Testament," CES Scripture Symposium held in Logan, Utah January 25, 2003, taken from my personal notes, 8:161). 

Importance of Preaching the Gospel to all the World
The Gospel of Luke ends with Christ's injunction that "repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  And ye are witness of these things.  And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:47-49). 

The first words of the book of Acts are reminders of that promise and the commandment that they should be witnesses of Christ in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and into the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:3-8). 

The Witness of Angels
As two angels witnessed to the women at the tomb, "Why seek ye the living among the dead?", two angels witnessed to the apostles, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?  this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven" (Acts 1:10-11).

THE JOY OF THE ATONEMENT PREACHED TO THOSE WHO CRUCIFIED CHRIST

The first place the Apostles were commanded to preach the gospel was in Jerusalem, so that is where they started.  (That would seem to be obvious, but we are not always so obedient.  Think of Jonah, for instance.) 

There was a huge crowd of "devout men, out of every nation under heaven" who had gathered to Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost.  ("Devout" doesn't necesarily mean "believers in Christ"--the Pharisees were the most devout of all.)  These were Jews whose ancestors had previously been scattered to other nations as Israel had been conquered, so they spoke many different languages.  And Jerusalem was the place where Christ had recently been unjustly tried, convicted, and condemned during the last great gathering, the Passover.  It would not seem to be a fertile ground for missionary work.

But Peter and the apostles were now filled with power through the Gift of the Holy Ghost (John 20:22) and the Melchizedek Priesthood and were no longer afraid of the people or the leaders.  Their testimonies had been strengthened; they did not hesitate to risk their lives to obey their Lord and Savior.  As the small group of believers assembled for Pentecost, they appeared to be on fire. There was also a great sound as the rushing of a mighty wind. 

The word spread that there was a spectacle to see, and people gathered, and were shocked to hear the gospel being preached by Galileans, and yet being heard by each man in his own language.  By obeying the  command to first preach in Jerusalem, the Apostles were aided by a great manifestation of the gift of tongues, by which the gospel then could be spread throughout the many surrounding nations as the listening Jews returned home with the message.

Peter boldly proclaimed to them, "Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death; because it was not possible that he should be holden of it" (Acts 2:22-24).  Peter did not mince words!  Peter then referred to the writings of the great King David, whose place of burial was well-known, and told them that Christ had been the Messiah and Savior who was to come through David, and he no longer remained in the sepulchre, but was resurrected.  "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ"  (Acts 2:36).

Imagine hearing this and having the awful realization dawn that it was true!

"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

It was too late to reverse the decision of the court!  It was too late to stop the crucifixion!  It was too late to become a disciple of Christ rather than an enemy!  It was too late to switch sides!

Or was it?

No.  It wasn't, and it isn't.  It is never, ever too late.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2:38-39).

The Lord called his own condemnors and promised them the remission of sins and the Gift of the Holy Ghost?  Right after they crucified him?  Why?

"[The Lord] doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his life that he may draw all men unto him.  Wherefore he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.  Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me?  Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he sayeth: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey without money and without price...Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation?  Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he hath given it free for all men, and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance" (2 Ne. 26:24-25,27).

Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which he wrought in the Garden of Gethsemane before being crucified, even those who crucified him were freely offered not only resurrection, but the remission of their sins.  In fact, the apostles were commanded to preach it to them.

Any of us who may feel that our sins are beyond the power of the Atonement, or that we would not be able to qualify to inherit Christ's kingdom because of what we have done or who we are need only read this chapter in Acts to realize that the Atonement will work for us as well.  A great example of trust in Christ and the power of his Atonement to cleanse, to heal, and to sanctify any sinner is shown in the lives of those who, after calling for his crucifixion, then turned to him in repentance.  A great example also of the diligence Christ expects of his disciples to "feed my sheep" no matter who they are or what they have done is shown in the bold preaching of Peter and the apostles.

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:41).  (See also Acts 3:12-26 for a similar speech.)

Why did these people now recognize the truth when they did not accept the Savior when he was there himself?  "Here is the happy success and issue of this [preaching].  The Spirit wrought with the word, and wrought wonders by it.  These same persons that had many of them been eye-witnesses of the death of Christ, and the prodigies that attended it, and were not wrought upon by them, were yet wrought upon by the preaching of the word, for it is this that is the power of God unto salvation.  They received the word; and then only the word does us good, when we do receive it, embrace it, and bid it welcome" (Matthew Henry's Commentary--The New Testament, Acts, p. 13).

