The Sermon on the Mount

One of my favorite places to visit in Israel was the Sea of Galilee. This video (though not filmed in Israel) brought back good memories. Can't wait to go back.

Christlike Attributes: Respect for Women

For this Mother's Day, I decided to blog about Jesus' interactions with women. I chose this because of several experiences I have had over the last few weeks in regards to how men have treated women. Sadly, most of these stories have not been of how men should treat women, but how they should not. Most of these men have either mistreated, belittled, abused, or even tried to kill these women. Even sadder is that the culprit of many of these cases was the husband, the supposed protector of the home. The result has often been that the woman, who is not at fault, blames herself for the actions of the man. Low self esteem on the part of the woman almost always follows.

The intriguing thing about Jesus is that he always tried to break the mold. He was raised in a world where men ruled, women submitted to husbands, and wives were property. It is ironic that much of the basis for this supposed claim of authority by men came from the Laws of God, the Law that Jesus himself, as Jehovah, gave to Moses and the other prophets. If anyone could interpret the Law on how men ought to treat women, it was Jesus, the very Lawgiver. I will share only three examples of how Jesus showed his perfect attributes, by how he respected and honored women.

The first example can be found in John 4 when Jesus talks with the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus and his disciples had been traveling through Samaria and they stop at Jacob's well. Jesus' disciples leave him as they enter the city, and as he sits at the well, a Samaritan woman comes to draw water. The interesting thing is that she comes at noon, or the sixth hour (4:6). Women would normally draw water in the cool of the morning when they could meet with the other women of the village and share a brief moment. Why would this woman come at noon? It is hard to say, but it is very possible that she came at noon because she was fearful of seeing other women. She was fearful of their gossip. She may have been hurt in the past and now found that coming at the heat of the day meant she could come alone.

However, on this day she finds Jesus there. She seems reluctant to even talk with him. To her surprise he asks for a drink of water. In a way you might expect a man to ask this (after all he had nothing to draw with), except that Jesus is a Jew, and she is a Samaritan. The rift between these two people was so deep that both groups completely avoided any form of contact (4:9). Even to walk on the land of Samaria was considered by some defilement. If this was not enough, we also find out that this women was living with another man (not married) and had had five previous husbands (4:17-18). Perhaps this was only one of the many reasons she chose to avoid the women of the village by coming to the well at noon.

So how did Jesus interact with this woman? How did he treat a fornicator, a five time divorcee, an outcast, and a Samaritan? Quite simply, he asked her to provide service to him (4:7), and then he taught her of her true worth. He taught her that she, as a Samaritan, could worship God (4:21-23). He taught her, by never once condemning her, that it was who she could become, not what she had done, that marked her value as a daughter of God. Then, he offered the greatest gift he could give, he proclaimed his divinity (4:25-26). Very few in the scriptures were privileged to have the Savior personally testify of his own divinity, yet this woman, who most would call a vile sinner, was given this priceless gift.

The second example is of how Jesus treated his mother, Mary. The scriptures record several interactions of Jesus and his mother, but I will only share one. Though short in narrative, the words that Jesus gave on the cross about his mother are a powerful example of how men should treat women. In his agony on the cross, Jesus looked to his mother, to comfort and support her. John 19:26-27 reads, "When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home." When he himself was suffering and dying, he looked to his mother, and made sure that someone would care for her emotionally, spiritually, and physically. There is no better example than this.

The third, and most powerful story is in John 8:3-11. This is the story of Jesus and the adulterous woman. Jesus and his disciples were in Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles. During the previous days, the scribes and Pharisees had been trying to entrap Jesus by his words or actions, but had failed miserably in each case. Now they had a foolproof way (or so they thought) to catch him, they would use the Law of Moses against him. A woman caught in the act of adultery was taken to Jesus and was cast before him. With a triumphant voice they asked how Jesus would respond. "Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?" (8:4-5).The ironic thing is that Jesus is the one who gave the Law to Moses. Does he not know the Law? Yet, as if he was rewriting the Law with his own finger, he stoops down and writes in the dirt on the pavement of the temple court. The silence only encourages them, he must have been caught, he is speechless! Yet, majesticlly Jesus replies, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." (8:6-7). Each man, condemded by his own acts, leaves the temple court. Jesus once again writes in the dirt and as he lifts his head he asks, "Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." (8:8-11). The powerful message of this story is this, Jesus was the one who gave the Law of Moses. He knew what was required for those who broke the Law, and yet, he chose not to condemn her. Even more, he who was without sin, was Jesus himself! The only one who could cast a stone (by his very own decree) chose not to.  How powerful!

