Did Our Hearts Not Burn Within Us?

I love the story of the Savior walking with two of his disciples on the road to Emmaus.  They were obviously distraught over all that had happened in the days following the crucifixtion.  Luke tell us that as they talked and communed over those events, "Jesus himself drew near, and went with them" (Luke 24:15).  Much like the story in my previous post, he essentially asked them what they knew of him, Jesus.  They dutifully recited many of his accomplishments, ending with the wistful, "but we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel" (vs. 21).  He then expounded unto them all things pertaining to him from the beginning as written by Moses and all the holy prophets.  What a great Sunday School lesson that must have been!  They asked him to tarry with them that evening.  They sat to eat.  He took bread and brake it and blessed it "and their eyes were open, and they knew him" (vs. 31).  


How was it that these men, his disciples, could not recognize him as they walked with him?  What was it about breaking bread with the him that made the difference?  As in a previous post entitled, "The Bread of Life," when we partake of the Lord's supper as outlined by him we promise that we will always remember him.  In return he promises us that his spirit will be with us always.  By renewing our covenants with the Lord, we participate in his atonement for us.  I believe that it is in this process that we come to know the Lord.  It starts with repentance and continues through the sacrament.  When we feel his spirit with us, we feel him.  "Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he open ed to us the scriptures? (vs. 32)," asked his disciples after he left from their presence.  

"That They Might Know Thee"

As a young teenager, one of my Sunday school teachers told us a hypothetical story that had a profound impact on me.  He told of us of a righteous man who died and found himself in a room sitting in front of man who asked him just one question, "What do you know of Jesus Christ?"  He stated that he didn't know much but he could remember from occasionally going to church that he was God's son.  He knew that he died on the cross and was born of Mary.  The man politely thanked him and ask him to go through a door on the other side of the room.  The next man to appear in the room was asked the same question.  He, being a leader in his church, had studied the scriptures extensively.  He talked of Jesus being foreordained by the Father before the foundation of the earth, of him offering to fulfill the Father's will and come to the earth as our Savior.  He described how he was chosen over Lucifer, who would receive all the glory by forcing all men to follow his will.  He described how his birth was proclaimed through the ages by prophets and later angels of glory.  He was able to talk of his life, the miracles that he performed, the parables that he taught, the love he portrayed.  He talked of his betrayal, his crucifixion and then of his glorious resurrection.  He talked of Jesus returning to earth in a glorious resurrected body and appearing to apostles and prophets, both ancient and modern.  He spoke of the prophecies of his return to the earth in great glory at his second coming.  In short, he knew all about Jesus.  The man at the table looked him in the eye, tenderly thanked him and asked him to exit through one of the doors.  Lastly, a humble man who struggled in life came to meet the man.  He had lost his wife and raised his children as best he could.  He struggled to overcome certain habits.  He was not much for public speaking.  He couldn't explain all things the previous man had but the scriptures had been a source of strength and peace.  He had spent many hours on his knees pleading for forgiveness, asking for support.  As he entered the room he saw the man, and being overcome, sank to his knees crying, "My Lord, My God." This man knew Jesus.

My teacher asked us, "Will you recognize Jesus when you meet him?"  The question has burned in my heart and mind for years and for a long time the answer was, "I don't think I could."  I had a longing to feel a closeness to him, to really know him, not just know of him.  I pondered, prayed and searched the scriptures to know him.  Those methods were all good but insufficient.  Through certain experiences in my life that I am not quite ready to share in the forum of a blog, I now know that when I am in the presence of Jesus I will know him.  I will recognize the feeling of being in his presence because though I have not seen him with my physical eyes, I have felt his arms of love wrapped around me, my soul has been filled by his spirit, the scales of darkness over my understanding have been lifted as his spirit have taught me things that I never before knew.  In the weeks to come I hope to share my thoughts and experiences through scriptural verses that talk of knowing the Lord.  I can think of nothing more important, for as he prayed to his Father, "And this is life eternal that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent (John 17:3)."

Touching Lives

My thoughts this week have pondered the response to Osama Bin Laden's death.  I can remember seeing patients in the hospital that fateful morning nearly ten years ago and seeing the first pictures of the towers in flames.  As I drove to my office I thought of the suffering of those poor people who lost their lives.  Tears streamed down my face as I thought, "who could be so evil that they would consider this to be a just cause?"  Just this week, on NPR's story corp, I listened to the account of a woman who recounted spending the last 30 minutes of her husband's life on the phone with him.  There was no way out.  She longed to climb through the phone line to be with him.  As she heard the avalanche of the tower collapse around him and the deafening silence that followed, she weeped, holding the phone to her heart, repeating his name over and over.  She is just one of many thousands of people that were hurt by Bin Laden's actions.  For their sake, I am glad that justice was served.  That said, I find no cause for celebration, only for somber reflection.