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHURCH

Although most of the leadership of the Jews still did not believe, the early Christian church was solidly established in Jerusalem with a base membership of those disciples who had followed Christ during his ministry, and these who had received the word at Pentecost.  Their story is almost as amazing as that of the conversion of the entire Nephite nation which was happening in the Americas at exactly the same time (3 Ne. 11-26). 

In just a few verses here, Luke details why and how the Church worked so well.  Look for the elements of success.  (The blue comments come from Matthew Henry, p 13-14.)

• And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine..."They were diligent and constant in their attendance upon the preaching of the word."
• And [the apostles'] fellowship...  "They kept up the communion of saints."
• And in breaking of bread...  "They frequently joined in the ordinance of the Lord's supper.  They continued in the breaking of bread, in celebrating that memorial of their Master's death, as those that were not ashamed to own their relation to, and their dependance upon, Christ and him crucified."
• And in prayers.  "They continued in prayers.  After the Spirit was poured out, as well as before, while they were waiting for him, they continued instant in prayer; for prayer will never be superseded till it comes to be swallowed up in everlasting praise [in the next life]."
• And fear [great reverence for God] came upon every soul...  The despising of the Savior while he was among them changed to a state of awe.
• And many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.  Miracles did not cease when Christ left the earth, nor will they as long as his Church is here. 
• And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.  "This was to destroy, not property...but selfishness."
• And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple...  "They kept close to holy ordinances, and abounded in all instances of piety and devotion."  "They met in the temple...for joint-fellowship with God is the best fellowship we can have with one another." 
• And breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people.  "They abounded in thanksgiving; were continually praising God.  This should have a part in every prayer, and not be crowded into a corner.  Those that have received the gift of the Holy Ghost will be much in praise."

...And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" (Acts 2:41-47).


PARALLELS IN THE LATTER-DAY CHURCH

We can see many parallels between their church and our church, and also the church Christ established among the Nephites.  (You may want to ask the class to identify parallels, and then write them on a chart on the blackboard as they think of them.  They may come up with different ones than I have.)

PARALLELS IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CHRIST’S CHURCH IN DIFFERENT ERAS AND LOCATIONS
Event/Situation	New Testament Church	Nephite Church	Restored Church
Spectacular descent of the Holy Ghost; prophecy of Joel 2:28 proclaimed fulfilled	Acts 2:1-4 sound of rushing wind, cloven tongues of fire, speaking in tongues; Acts 2:17 Joel's prophecy repeated by Peter	3 Ne. 19:9-14 circle of fire, presence of angels	D&C 109:36-37 sound of rushing wind, appearance of fire, speaking in tongues Joel's prophecy repeated by Angel Moroni to Joseph Smith
Huge groups join the church	Acts 2:41; 4:4 3,000 men; 5,000 men	4 Ne. 1:2 the entire nation	missions to England, Canada
All things held in common	Acts 4:32	3 Ne. 26:19 4 Ne. 1:2-3	D&C 42
Transfiguration; Keys of Kingdom given	Matt. 17:1-13 Bible Dictionary p. 786	3 Ne. 28:12-15	D&C 110:11-16 April 3, 1836
Apostles imprisoned but prisons could not hold them	Acts 12 freed by angel Acts 16 freed by earthquake; jailer converted	3 Ne. 18:19	Many times; Joseph Smith did convert a jailer; sometimes they did escape or were allowed to
Visited by resurrected Christ	Acts 1:3	3 Ne. 11:8 and on	D&C 110 in the Kirtland Temple
Sacrament instituted	Luke 22:17-20	3 Ne. 18	D&C 20
Twelve Apostles called	Acts 1:13, 21-26 filling position left by Judas Iscariot	3 Ne. 12:1	D&C 18:26
Voice of God identifying Christ	Matt. 17:5	3 Ne. 11:6-7	Joseph Smith-History 1:17
Healing miracles performed by apostles	Acts 3:1-7	4 Ne. 1:5	History of the Church records many
Eventual persecution of church members	All apostles ended up being martyrs	4 Ne. 1:34	That is the reason the church is based in Salt Lake City—they had to flee the U.S. because of persecution
Joyous differences in the Latter-day Church
An apostacy prophecied	Yes	Yes	No!  The church will never again leave the earth
A restoration prophecied	Acts 3:19-21	3 Ne. 20-22	JS-H 1:40 this restoration is final

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE REST OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

We all love to read the Gospels over and over, and but sometimes we don't realize the tremendous value of the Acts and the Epistles and the Book of Revelation.

