Micah 5:2 “But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting”.
This verse has special meaning to me after President Nelson’s visit on Saturday. In his talk, he spoke of the rich symbols of the Holy Land and how they draw us to the Savior. One of these symbols was Bethlehem which means “house of bread”. The Bread of Life was called down to the house of bread to feed the hungry and satisfy the void in every person. No one could have seen it coming but God and His chosen prophets. All the way back in the book of Micah, we know that He will come and it will be to that little town which would become so significant.
“Joseph… thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21)
Although it was over time that Christ came to know his identity, Joseph knew from the start. He knew that his little baby boy would save all people from their sins. What an interesting parenting perspective! Knowing perfectly who your child will become really puts the trial of raising them into perspective. As Joseph saved baby Jesus from the wrath of Herod and protected him from the dangers of everyday life, he knew that the same baby would eventually save him and protect him on a much greater scale. To Joseph, Christ was His Redeemer and Protector.
John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.
During our Jordan trip, we had the opportunity to go to Mt. Nebo, where it is said that Moses died and was buried (we know from latter day revelation that he was translated and is a resurrected being). There was a large brass serpent replica there to remember the experience of the Israelites. That symbol means so much more to me given this scripture in John: Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up. I like the word “must”. It was necessary; if he had not been lifted up, we would not be able to look to Him and live. But because He lives, the way is clear and it is simple. We can look to him, we can repent, and we can live.
John 5:46 “For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.”
Really the mission of all the prophets of old was to pave the way for Christ’s coming: his birth, his life, his mission, his Atonement and Resurrection. It’s heartbreaking to see some religions put their faith in prophets like Moses and miss the mark: Jesus Christ. “For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.”
To Moses, Christ was the promised one who would come, of whom all the prophets testified.
John 6:14 “Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.”
When I read this verse, I was prompted to ask: “What is it going to take for ME to believe that this is the prophet that should come into the world?” Do I need a miracle? Do I need proof? Christ had been prophesied for ages, and I hope that if I had been there among his disciples, that I would have recognized him for his countenance, his spirit, his love, and his words. Not simply the amazing miracles he performed.
1 Nephi 11:
20 And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.
21 And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?
22 And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.
Nephi saw Jesus 600 years before his coming. Why? So that his people, his children and later, we could know of the love of God “which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men” To Nephi, Christ was the Son of God, who would walk, be baptized, minister, be persecuted, and die. What an incredible thing it would have been to see that vision unfold before my eyes for the first time, never having heard of Christ or known of the plan of salvation.
And my personal favorite prophecy of Christ:
Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised”
I love the powerful words of Christ as he quotes this prophecy from Isaiah in the synagogue at Nazareth and says: “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”
He has come to anoint ME, to heal ME, to preach deliverance to ME, and recover my sight when I am [spiritually] blind.
I love and am so grateful for my Savior.
I’m also so grateful for prophets, both ancient and modern.
Both have born and continue to bear a special witness of Jesus Christ. I felt the power of those testimonies just this weekend listening to President Nelson and Elder Holland. I am so grateful to be a part of Christ’s living Church and to know what I know. I hope that, like Nephi, and as counseled by Sister Nelson this weekend, that I can become better at beholding the things of God (specifically the words of the prophets) and not just see. When Nephi truly beheld, the love of God was revealed to him. It can be the same for me!
