NT Lesson 23 Beardall Outline

Preparing For Crucifixion

1. Preparing the Disciples for His death.

·         Matthew 26:1-2: "And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, Ye know that after two days is the feast of the Passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified."

·         Following his teaching to his disciples on the Mount of Olives (see Matthew 24 & Matthew 25) Jesus announces his betrayal and crucifixion.

·         This is the last of many times that the Lord has prophesied of His atoning death.

2. Judas and the Jews plot His death.

·         READ MATTHEW 26:3-5, 14-16. A plot to kill Jesus.

·         Judas Iscariot:

·         As noted in v14, Judas went to the chief priests and volunteered his services as the betrayer.

·         Fulfilling the prophecy of the prophet Zechariah (Zech. 11:12), Judas agreed to do it for 30 pieces of silver - the legal price of a slave.

·         Why did Judas become a traitor?

·         Mark: "He turned away from him, and was offended because of his words" (JST Mark 14:31).

·         Luke: "Then entered Satan into Judas" (Luke 22:3).

·         Matthew: "What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you?" (Matthew 26:15).

·         John: "He was a thief" (John 12:6).

·         Bruce R. McConkie: "...Judas was an evil traitor because of personal wickedness, because he preferred to live after the manner of the world, because he 'loved Satan more than God.' He truly had become 'carnal, sensual, and devilish' by choice." (Mortal Messiah, 4:15)

·         Elder McConkie quotes F.W. Farrar: "The sudden crisis of temptation might seem frightful, but its issue was decided by the entire tenor of the traitor's previous life; the sudden blaze of lurid light was but the outcome of that which had long burnt and smoldered deep within his heart." (Mortal Messiah, 4:17-18)

3. Bruce R. McConkie: "This night the Son of Man, will lay down his head in sleep 'for the last time on earth.' On the Thursday morning he will awake 'never to sleep again'." (Mortal Messiah, 4:18)

 

The Paschal/Last Supper

1.       Peter and John make ready the Passover.

·         READ LUKE 22:7-13. Peter and John assigned to prepare the Passover supper.

·         Note: Only the Twelve were invited to this supper. None of the Lord's other disciples, the women that followed Him, or any of His earthly family. This was an important moment of preparation for those who would lead the kingdom after the Lord's death.

2.       WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PASSOVER CELEBRATION?

·         Moses time - the destroying angel passed by the homes of those that had smeared the blood of a lamb around the door, thus saving the first born of every family in Israel that heeded this instruction.

·         Atonement - it was a representation of the blood of the Lamb (Jesus Christ) being shed to save all mankind from physical and spiritual death.

·         WHY IS THIS PASSOVER SUPPER SO SIGNIFICANT?

·         It marks the last Passover before the true Lamb is slain for the world.

3.       Note Jesus concern for those around Him.

·         Howard W. Hunter: "To the very end of his mortal life Jesus was demonstrating the grandeur of his spirit and the magnitude of his strength. He was not, even at this late hour, selfishly engrossed in his own sorrows or contemplating the impending pain. He was anxiously attending to the present and future needs of his beloved followers. He knew their own safety, individually and as a church lay only in their unconditional love one for another. His entire energies seem to have been directed toward their needs, thus teaching by example what he was teaching by precept." (Ensign, May 1974, p19)

·         WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS TO HELP US DEAL WITH OUR PERSONAL CHALLENGES?

4.       Luke 22:14: "And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him."

 

Jesus Introduces the Ordinance Of The Sacrament

1.       Bruce R. McConkie: "No single account of the institution of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, standing alone, contains enough to let us know the reality and the glory and the wonder of what happened in that upper room as the Pachal supper died and the sacramental supper was born. Nor for that matter do all the biblical accounts taken together reveal the glorious mystery of it all." (Mortal Messiah, 4:57)

2.       READ LUKE 22:15-20. Jesus administers the sacrament to the Twelve.

3.       Important notes the scriptures teach regarding the sacrament (see Mortal Messiah, 4:59-60):

·         We eat and drink in remembrance of the ransom paid to deliver men from temporal and spiritual death.

·         It must be administered by legal administrators. It is not a prerogative men can assume without divine approval.

·         It is administered only to those who believe and have been baptized (except in the case of little children).

·         It is a perpetual, continuing, everlasting ordinance; the faithful always observe its rites and provisions.

·         Those who partake testify to the Father that they will always remember his Son.

·         They also repeatedly renew their covenant to take upon them the name of the Son, to be the Lord's own peculiar people, to set themselves apart from the world, to live as becometh saints, to hold his name in everlasting reverence.