"Sadly, the second half of the New Testament is sometimes neglected by Latter-day Saints.  That is unfortunate because the times in which those books of the New Testament were written were not so different from our own.  The information in those books and the lessons we can learn from them could become a towering source of peace and power in coping with life's challenges in our own times.  These books speak of the former-day Saints having to endure persecution; sexual temptations and perversions of every kind, including prostitution, adultery, fornication, and homosexuality; recurring and vexing welfare problems; famine and economic uncertainties; sorrow and suffering; trials and tribulations; the allure of reason over revelation; false teachers; and apostasy" (D. Kelly Ogden and Andrew C. Skinner, New Testament Apostles Testify of Christ, p. 1-2).

It will be exciting to study "the rest of the story" during the remainder of the year in Sunday School.

LATTER-DAY APOSTLES GAME

With whatever time you have left, you can play this game.
Ask the class to identify the 12 apostles of the early Church.  You can let them look them up, if needed, in Acts 1:13 & 26.  Write them on the board.  Then ask them if they can name our present-day apostles.  As they do, write them on the board.  Remember, there will be 15, not 12, with the First Presidency.  You can then play a game of knowledge of our apostles.  Divide the class into two teams.  Show a picture of one of the apostles.  One team member is asked to name the apostle.  He/she has the option to try or to pass.  If the answer is right, the next team member must tell us something about the apostle.  (His professional life, his family life, hobbies, his most recent conference address topic, his personality, details of his church service.)  This team keeps the turn until they can tell three things about the apostle.  If they make a mistake, the opposing team gets to finish their turn, and then start a new one.  You can keep score on the board, if it seems appropriate.

This will work pretty well with a large class of adults who are well-established in the church.  If you have a small class of youth, you may want to ask for only one thing about each apostle.  If you have a small group of new members or children, you may want to post all the apostles' pictures at once, put information about the apostles on slips of paper in a bowl and have team members draw one out and guess which apostle it is.  Tell them the correct answer, post the strip by the apostle's picture, and don't keep score.

Sources you can use for information about the apostles:

The Church News Church Leaders Page

Grandpa Bill's General Authority Pages

Mormon Times

CONCLUSION

As Christ was setting up his church in Jerusalem, he admonished Peter to "Feed my sheep."  This commandment applies to us today as well as it did to Peter.  We are both the shepherds and the sheep, and we must perform each role well.  It is our job to help and lift each other in whatever our stewardships may be in the kingdom.  It is also our job to listen to and obey those who are shepherds over us, particularly the apostles.  We are so blessed in our day; we do not have to leave our jobs and follow the apostles through the countryside, straining to hear over the multitude, and having to rely upon our own memories.  We should not treat the words of the prophets and apostles today casually because of the easiness of hearing them.  We must be earnest in hearing, and then we can turn around and "feed" the other "sheep."

For a great article on feeding the sheep, by Russell M. Nelson, click here.

Matthew 28; Luke 24; John 20-21: The Resurrection

Matthew 28; Luke 24; John 20-21

AND NOW FOR THE HAPPIEST OF ENDINGS...

"Alexander the Great, king of Macedon, pupil of Aristotle, conqueror of most of the known world in his time, was one of the world's great young leaders.  After years of exercising military pomp and prowess and after extending his kingdom from Macedonia to Egypt and from Cyprus to India, he wept when there seemed to be no more world to conquer.  Then, as evidence of just how ephemeral such power is, Alexander caught a fever, and died at 33 years of age.  The vast kingdom he had attained virtually died with him.

"Quite a different young leader also died at what seems such an untimely age of 33.  He likewise was a king, a pupil, and a conqueror.  Yet he received no honors from man, achieved no territorial conquests, rose to no political station.  So far as we know, he never held a sword nor wore even a single piece of armor.  But the Kingdom he established still flourishes some 2,000 years later.  His power was not of this world" (Howard W. Hunter, "An Apostle's Witness of the Resurrection, April 1986 General Conference).

Last week we discussed the horrific circumstances of Christ's death.  He was treated with such cruelty, such bitter disregard for the sanctity of the spirit of any man, let alone the Savior of the world.  He was treated as the scum of the earth, and then he died.  He exited this life in ignominy.

