Love and Respect for Righteousness

1.         Read Matthew 11:1–19 and Luke 7:18–35. 

What did the two disciples of John the Baptist ask Jesus Christ?

The two disciples ask Jesus Christ: “…Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?”

The Savior told them to go back to John and tell what they saw and heard. After reading these accounts, explain three things you would have told John if you had been with those two men.

Three things that I would have told John are:

#1

 I would tell John that Jesus is helping the blind receive their sight and the deaf to hear.  This can be taken two ways for Jesus Christ helped people to physically see and figuratively.  He was opening eyes, ears, minds and hearts.

#2

 I would Tell John that Christ is Cleansing the Leaper.

I feel that John would understand that when you reach out to the son of God in faith that this would heal you in your weakness.  He would have Joy to hear that people are humble enough to seek the Lord for help in any infirmity.

#3 

I would tell John that the poor were having the gospel preached unto them

What is a poor person?  They are people who have been brought low. They are prepared to receive the word of Christ.   (See:  Alma 32 from the Book of Mormon).

2.         Read the institute student manual commentary for Matthew 11:2–3, “Did John Doubt That Jesus Was the Messiah?” (pg. 66). Explain why John wanted his disciples to go to Jesus Christ.

John did not doubt the Messiah but some of Johns followers did. John was always telling his followers that he was not the Christ and that he was preparing the way for Jesus. The reason John sent some of his disciples was not because he himself need persuading but to persuade his disciples that Jesus was the Christ

3.         Read the institute student manual commentary for Matthew 11:11, “No Greater Prophet than John the Baptist” (pg. 66). What did the Savior say about John the Baptist in Matthew 11:11 and Luke 7:28? Provide three reasons given by Joseph Smith why John the Baptist is considered among the greatest prophets.

The Savior held John the Baptist in the highest respect and loved John yet he still loves everyone:

In Mathew 11:11 it states:

11 Verily I say unto you, among them that are born of ^awomen there hath not risen a greater than ^bJohn the Baptist: ^cnot withstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Luke supports this very statement.  Out of the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

Three reasons Joseph smith gave why John is among the greatest prophets was primarily:

“First. He was entrusted with a divine mission of preparing the way before the face of the Lord. Whoever had such a trust committed to him before or since? No man.

“Secondly. He was entrusted with the important mission, and it was required at his hands, to baptize the Son of Man. Whoever had the honor of doing that? Whoever had so great a privilege and glory?

“Thirdly. John, at that time, was the only legal administrator in the affairs of the kingdom there was then on the earth, and holding the keys of power. The Jews had to obey his instructions or be damned, by their own law; and Christ Himself fulfilled all righteousness in becoming obedient to the law which he had given to Moses on the mount, and thereby magnified it and made it honorable, instead of destroying it. The son of Zacharias wrested the keys, the kingdom, the power, the glory from the Jews, by the holy anointing and decree of heaven, and these three reasons constitute him the greatest prophet born of a woman.”

4.         What does John 3:30 suggest about John the Baptist and his attitude toward the Savior? Briefly describe how we could apply a similar attitude in our own lives.

In John 3:30 it suggests that John humbly loves Christ and sees him as the savior.  It shows that John desires Christ to be successful in his mission.

In order to grasp the true feelings and attitude start in John 3:27

 27 John answered and said, A man can ^areceive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

 28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.

 29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

 31 He that cometh from ^aabove is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

We must understand that without Christ we are nothing.  He deserves our greatest respect and love.  We can show this in our life but keeping the commandments and living as he did.  Serving our fellow brothers and sisters and directing the lost back to the straight and narrow