Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 1:14-15

Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 1:14-15
"Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."

I pondered on how the Jews must have felt to hear these words. They had been practicing the law of Moses for almost 1,500 years. The time for it to be fulfilled had arrived. How different this must have all felt to them. Some would not accept Jesus as the promised Messiah, nor his gospel. Yet those that did had to have extreme faith and belief. I know it's hard for me to comprehend how they must have felt. It is fitting that the gospel begins with the baptism of Jesus Christ. The only perfect man to walk the earth, that did not need repentance, yet to not be baptized would not have fulfilled all righteousness. He set the ultimate example.

Day 4082

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 28:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 28:6
"He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay."

These are some of the most wonderful words spoken by an angel "he is risen". He is risen as he said he would. The Lord keeps all his promises.

Day 4081

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 27:3-4

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 27:3-4
"Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that."

What did Judas think was going to happen when he turned Jesus over to the chief priests and elders? This is the first time I thought of Judas and his motivation. It wasn't until Judas saw Jesus was condemned that he appears to wake to his awful situation of having betrayed Him. Did he think he would get money for turning Jesus over and Jesus was going to provide a miracle to get out of the situation? Did the chief priests and elders tell Judas something that made him think turning Jesus over wouldn't mean his death? Judas had asked them to lead him away safely.

"And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely." (Mark 14:44)

It's all very curious and something the scriptures do not say. Only Judas could tell that story and he hanged himself before speaking to the other apostles. The chief priests and elders would never tell anyone if they had deceived Judas on their intent.

Thinking about it, it makes more sense why at the last super when Jesus said "that one of you shall betray me", that Judas asked "Master, is it I?" That makes me think Judas didn't think he was betraying Christ. So I ask myself what can we learn from Judas?

As I reflected on this I think Judas' words are the best to ask ourselves, "is it I?" We should never be so prideful to not think we could fall. We must ever be watchful. Don't associate with those that would destroy your faith in Christ. We should counsel with the Lord if the path does not see clear. When Jesus said one would betray him, how different the story would have been if Judas had recognize himself. There were warnings to be careful and opportunities for Judas to change direction.

Day 4080

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 26:72-75

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 26:72-75
"And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.
And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.
Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly."

I added this note to my scriptures. It helps me to understand how important it was that Peter as of yet had not received the Holy Ghost before he denied Christ.

"If the Disciples had been endowed with the “gift of the Holy Ghost,” or “with power from on high,” at this time, their course would have been altogether different from this as the sequel abundantly proved. If Peter, who was the chief Apostle, had received the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the power and testimony thereof prior to the terrible night on which he cursed and swore and denied his Lord, (Matt. 26:69-75) the result would have been very different with him, for then he would have sinned against “light and knowledge,” and “against the Holy Ghost,” for which there is no forgiveness. The fact, therefore, that he was forgiven, after bitter tears of repentance, is an evidence that he was without the witness of the Holy Ghost, never having received it. The other disciples or apostles of Christ were precisely in the same condition, and it was not until the evening of the day on which Jesus came out of the grave, that he bestowed upon them this inestimable gift. John gives a careful description of this important event which concludes as follows: “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them,” (John 20:21-23)
(Joseph F. Smith, "Man a Mortal and An Immortal Being, Etc.", JD 23:169)

Day 4079