Mr. Mark Wade, Teacher
Parkway South High School

There was another life that ended all too soon this week.  This individual also affected the lives of thousands of people but in a far different way.  My son's math teacher died suddenly of a heart attack on nearly the same day of Bin Laden's death.  Mr. Wade taught for thirty years.  He is beloved by his students and members of the golf team for which he was the coach.  My older daughter commented that he recently stopped her in the hall, calling her by name and asked about her upcoming college choices.  She has not had him as a teacher for three years.  He went beyond teaching just math concepts, he lived kindness.  Though Bin Laden's image graced the front page of the papers, I trust that Mr. Wade's influence will have made a more lasting impression on the lives of those he touched.  I choose to celebrate his life and the way in which he lived.  His goodness is a reflection of God's.  It is by following the example of the Savior in forgiving and cleaving unto goodness that we will find inner peace for our soul and world peace for us all.  From the words of the hymn:

In remembrance
Parkway South High School

Each life that touches ours for good

Reflects thine own great mercy, Lord;

Thou sendest blessing from above

Thru words and deeds of those who love.

What greater gift dost thou bestow,

What greater goodness can we know

Than Christlike friends, whose gentle ways

Strengthen our faith, enrich our days.

When such a friend from us departs,

We hold forever in our hearts

A sweet and hallowed memory,

Bringing us nearer, Lord, to thee.

Karen Lynn Davidson,  copyright 1985

Let No Man Put Asunder

I find it interesting that after God placed Adam in the garden of Eden, he immediately knew that our first father was in over his head and needed help.  It was never God's intention that his children go through life alone.  In the beginning as recorded in Genesis, "God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them" (Genesis 1:27).  We were sent to this earth in families, to form families.  "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh" (Genesis 2:24).  Of that union, sealed by God himself, Jesus admonished, "what therefore, God hath joined together, let no man put asunder" (Matthew 19:6).  God's power and authority binds not just on earth but also in heaven (see Matthew 16:19).  He doesn't intend for the union of a couple to be "until death do you part," but "for time and for all eternity."  I attended a ceremony this week where those precious words were uttered for a dear friend.  She now has the promise of spending eternity with her husband.  What a glorious future.  What a divine promise.

The Pure Love of Christ

"What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" (Luke 10:25).  Intended as a question to trap Jesus into a theological argument and debate, this question served as one of the most powerful teaching moments recorded in the bible.  Jesus answered simply, "What is written in the law?" (vs. 26).  The well read lawyer replied astutely, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself" (vs. 27).  Jesus concurred, replying, "this do, and thou shalt live" (vs. 28).  The lawyer was not ready to let this debate fizzle so quickly and prodded Jesus saying, "And who is my neighbor?" (vs. 29).  What follows is the parable of the good Samaritan.  It is so well known that a small child can recite it and know what it teaches.  There is symbolism inherit in the parable that can be understand on many levels (see The Good Samaritan: Forgotten Symbols).  What I would like to focus on is how the love required for eternal life is so much more than a feeling, it is a principle of action.

The lawyer knew what he needed to do, Jesus encouraged him by saying "this do."  The good Samaritan didn't just feel love for the beaten man on the road, he showed his love and compassion.  In ancient america, we read of a group of people who were led by a righteous king that taught them of Christ, many years before his coming.  They were so deeply touched by King Benjamin's teachings that they covenanted to be called by the name of Jesus and live accordingly.  The result of their actions was so profound that it is recorded that "there was no contention among all his people for the space of three years" (Mosiah 6:7).  Recently, my young son and I read that verse together and he commented, "wouldn't that be great if we had that in the United States?"  I answered, "Wouldn't that be great if we had that in our family?"  Later that night, in response to a sibling exchange I asked, "who here is trying to avoid contention?"  My son, remembering the verse, answered, "I am," and the issue instantly passed.  It struck me that the power of God's love through his word is so much more than making us feel good inside, it is the power to act and to change.  It is the force by which true conversion happens.

I have pondered in the past how it is that Jesus could have taken upon himself all of our sins and burdens in the atonement.  I don't know that I can say exactly how this happened but I feel strongly that the driving force that made it possible was God's love for each of us. It was by love that the Father sent his son unto the world for us (see John 3:16).  The Prophet Moroni defines this love as charity, calling it "the pure love of Christ" (Moroni 7:47).  He goes on to implore us to seek this divine gift, saying, "pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he has bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ" (vs. 48).  Profoundly he then explains that through this charity, "when He [Jesus] shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is" (vs. 48).  The gospel of Jesus Christ is powerful not because of who we are but who we can become through the grace of our Lord.  As hearers of the word we turn our hearts to God.  As doers of the word, we change our behavior and beginning the conversion process.  As we incorporate the love of Jesus into every fiber of our being and turn our souls over to him, He completes our transformation, making us joint heirs with him in the kingdom of our Father (see Romans 8:17). This is the life that he offers us, the life more abundant (see John 10:10).  This is the miracle of Easter.