This Mother's Day, may we be as the Savior, and honor and respect women the way He did. In our interactions with women, let us be slow to judge, let us teach with love and by example, and let us forgive unceasingly. How grateful I am for a father who taught me to honor and cherish my mother. How grateful I am for a mother who literally was willing to sacrifice her life for me, for a mother who has always been a friend, and for a mother who has always loved me unceasingly. Happy Mother's Day!

A Triclinium Passover 2012

For several years I have held Passover dinners with friends and family. I have mostly held a more traditional Jewish feast, with very few changes to the Hagadah text (the traditional Jewish text used at all Passover feasts). However, this year I wanted to try something different. I wanted to create a setting that may have been closer to what Jesus and his disciples would have had. To do this I decided to have everyone sit on the floor around tricliniums, while eating with their hands and reclining on their sides (if they chose to). I must say it was probably one of the more memorable Passovers I have had. Below are a few of the pictures from the evening, including the table setup and the actual dinner.

To create the short triclinium tables, I set each 8' table on two cucumber boxes (I got the boxes from my local grocery store).

I bought baskets, wood bowels, and striped sheets from Goodwill. The baskets were used to serve food, and the sheets acted as a kind of mat for people to sit on during the meal.

The table runners for the tricliniums were cut from long sheets (also bought at Goodwill) into pieces about 14" wide and 8-10' long. I did use plates (as it can be very hard to always be passing the main dishes around), but only had utensils available on a side table.

As part of the feast, I had two from each table (who were sitting on the far end, nearest the kitchen) serve during the feast. They poured the grape juice, and also were responsible for assisting with washing the hands (one having a basin of water, the other a towel) as part of the Passover. These were our "servants" for the night.

Each table could seat 16 comfortably, however, we could have squeezed in a few more.

The head (or host) of the table was on the opposite side of where the servants sat (see my video about the setting of a triclinium). The head (second from the end) was served first, and acted as the leader during the Passover feast. He or she was also served the wine (grape juice) first, and had their hands washed first by the servants.

Some of the food included entire fish (which was very popular), chicken strips, meatballs, shish kabobs, lentils, and many finger foods (including traditional Roman dipping sauces, grapes, plumbs, dates, olives, nuts, hard boiled eggs, etc). The unleavened bread and sliced apples, cucumbers, and peaches were used as a sort of utensil for the meal.

Overall, I think it was a very unique experience. I hope to have many more Triclinium Passovers in the future. I will also try to share more details on how to host your own Triclinium Passover. L'chaim! (meaning "to life" in Hebrew).

Titulus Crucis: The King of the Jews

In preparation for Holy Week, a couple weeks back I made a titulus. I had wanted to make one for about a year, and was originally going to make it with letters carved into wood (as is often seen in pictures of the crucifixion). However, after some research I found that the titulus that was placed above the cross, was more likely a board covered with gypsum with red or black lettering. Below are the sources I found and the pictures showing how I made the final product:

“It was customary at Roman executions, at least in the case of remarkable prisoners, for the charge under which the prisoner was suffering to be written briefly on a tablet covered with gypsum. This was usually hung round the neck of the criminal, or carried before him to the place of execution. It was afterwards hung from, or fixed to, the top of the cross.” (A Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels; page 732)

“A plaque (tabula; Greek pinax) was prepared indicating the charge against the prisoner, i.e., the crime or causa poenae of which he had been convicted. ... Blinzer (Trial 254) imagines the writing would have been in red or black lettering on the white gypsum surface of a board. From our chief references to a titulus outside the NT, it appears that such an inscription was frequent but not necessary, that there was considerable latitude in the wording (which could contain a note of sarcasm), and that it could be displayed in several ways.” (The Death of the Messiah, Raymond E. Brown; page 963)

To make the titulus, I first cut a pine board to about 9x18. 