At the same time, he entered the next life crowned in greater glory than any human could have.  In paradise and spirit prison, he taught the glorious truths of the gospel, unfettered by any opposition, to the adoration of many of the departed souls who had been waiting to hear it.  (See 1 Peter 3:18-20; D&C 76:72-74; D&C 138.)  He descended in glory from the heavens to the Nephite throng gathered round the temple, accompanied by angels and fire, preaching to a people who would believe it with all their hearts and change their lives accordingly as well as those of their descendants, a change that would last for 200 years.  During this time, he also returned and ministered among his astonished disciples in Jerusalem, at a pre-appointed "solemn assembly" in Galilee, where he was able to teach with such power that the Church was established and enjoyed phenomenal growth after he left, despite persecution.

TURNING THINGS UPSIDE-DOWN

To quote Benson Y. Parkinson, an editor for CES, "An idea that comes up again and again in the scriptures is that sooner or later everything gets turned upside down."  The rich young man must give away his possessions to gain treasure in heaven (Mark 10:21).  The poor widow's mite is greater than the riches of the wealthy (Mark 12:43).  When the rich guests in the parable refuse the king's banquet, the poor are gathered in their place (Luke 14:21).  Brother Parkinson continues, "These reversals are regular enough to plan for.  When the wheel turns, those on top will be on bottom.  The only way to be on top later is to get on the bottom now."  (Benson Y. Parkinson, "Gospel Doctrine Lesson 17," posted 7-24-99 on the old LDS World website, which is no longer available.)

Even the Hebrew social hierarchy was turned upside-down in the Kingdom of God on earth during Christ's ministry. 

(Much of the following information on women in Greco-Roman and Hebrew culture and in the New Testament comes from my personal notes taken during a BYU Campus Education Week Lecture given August 21, 2003 by Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, BYU Professor of Church History and Doctrine, entitled, "The Last to Remain, to Return, and to Remember: Women as Witnesses."  Notebook 7:40-44.)

Women were on the lowest rung of the ladder in both the Jewish and the Roman culture.  Jewish women actually had it better than Roman women.  To the Romans infant females were of so little value that they were often abandoned to die, sometimes

to be picked up by someone wealthy who would raise them as slaves, or to be "rescued" by a pagan temple worker and raised to be temple prostitutes.  The Jewish culture had no such heinous practices, but Hebrew women were definitely second-class citizens.  A Jewish man would pray three times a day in gratitude that he was not 1) a gentile, 2) a slave, or 3) a woman.  A woman was not allowed to be a witness in court, because women were not considered intelligent or trustworthy enough to give valid testimony.  Women, by their very nature, were "unclean" for a week of every month because their menstrual cycles caused them to bleed.  (This explains why the woman with the issue of blood did not dare to touch Christ, but only the hem of his garment--Matt. 9:20.)  Hebrew women were vastly inferior to Hebrew men.

But once again, "while men were writing the histories, women were making history," and Christ gave women disciples the greatest of honors as they were doing the lowest of labors.

UNLIKELY WITNESSES OF THE RESURRECTION

Of the four gospels, Luke's is particularly cognizant of women.  As a physician, he worked in one of the few careers in Hebrew society in which a man would daily come into contact with women, and especially in a position of serving women.  (For more on the gospel writers, see a previous post.)  As a Gentile convert, he geared his gospel for others like himself, who had come into the Kingdom of God from other cultures, especially the Greco-Roman culture.

We learn from Luke that the crowd who had followed Jesus from town to town was comprised of women as well as men.  We even learn some of their names.  "And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, and certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, and Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance" (Luke 8:1-3).  Notice the things we learn from this little scripture:  there was a "certain" group of women who were close to Jesus, they were women who initially possessed debilitating weaknesses whom Jesus had healed (besides the "weakness" of simply being female), and they were women who supported him financially and/or fed him--they personally ministered to him.  (Mary Magdalene was wealthy enough to have anointed Jesus with the very expensive spikenard, and Joanna, being the wife of a royal steward, certainly would have had money and means.  No information is available about Susanna.)

Among these women were the elite group who were the first witnesses to four key events in the history of the world.

1. They witnessed Christ's death on the cross.
2. They witnessed his burial in the new sepulchre.
3. They witnessed the empty tomb, guarded by two angels.
4. They witnessed the resurrected Lord.

No man--not Joseph of Arimathea, not the ruling Romans, not the temple priests, not any of the apostles of the Church of Christ--witnessed all of these things.  Only these women.

WITNESSES OF CHRIST'S DEATH

All three synoptic gospel writers (Matthew, Mark and Luke) record that women were among the last to remain at the cross.  "There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; (who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem" (Mark 15:40-41).  (Salome was the mother of James and John; see Matt. 20:20.)