·         The solemn promise is made to keep the commandments of God.

·         In consequence of all this the worthy partakers of this blessed and sanctified emblem receive the promise that they will always have the Lord's spirit to be with them.

·         If any partake unworthily, they thereby eat and drink damnation to their souls.

·         "...see that ye partake not of the sacrament of Christ unworthily" (Mormon 9:29).

·         "For whoso eateth and drinketh my flesh and blood unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to his soul; therefore if ye know that a man is unworthy to eat and drink of my flesh and blood ye shall forbid him" (3 Nephi 18:29).

·         WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO PARTAKE UNWORTHILY? AREN'T WE ALL SINNERS AND UNWORTHY?

·         Joseph Fielding Smith: "The sacrament meeting is the most sacred and the most important meeting required of all the members of the Church. If any of the members are not in good standing; if they have in their hearts any feeling of hatred, envy, or sin of any kind, they should not partake of these emblems. If there are any differences or feelings existing between brethren, these differences should be adjusted before the guilty parties partake; otherwise they will eat and drink unworthily and bring upon them the condemnation spoken of by Paul. We should all see that our hearts and hands are clean and pure." (Doctrines of Salvation, 2:343)

4.       WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR US TO TAKE THE SACRAMENT EACH WEEK?

·         Matthew Cowley: "The administration of the sacrament...is so essential that the words in the prayer of sanctification have been given by direct revelation from God.... In the blessing pronounced upon the sacred emblems of the Master's great sacrifice, the priest repeats God's own words....
"The Sabbath is the day appointed for sacrament service. In the religious worship of this day every member of the Church is expected to present himself before the sacrament board and renew his covenants with his Redeemer. For those who neglect this duty, there is no covenant renewal, and the Lord will not hold them blameless. The vitality of the Church lies in the obedience of its members to the divine plan, and this vitality comes from...meeting together often, and with contrite spirits, partaking of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper." (Matthew Cowley Speaks, pp191-192)

5.       WHY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT WE PREPARE OURSELVES SPIRITUALLY BEFORE PARTAKING OF THE SACRAMENT? HOW CAN WE DO THIS?

6.       WHEN WE PARTAKE OF THE SACRAMENT, WE COVENANT TO REMEMBER THE LORD ALWAYS. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

·         Jeffrey R. Holland: "Since that upper room experience on the eve of Gethsemane and Golgotha, children of the promise have been under covenant to remember Christ's sacrifice in this newer, higher, more holy and personal way.... If remember is the principal task before us, what might come to our memory when those plain and precious emblems are offered to us?" (Ensign, Nov. 1995, p67, 68)

·         In this same address, Elder Holland suggested some things that we should remember about the Savior (Ensign, Nov. 1995, pp68-69):

·         His love and strength in the Grand Council of Heaven.

·         That he is the Creator of heaven and earth.

·         All that he did in his premortal life as Jehovah.

·         The simple grandeur of his birth.

·         His teachings.

·         His miracles and healings.

·         That "all things which are good cometh of Christ" (Moroni 7:24).

·         The unkind treatment, rejection, and injustice he endured.

·         That he descended below all things in order to rise above them.

·         That he made his sacrifices and endured his sorrows for each of us.

·         HOW CAN WE BETTER REMEMBER HIM IN ALL THAT WE THINK, SAY, AND DO?

7.       WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN WE TAKE UPON US THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST IN THE SACRAMENT ORDINANCE?

8.       HOW HAS PARTAKING OF THE SACRAMENT AFFECTED YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD?

 

Love One Another

1.       Luke 22:24: "And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest."

·         READ LUKE 22:25-30. Jesus teaches who is the greatest.

·         The Lord must have been frustrated at this moment. I am sure He wanted these last hours to be a spiritual feast and was disappointed when these disciples began arguing over who was the greatest.

·         WHY DO YOU THINK THE TWELVE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS?

·         This question had arisen on a previous occasion.

·         Jesus' response to this question becomes one of the last messages to the Twelve before his death. The fact that he took time to answer it, tells us the importance of this teaching.

·         WHAT INDICATIONS ARE THERE THAT A SIMILAR CONCERN EXISTS AMONG SOME CHURCH MEMBERS TODAY?

·         WHAT DID THE LORD TEACH ABOUT THE NATURE OF GREATNESS?

·         V26: "...but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve."