I then took a chisel and tried to make the wood look like it was hand hewn. 

Then came the fun part, aging the board. To do this, I went out, covered it with dirt, and spread the slightly wet dirt all over the board until it was colored and old looking. To get the aged look you do have to rub the dirt in quite a bit.

Next, I used Sheetrock Patching Compound (the dry kind) and created a mixture of "gypsum" for the board. I then added a very small handful of dry dirt to help add specks, and then spread a thin layer of the mixture over the surface of the board.

Next, I created the lettering in Photoshop and printed the image on a sheet of paper. I then placed the paper on the slightly wet gypsum, and with a mechanical pencil, scored the letters into the gypsum. I then painted the letters using red paint. The translation is as follows:

Hebrew: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews
Latin: REX (King) IVDAEORVM (of the Jews)
Greek: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ (King) ΤΩΝ ΙΟΥΔΑΙΩΝ (of the Jews)

Finally, I hung the board with old looking flax twine, making sure to have enough space so that the titulus could be hung over the neck.

How ironic that the title that Jesus carried on that Friday morning, could not be more true. Truly, he was the King of Jews, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. Good Friday to everyone!

Purim: Queen Esther

Tonight is the start of what Jews around the world call Purim. This festival commemorates the day the Jewish people were freed from extermination at the hands of the Persian Empire under King Ahasuerus in the fourth century BCE. The royal vizier of the King, named Haman, requested that all the Jews in the kingdom be killed on a certain day, in part because of his deep hatred for the Jew Mordecai (the adopted father of the orphan Esther). Mordecai would not prostrate before Haman when he would pass by and thus inspired Haman to create the verdict. In the end Esther (now a queen) boldly went before the King and requested that her people be spared. This she did at the risk of losing her own life. Because of her intervention, the day that was set apart for the killing of the Jews instead became the day that Haman was executed by hanging and the Jews were spared.

Jews celebrate today by retelling the story of Esther as found in the book of Esther in the Old Testament. To help with the story, the children dress up and act out the various parts of the story. Each time the name of Haman is mentioned, the children will all yell and make as much noise as they possibly can, to drown out his name. Purim is kind of like Halloween for Jews (except more religious in nature, instead of satanic) and is often one of the holidays Jewish children enjoy the most.

Esther is a wonderful example to all people, especially women. She did something that was not only very dangerous, but something that saved the lives of thousands of Jews. It is because of her story that much of the Jewish race was preserved. Who knows, she may have saved one of the ancestors of the apostles, or the shepherds, or John the Baptist, or even Jesus Christ. It is courage like this that makes a difference for good in the lives of the entire world.

The King James Bible

A video about the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. How grateful I am to have the Bible today in my own language; what a wonderful blessing it is for us.

What Did He Die For?

This is a video I made dedicated to the men and women who gave the ultimate price for freedom. Each of these men and women showed the greatest love they could, by laying down their life for their friends. The music is by Twila Paris and sung by Hilary Weeks.

Mighty Prayer: Praise

I came across the following quote from a website by Joe Vigliano entitled "Prayers of Praise" that gave an interesting definition that I really liked about praise as part of our prayers:

"Many people consider prayers of praise to be the “highest” form of prayer. Why? A prayer of praise is all about God. We ask for nothing, we seek nothing, we focus on nothing but God himself.

"Compare that to when we thank God for things we received. When we confess things we did. When we wait upon the Lord so that we may sense His presence or hear from Him. And when we ask for something, it’s either for us or we’re acting on behalf of someone else.

"But when we praise, it’s God and only God. At its best, it’s completely self-forgetting, the very idea of what it means to be a Christian."