WITNESSES OF CHRIST'S BURIAL

Joseph, the powerful Sanhedrin member who was secretly a Christian convert, went to Pilate in the evening, and begged the body of Christ, returned to Golgotha, took the body down off the cross, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in his own new sepulchre (Luke 23:50-53).  Somewhere along the way, Nicodemus, also a secret Sanhedrin convert, joined him, bringing massive amounts of burial spices (John 19:38-40).

Matthew, Mark and Luke all record that the women were still there.  Here is how Luke reports it:  "And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after [Joseph], and beheld the [location of] the sepulchre, and how his body was laid" (Luke 23:55).  And they did not approve of "how his body was laid."  It was not done properly, not finished--not necessarily because of neglect of Joseph and Nicodemus, but because of the hour and the coming Sabbath.  But you know women and their Relief Society ways--tablecloths and flower arrangements and fridge magnets and meals.  They were not going to let Jesus be buried in any halfway manner.  So, these women "returned [to their lodging-places] and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

WITNESSES OF THE RESURRECTION

From here on out, it gets confusing as to which women came when, since the different gospel writers were none of them eyewitnesses and were all of them writing much later in the century using second- and third-hand accounts, likely culled from interviews with different women.  I like best the chronology provided in The New Testament with the Joseph Smith Translation, by Steven and Julie Hite, so I'm following theirs.

All four gospel writers make it clear that it was women who came to the sepulchre in the morning.  Different writers mention by name different women, probably because of the reason noted above.

"Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them" (Luke 23:56-24:1).  We can see from the italic print that the King James translators added the word "others" for clarification.  Perhaps they could have better chosen the word "women," which would mean these were the elect "certain women" who had followed him through every village, been healed by him, and ministered to him daily as he ministered to everyone else.  They were going to minister once again.  And once again, they were going to give up certain privileges in society in order to do it, because touching the dead also made one "unclean".

"And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre..." (Mark records that they were wondering, as maybe you were, how they were going to roll that stone away.) "...and two angels standing by it in shining garments.  And they entered into the sepulchre, and not finding the body of the Lord Jesus, they were much perplexed thereabout, and were affrighted, and bowed down their faces to the earth.  But behold, the angels said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?  He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.  And they remembered his words..." (Luke 23:2-8 JST in Bible Appendix, p. 807). 

The words the angels were reminding them of are recorded by all three synoptic writers as having been given only to the disciples.  (See Matt. 17:22-23; Mark 9:31-32; and Luke 9:43-44.)  We often assume by "disciples" the writers mean "apostles."  But these women were being told by angels to remember what Jesus spoke to them.  The women were among the elect disciples who heard the prophecy.  Luke records that all of the disciples present at the time "understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying" (Luke 9:45).  So these women were the first to remember the prophecy, and the first to begin to comprehend what it really meant, although their understanding was still incomplete.

(By the way, the Joseph Smith Translation states in all four gospels that two angels were present, that they were sitting or standing outside the tomb, and that the women met them before they entered the empty tomb.  The Joseph Smith Translation also reorders several passages, creating a better match in chronology.  For more on the Joseph Smith Translation, see a previous post.)

THE WITNESS OF WOMEN

The women "returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest...And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not" (Luke 24:9,11; also Mark 16:11).  (See also Matt. 28:8; Mark 16:7-8; John 20:2.)  Why not?  Because women were not valid witnesses.

But Peter and John were either just curious or they had learned at least a little bit about the Savior's trust in women after spending three years with him.  They felt a little hope, and were energized by that hope enough to run.  "So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.  Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.  Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed" (John 20:3-8).  (See also Luke 24:12, which only mentions Peter.  I am assuming Luke interviewed Peter, and John, writing later, filled in his own role.  Some Bible commentators feel that other disciples might have accompanied them.)

Mark and John record that Mary Magdalene returned to the sepulchre, and only John (writing a more in-depth text to Church members) tells of Mary's encounter with the Lord there (Mark 16:9; John 20:11-17).  The two angels were still there and asked why she was weeping.  She didn't yet fully understand the true fulfillment of the prophecy, probably thinking it just meant that Jesus was risen in heaven in some ethereal way, and she still sought the body he left behind.  Turning, she saw a man who asked why she was weeping.  He did not identify himself, but when he spoke her name, the truth dawned upon her, and she recognized her Lord and Savior.  She was commanded not to touch him, since he had not yet ascended to his Father.