·         Consider the inspired teaching of King Benjamin to the Nephites in the twilight of his life. He had been a king dedicated to his people and not concerned about power and its trappings. He had labored to provide for himself so that the people would not be burdened down with taxes. Why did he do this? "I have not done these things that I might boast, neither do I tell these things that thereby I might accuse you; but I tell you these things that ye may know that I can answer a clear conscience before God this day" (Mosiah 2:15). He then continues with this inspired wisdom, "I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God" (Mosiah 2:17). King Benjamin was one of the most beloved kings in the history of the world. How did he become a great man? By serving his people. But he didn't do it to achieve greatness, he did it to honor and service God. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is the ultimate example of this principle. He has served us since the beginning of time. He came to this earth as the most humble of men. He taught, he loved, he served. Ultimately, he went through the greatest pain and suffering known in the universe to redeem us from a fallen life. And truly, he is the greatest among us.

2.       READ JOHN 13:4-17. Washing of the feet.

·         As if to respond to the previous question, Jesus teaches the high principle of humility and service by example.

·         The Greek word for 'the towel' denotes the towel used in washing and at baths. Such girding was the common mark of a slave, by who the service of foot washing was ordinarily performed.

·         The Lord has reinstituted one of the holy ordinances of the everlasting gospel. Joseph Smith: "The house of the Lord must be prepared...and in it we must attend to the ordinance of washing of feet. It was never intended for any but official members. It is calculated to unite our hearts, that we may be one in feeling and sentiment, and that our faith may be strong, so that Satan cannot overthrow us, nor have any power over us here." (TPJS, p90)

·         Elder McConkie asks: "Is not this holy ordinance one of the many signs of the true church?" (Mortal Messiah, 4:41)

3.       READ JOHN 13:31-35. Jesus disciples commanded to love one another.

·         John 15:12: "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you."

·         John 15:17: "These things I command you, that ye love one another."

·         HOW DOES LOVE UNDERLIE THE PLAN OF SALVATION?

·         Ether 12:33-34: "And again, I remember that thou hast said that thou hast loved the world, even unto the laying down of thy life for the world, that thou mightest take it again to prepare a place for the children of men.
"And now I know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men is charity; wherefore, except men shall have charity they cannot inherit that place which thou hast prepared in the mansions of thy Father."

·         WHAT ARE SOME SPECIFIC THINGS WE CAN DO TO FOLLOW CHRIST'S EXAMPLE OF LOVE?

 

I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life

1.       In My Father's house are many mansions.

·         Jesus and the Twelve have concluded the Passover supper and the sacrament.

·         There only remains before Jesus begins his agony:

·         Some private sermons.

·         The Intercessory prayer.

·         Conversations with Peter about the testing to which they will be subjected.

·         READ JOHN 14:1-6. I am the way, the truth, and the life.

·         Jesus here endorses the Jewish concept that there are degrees of reward in eternity; that those who enter the kingdoms of glory shall have different abodes; that they will be rewarded as they merit.

·         In v6 Jesus states his role: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

·         The way = He charts the course and invites all men to follow him.

·         The truth = His word is truth and truth alone saves.

·         The life = Life exists because of him; he is the creator. And life continues after this life because of him.

·         He is our Advocate with the Father: without him we are nothing; because of him we can attain all things. There is no other way.

2.       John 14:15: "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

·         HOW DOES OUR OBEDIENCE DEMONSTRATE OUR LOVE FOR THE LORD?

3.       READ JOHN 14:15-26. Jesus teaches of the two comforters.

·         WHAT GREAT PROMISES DOES JESUS MAKE TO THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS?

·         They will be loved by the Father and the Son.

·         V23 - "We will come unto him, and make our abode with him."

·         V26 - The Father will send the Holy Ghost or Comforter.

·         He will teach you all things.

·         He will bring to your remembrance that which the Lord has taught.

·         WHO ARE THESE TWO COMFORTERS SPOKEN OF IN THESE VERSES?

·         The First Comforter = the Holy Ghost.

·         The Second Comforter = The Lord himself.