Perhaps one of the best example's of the Savior giving praise in His own prayer is that of the Lord's prayer:

"Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen."

I find this aspect of prayer to be one of the hardest to apply, yet it seems that if we truly want to become more in-tune with God through prayer, we must learn this important aspect of mighty prayer.

Christlike Attributes: Experience

As I have thought about the last week of the Savior's life over the past few month, I have thought of the powerful message that the Lord "chose to experience pains and afflictions in order to understand us." [1] "He could have known how to succor us simply by revelation, but He chose to learn by His own personal experience." [2]

The fact that Jesus chose to know suffering is remarkably powerful.

My mind turns back to my own experience when I sat in the Church of All Nations, located in the Garden of Gethsemane in Jerusalem. The Church is a beautiful chapel designed to feel like a garden. Trees are painted on some of the walls, and stars cover the ceiling. The room is dark and purposely so. As I sat all on my own, my mind turned to the many things that I had done, and the pain that I had caused the Savior. Yet, just as my mind filled with this pain, it was then replaced with a peace and power beyond description.

I can't help but think that one of the reasons His sacrifice has the power it does, is because he chose to experience. As I thought of this, it made me realize that this attribute of choice brought Him great power. Through His experience, He gained insight into our lives. Insight that not only made Him understand us, but most importantly for me, made Him more compassionate and forgiving. I wonder if part of the refinement that made Him who is, was the fact that He experienced so much pain. Had He never suffered I wonder if He would be the compassionate Savior I know Him as. And perhaps even more is because He chose to suffer, He is all the more compassionate.

This Christlike attribute is quite simple. Because Jesus chose to experience our pains, He likewise chooses to be understanding. He never uses His suffering to make Himself greater than us (though He is), He only uses His suffering to make us greater.

Why is this important to us? Because as we learn to suffer with those around us, we too have two choices to choose from. We can choose to make our similar suffering something that makes us better than others (pride), or we can choose to allow this suffering to help us make someone greater than they are. We can, like the Master, choose to see the greatness of trials and the refining power they have in making others great. We can see the true potential of a soul behind the sorrow and sadness.

How grateful I am that the Savior chose to experience my pain, and that He chose to then use this understanding to better understand me, and to lift by burdens, that my burden might be light. And most important, that He then choose to use His greater suffering, to make me greater!

[1] "The Atonement Covers" All Pain by Kent F. Richards.

[2] "Adversity" by Henry B. Eyring.

Christlike Attributes: Sacrifice

As I have reflected over the atonement, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ this last Holy Week, I have thought a lot about the great love the Savior has for each of us. Nothing can compare to His love. As I thought of why I feel the way I do, I choose to comment on the Christlike attribute of sacrifice.

As I have mentioned in previous posts, each of the Christlike attributes are based on the concept of power; power that is given both to those who possess the attribute, and power to those who are the recipient of the attribute. Perhaps no other attribute can better explain this concept than the infinite sacrifice of the Lord and Savior.

The question I like to ask myself is why. Why are we commanded to gain the attribute of sacrifice? Why does the Savior have this as an attribute? Why is sacrifice so important?

I think the answer is quite simple to be honest. Why? Because from sacrifice comes the power of unity, love, devotion, and true oneness. When someone sacrifices something for another, they not only draw themselves to the other person, but they draw the other person to themselves. Think of someone who has done something great for you. Someone who has changed your life because what they have given you. Why are you drawn to this person? Why do you respect them? It is because of their selfless sacrifice on your behalf. It is because they showed that they would be willing to give up something important to them (whatever it may be) to help and bless your life.

One of the greatest examples I can think of is that of mothers. They literally are willing to give their life for the life of their children, and this enormous sacrifice draws them to us, and us to them. How grateful I am to my own mother, who not only was willing to give her very life for me, if needed, but also continues to give her life to me through her time, efforts, prayers, devotion, care, and love. Because of these great sacrifices, I am drawn to her, and her to me.