It must have been after this, then, that the women again, "went to tell his disciples, [and] behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail.  And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him" (Matt. 28:9).  (Knowing the difference in the passage of time between our world and heaven's this might have not been a very long time later.)

In all four accounts, the women witnessed what they had seen to the disciples, in three of the accounts being expressly commanded to witness, and to deliver the message that the Lord would meet the disciples in Galilee (Matt.28:7, 10; Mark 16:7; Luke 24:9; John 20:2, 17).  But the disciples did not believe.

Mark and Luke report of the appearance of the resurrected Lord to two disciples walking the road to Emmaus.  (Who knows?  One may have been a woman, the wife of the other.  Brother Holzapfel thinks it likely, since they lodged together.)  He did not introduce himself.  He waited for them to recognize him.  And when did they finally recognize him?  "And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.  And their eyes were opened, and they knew him" (Luke 24:30-31; see also Mark 16:12).  It was when he blessed the sacrament for them, an experience they had shared with him during his mortal life that recognition dawned upon them.

When they reported to the other disciples, the report was again met with unbelief (Mark 16:13).

We use the phrase "doubting Thomas" because Thomas did not believe the report of the other apostles when they shared with him next marvelous appearance of the risen Lord, when he met with them in the closed room where they dined (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36-48; John 20:24-28), but it really is unfair.  We could just as well say "doubting apostle" because every one of the apostles doubted the witness the women were commanded to bear.  Mark states that Jesus "upbraided them [all] with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them who had seen him after he was risen" (Mark 16:14).  Thomas was just the last, and received the valuable counsel, "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed" (John 20:29).

MEETING THE LORD AGAIN

It is touching to read John's report of what is possibly the sixth time the resurrected Christ appeared among his disciples.  Seven of the apostles were at the Sea of Galilee.  Peter decided to go fishing and the others offered to accompany him.  They were out, of course, in the dark hours of the morning, as fisherman would be, but as the light began to come, a man came and stood upon the shore.  He called to them, asking if they had caught anything.  They said they had not.  Then he said, just as he had done when first he had met them and adjured them to follow him (see Luke 5), "Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.  They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.  Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord" (John 21:6).

Jesus revealed himself to them by choosing this sweet reminiscence of the fateful day at the beginning of his ministry when he made them fishers of men.  Perhaps he wanted them to have the joy of a dawning on their minds, as the dawn of the day was coming, that he was back.  Perhaps he wanted to remind them that their important call to be fishers of men did not end with his death; that they were to cast in their nets and fish for souls until the Church burgeoned out so much that it was a strain to preside over it.  In any interpretation, it was a poignant occurrence--something that one friend might share with another affectionately at a reunion.

Jesus also revealed himself to the disciples he met on the road to Emmaus by a shared memory, the blessing of the sacrament.  And he revealed himself to Mary Magdalene by calling her name, as he had done many times in the past.

Is this the sort of thing that might happen to us when we meet Christ again?  Will we have had personal experiences with him that he could recall to us?  Will we recognize his voice because of the times he spoke to us "before"?  Will we have memories of traversing our life's journey with Christ, so that what he says and what he does to greet us will ring with a joyous familiarity as recognition dawns upon us?

In order to recognize Christ there, we need to learn to know him here.  For "this is life eternal" (John 17:3).  We need to study his word, listen to his guiding Spirit, and recognize the workings of the Lord in our daily lives, for the last verse of the gospel of John is still happening all over the world and in every individual's life who will see it today:  "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written." (John 21:25)

THE CHANGE CHRIST WROUGHT AMONG THE SAINTS

The letter to the Galatians written by Paul shows the immense change that Christ made in the culture within the Church by his treatment of women during his life, and by his design for them to be witnesses of his resurrection.  Paul was a Jewish Pharisee, and a Roman (see Bible Dictionary and Acts 23:27):  not exactly a set-up for tolerance of others.  But he received the gospel whole-heartedly upon his conversion, and by the time he wrote to the Galatians, he had completely reversed the thrice-daily prayer of the Jewish man.  Rather than praying in "holier-than-thou" gratitude for not being Gentile, not being a slave and not being a woman, he counseled the church, "for ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one [and equals] in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:26-28).

We may be no better than the early disciples in some of our personal doubts, incomplete understandings of the gospel, and prejudices towards others.  We must be open, as was Paul, to allowing the Savior to change our perspectives, and even sometimes to completely turn them upside-down, that we may be found in the resurrection at the top with Christ where all people are equal and all doctrines and purposes are clear.