·         Joseph Smith: "After a person has faith in Christ, repents of his sins, and is baptized for the remission of his sins and receives the Holy Ghost (by the laying on of hands), which is the first Comforter, then let him continue to humble himself before God, and the Lord will soon say unto him, Son, thou shalt be exalted. When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds that the man is determined to serve Him at all hazards, then the man will find his calling and election made sure, then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter, which the Lord hath promised the Saints, as is recorded in the testimony of St. John....
"Now what is this other Comforter. It is no more no less than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself; and this is the sum and substance of the whole matter; that when any man obtains this last Comforter, he will have the personage of Jesus Christ to attend him, or appear unto him from time to time, and even He will manifest the Father unto him, and they will take up their abode with him, and the visions of the heavens will be opened unto him, and the Lord will teach him face to face, and he may have a perfect knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God; and this is the state and place the ancient Saints arrived at when they had such glorious visions--Isaiah, Ezekiel, John upon the Isle of Patmos, St. Paul in the tree heavens, and all the Saints who held communion with the general assembly and Church of the Firstborn." (TPJS, p150)

4.       READ JOHN 15:1-15. The true vine.

·         WHAT HAPPENS TO A LEAF OR BRANCH THAT IS CUT OFF FROM THE REST OF THE PLANT?

·         I have growing in my backyard a 100+ foot Douglas fir tree. Almost every fall we have strong windstorms here in western Washington. Almost without fail, I lose a branch or partial branch from the tree during these strong winds. Often I have so much foliage, it takes me a while to cut it up and place in my yard waste bin. When these branches lay around, they begin to wither and die. Even with all of our Northwest rain, they cannot survive once they have been detached from the tree. They may stay green for a few weeks or even months, but eventually they die and stop producing new growth. I have one branch that broke off, but got caught in the higher branches. It has withered and the needles turned red. Bit by bit they are falling from the branch to the ground, leaving a dry, barren branch hanging in the tree.

·         HOW IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE SAVIOR LIKE THE RELATIONSHIP OF A LEAF OR BRANCH TO THE MAIN BODY OF THE PLANT?

·         Like the branches of my fir tree, if we do not stay close to the Lord through prayer, study, keeping the commandments, and serving others, our testimonies will wither as surely as the branches that fall from my tree.

·         IN THE SAVIOR'S COMPARISON, WHAT DOES THE GARDENER DO TO THE BRANCHES OF THE VINE THAT DO NOT BEAR FRUIT?

·         "Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away" (v2).

·         Off to the yard waste bin.

·         WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BRANCHES THAT DO BEAR FRUIT?

·         "...and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit."

·         Purgeth means to purify.

·         Jesus taught, "He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing" (v5).

·         The branches that remain attached to the tree continue to flourish, remain green, provide beauty, and continue to grow and provide sub-branches.

·         AS YOU REMAIN FAITHFUL, HOW HAVE YOU FOUND THIS PRINCIPLE TO BE TRUE IN YOUR LIFE?

5.       God's enemies hate Christ and His work.

·         READ JOHN 15:18-27. The world and the Lord's chosen.

·         HOW DO YOU THINK THIS KNOWLEDGE AFFECTED THE DISCIPLES AT THIS TIME?

·         It another another bit of grimness on an ominous night.

·         HOW DO YOU SUPPOSE THIS KNOWLEDGE HELPED THEM PREPARE?

·         Having this information, I am sure they made every effort to stay close to this Spirit in order to be prepared and comforted when those difficult times came. c

·         V19: "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you."

·         ARE WE ALSO SUBJECT TO BEING HATED BY THE WORLD? HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

·         WHO ARE THE ENEMIES?

·         Bruce R. McConkie: "Everywhere--on every hand, among all sects, parties, and denominations; everywhere--among every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people; everywhere--from one end of the earth to the other--everywhere those who hate and persecute the saints do it because they reject Christ. No matter that they may give lip service to his holy name; no matter that they think he is their God; no matter that they follow what they falsely suppose is his plan of salvation--they in fact are rejecting the living Christ when they reject and persecute those whom he hath called and sent forth to preach his word. And all of this is because, regardless of what false assumptions they may make as to their own forms of worship, they know not the One who sent Christ into the world." (Mortal Messiah,4:90)

 

Summary

On this sacred night, many important instructions were given to the Twelve. They were introduced to the ordinance of the sacrament. They were taught the importance of humility and giving of themselves in service to others. They were instructed to love one another. The Master made it clear that he was the only true path to eternal salvation and that they must stay close to him, the true vine. They were taught about the two comforters and warned of the opposition of the world. Though these sacred teachings were given to the Twelve, they are important doctrines that are of vital significance to us in our day. We need to nourish our souls by partaking of the sacrament and staying plugged in to the true vine, then we will have a place in the mansions of the Father.

 

Next Week

Lesson 24: John 16-17

Additional Reading: John 14:16-31; 15:18-27; 3 Nephi 19:19-36; Doctrine and Covenants 132:21-24; Bible Dictionary, "Comforter," 648; "Holy Ghost," 704