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BACKGROUND
Who wrote John?
The author of the Gospel of John never referred to himself by name, although he is referred to as the “disciple whom Jesus loved” Christian writers as early as the second century agreed that the author was John, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. Latter-day revelation confirms that this disciple “whom Jesus loved” was John and that the Savior empowered John to continue ministering on the earth until the Second Coming.
About 92 percent of the material in the Gospel of John is not found in the other Gospel accounts. This is probably because John’s intended audience—Church members who already had a basic understanding of Jesus Christ—was decidedly different from Matthew’s, Mark’s, and Luke’s intended audiences
Though a large amount of Matthew’s material is also found in Mark and Luke, about 42 percent of Matthew’s Gospel is unique. A major theme in Matthew is that Jesus Christ came to establish His kingdom
Luke 1
How were Zacharias and Elisabeth described in the scriptures? (v.6-9)
BG: Zacharias and Elisabeth prayed to have a child. Zacharias and Elisabeth had probably prayed for many years that they would be blessed with a child. However, Heavenly Father did not grant them this blessing until the time was right to accomplish his purposes.
*** How can we remain faithful and avoid discouragement when our sincere prayers are not immediately answered in the way we desire?
BG: Gabriel was the angel who came and visited both Zacharias and Mary
v.13 - How many people have been visited by angels and promised a child and told what the name should be?
v.19 - How would you feel to get the assignment of sharing the news to Zacharias and Mary about their children?
v.12, 29 - Zacharias and Mary were both troubled at the first sight of the angel Gabriel
BG: Gabriel prophecies about John's mission
What did Gabriel prophesy about John’s mission?
A. John would “turn [many people] to the Lord their God” (Luke 1:16).
B. He would “turn the hearts of the fathers to the children” (Luke 1:17).
C. He would “turn … the disobedient to the wisdom of the just” (Luke 1:17).
D. He would “make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17).
v.15 - Shall drink neither wine nor strong drink
Note: John the Baptist was “the outstanding bearer of the Aaronic Priesthood in all history - Bible Dictionary
BG: Gabriel came to Mary to tell her about her son
*** As a Mother, share about receiving news that your child would be the Son of God
Why did the Savior need to be the son of a mortal mother and an immortal Father?
Quote 1 - Speaking of Jesus Christ, Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught: “God was his Father, from which Immortal Personage … he inherited the power of immortality, which is the power to live forever; or, having chosen to die, it is the power to rise again in immortality, thereafter to live forever without again seeing corruption. Mary was his mother, from which mortal woman … he inherited the power of mortality, which is the power to die. It was because of this … intermixture of the divine and the mortal in one person, that our Lord was able to work out the infinite and eternal atonement. Because God was his Father and Mary was his mother, he had power to live or to die, as he chose, and having laid down his life, he had power to take it again, and then, in a way incomprehensible to us, to pass on the effects of that resurrection to all men so that all shall rise from the tomb”
v.27 - What's the significance of always calling Mary a virgin?
The birth of the Savior gets overlooked when thinking about miraculous things that have happened.
Quote 2 - "You may heard people try to rationalize and justify their own weaknesses by saying "Of course Jesus could live a perfect life because his Father was God. Look at the advantages he had that I don't have." Those who rationalize like this seem to forget that wherever there is a greater blessing, there is a greater trial. The greatest Spirit in the premortal world could be tested only by submitting to greater trial.
What can we learn about Mary from her conversations with the angel and with Elisabeth?
A. Mary had found favor with God (Luke 1:28, 30).
B. Mary was worthy to have the Lord with her (Luke 1:28).
C. Mary was humble and submissive to the will of the Lord (Luke 1:38, 48).
D. Mary rejoiced in her Savior (Luke 1:47).
v.68 - Interesting that it's past tense
Early Christian writers of the second century A.D. suggested that John wrote this book in Ephesus, which was in Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Proposed dates for the writing of the Gospel of John range from A.D. 60 through A.D. 100. It is likely that John wrote his Gospel after he authored the book of Revelation.
Matthew 1
How was Joseph’s love for Mary tested?
Matthew 1:19 - Footnote - he desired to release or divorce her secretly.
According to the law, Joseph could have accused Mary of violating the marriage covenant and brought her to a public trial. Such a trial could have resulted in a death sentence. Rather than do this, he decided to release her privately from the marriage contract.
How do the examples of Elisabeth, Zacharias, John the Baptist, Mary, and Joseph help you see the Savior’s greatness and increase your faith in him?
How can we help others increase their faith in Jesus Christ?
Marriage
Marriage
between a young man and a young woman was arranged and agreed to by the
heads of the respective families—usually the fathers. Once a
prospective wife had been identified by the groom’s father or family
head, negotiations were begun. They focused on, but were not limited
to, the size of the “bride price,” a kind of dowry in reverse, paid by
the groom’s father or family head to the bride’s family. Once the
marriage was agreed upon, the wedding consisted of two stages: betrothal
(also called espousal; see Matthew 1:18) and a wedding ceremony.
Betrothal
was legally and religiously more significant than the subsequent
marriage ceremony, after which the couple began living together.
Betrothal was regarded as the final part of a solemn covenant. It
carried the force of a covenant to be honored between God-fearing
parties (see Genesis 2:24; Ezekiel 16:8; Ephesians 5:21–33). Though betrothed couples were legally regarded as husband and wife (see Deuteronomy 22:23–24), between the time of betrothal and the wedding ceremony, a strict code of chastity was enforced (see Matthew 1:18, 25). At the time of betrothal the young man took legal possession of the young woman, but not physical possession.
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