Just before suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, and His ultimate death on the cross, the Savior offered the great intercessory prayer, found in John 17. This prayer could be said to be the so called last will and testament of the Lord. His last desires before His tortures death. His last discourse offered in a form of a prayer. In this prayer, one of the major themes is that of unity or oneness.

“I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.” (John 17:9-11, 20-22).

One of the greatest desires of the Savior is that we become one with Him and the Father. The reason He performed His great sacrifice is that this could come to pass. As He gave His all, His very life, we are drawn to Him because of this great love He had. Think of the lack of power the life of Jesus Christ would have if He only healed the sick and taught of His Gospel. He would then stand with many other great prophets who had done similarly, but it was because of His giving His life for our sakes, that He is different than the prophets. He is different because He was willing to suffer for us that we might be redeemed from our sins if we but have faith in Him. He is different because He was not only willing to give His life, but to take it up again and bring about the resurrection of all. No other person in history can claim this level of sacrifice. No one.

Why is the atonement of Christ so powerful, because, as the word suggests in English, the atonement brings about our at-one-ment with the Father. Through His sacrifice we are drawn to Him, and He to us.

As we celebrate this Mother’s Day this year, may we reflect on the sacrifices our mothers have made for us, and for the unity that that sacrifice brings. May we likewise reflect on the Lord’s great sacrifice of all, that we might be at one with Him.

I know the Savior loves us. I know He cares for us beyond all our comprehension. I know that it is only through His grace that we are saved. I know that He lives. I know this because of the peace and love I have felt on countless occasions; a love which surpasses all things. A love that has brought me closer to my own at-one-ment with the Holy Messiah.

Holy Week: He Has Risen!

Today I attended the Vespers and Benediction services at the Cathedral of the Madeleine. The music was beautiful; it was a wonderful way to celebrate this glorious day of resurrection. One of the songs they sang, which words were particularly powerful, was about the Savior as the great Passover Lamb:

The Lamb’s high banquet called to share,
Arrayed in garments white and fair,
The Red Sea past, we fain would sing
To Jesus our triumphant King.

Protected in the Paschal night
From the destroying angel’s might,
In triumph went the ransomed free
From Pharaoh’s cruel tyranny.

Now Christ our Passover is slain,
The Lamb of God without a stain;
His flesh, the true unleavened Bread,
Is freely offered in our stead.

O all sufficient Sacrifice,
Beneath Thee hell defeated lies;
Thy captive people are set free,
And crowns of life restored by Thee.

All praise be Thine, O risen Lord,
From death to endless life restored;
All praise to God the Father be
And Holy Ghost eternally. Amen.

Truly, as the children of Israel were freed from Pharaoh's hand by the blood of the lamb, we likewise are freed from Satan's grasp by the blood of the Lamb of God. Glory be to the Father, who gave His only begotten Son, that we might live eternally with Him again. How grateful I am for this day of remembrance; this day of resurrection; this day of joy; this day of rejoicing. The sadness and darkness of Black Saturday is past, Resurrection Sunday has come!

Holy Week: Passover

In preparation for Passover (which actually started today), with the help of a friend, we created this video about the Last Supper and the Passover. Passover is one of my most favorite holidays of the entire year and I invite you to celebrate it this week during Holy Week.

Passover is the oldest festival still celebrated today, and has rich symbolism all throughout the feast. It celebrates the redemption of Israel from Egypt 3500 years ago by the death of all the first born of Egypt. Israel had been captive for 300 years and then on this night they were freed. It is not by chance that the Savior chose to use this holiday to usher is his own redemption. The symbolism is beautiful, and each time I celebrate the feast, my appreciation for the Savior grows.

Again, I invite you to host your own Passover during this Holy Week (Thursday is the traditional day of the Last Supper, if you would like to celebrate it then). To help we have created a Hagaddah (kind of like the manual to a Passover dinner) and several other links that might help. You can find them on the Passover Tab of my blog.

I know that the Savior did come into the world to redeem his people, and that on that celebratory night so long ago, he brought true redemption and power. The Lamb of God truly was slain that we might be freed!

His Sacred Name

A beautiful video about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.