The Holy One of Israel

I have always felt like there was more to the story of the Canaan woman who came to the Savior asking for him to heal her daughter.  At first he wouldn't even answer her.  She apparently was rather persistent because after awhile, his disciples begged him to send her away, "for she crieth after us" (Matthew 15:23).  His response was a rather cool, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (vs. 24).  Imploringly she answered, "Lord, help me" (vs. 25).  His next reply is the one that I've always had a problem with.  He flatly states, "It is not meat to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs" (vs. 26).  I am pretty sure that comparing a woman to a dog was about as disrespectful then as it is now.  To her credit, she is not offended but humbly answers, "Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table" (vs. 27).  Touched by her reply, He answers, "Oh, woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt.  And her daughter was made whole from that very hour" (vs. 28).  Why did Jesus answer the way that he did?  Was he not sent to all the world, not just the house of Israel? Specifically I am thinking of John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whoso believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."

Let me share with you some of the insights that came to me as I continued to read in Matthew, chapter 15.  The very next story is of Jesus preaching to a great multitude of people.  The men alone numbered 4,000 souls.  Due to the geography it is safe to assume that most of them were not of the house of Israel but were Gentiles.  There is no mention of them being called dogs.  In fact after three days of preaching, he turned to his disciples and said, "I have compassion on the multitude...I will not send them away fasting lest they faint in the way" (Matthew 15:32).  He then, much as he did with a previous group of 5,000 Israelites, had them sit down while he thanked God for the seven loaves of bread, blessed them, broke them and fed all that were there.  Again, the crumbs were gathered up and were enough to fill seven baskets.  I paused to think on the number of baskets remaining.  In the previous setting of Israelites there were twelve baskets extra.  I could see those baskets symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles who are called as special witnesses of Jesus Christ.  What about seven?  I then thought of the quorum of the seventy.  In Luke, chapter 10 it discusses the formation of this group whom he sent out two by two to preach his word.  In modern revelations we are instructed that there are to be up to seven quorums or groups of seventy, who are "to be traveling ministers, unto the Gentiles first and also unto the Jews" (Doctrine & Covenants 107: 96-97).

At this point, my mind was starting to turn things over.  Going back to the original verses in Matthew I saw that after Jesus had healed those of the 4,000, they "glorified the God of Israel" (Matthew 15:31).  Likewise, the Gentile woman's fortunes changed after she recognized Israel as her master.  Jesus indeed was sent to all the world, but he was not sent to save us in our sins but from our sins.  (see Helaman 5:10).  We must first witness that he is the Christ, the anointed one of Israel.  When we are baptized into his church we receive his covenant or testament that He has made to Israel dating back to Father Abraham and even Adam.  (see Doctrine & Covenants 84:33-35).  As stated in my earlier blog, the miracle of the loaves foreshadows the miracle of partaking of the ordinance of the sacrament, which he declared is the "new testament" (Matthew 26:28).

Going back to the Gentile woman, he could have healed her daughter, but by teaching her that salvation comes through the house of Israel, he showed her the path by which true healing occurs. He is "the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by [him]" (John 14:6).  Indeed, He is the Holy One of Israel (2 Nephi 9:41).

Give An Answer

While listening to a sports talk radio show early this morning, the two hosts were discussing the issue of steroids (again).  I didn't pay much mind to them, being tired and on my way to the gym until the point was given that most professional athletes would use performing enhancing drugs if it meant being able to reach that level or not, even knowing of the harm that they could cause.  He went on to assert that this action is wrong and is cheating but who could blame them?  After all, he surmised, we would do the same thing if put in that situation.  Basically, it is all right to cheat if everyone else does too.  The reasoning disturbed me on several levels.  In my own profession, I may not make as much per year as an NFL football player but it is in a well respected profession and I am grateful to be a member of it.  Through my educational years and even now there are times where I could have "cheated" or "gamed the system."  In fact, many have.  In no way does that make it right.  I think that there is a time when we must stand up and say, "enough is enough."  It is not "OK" to cheat.  I thought of Peter's words in the New Testament, "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15). I will not lower my standards because someone else has.  I think there are many more people out there that feel the same way I do.  I am proud of my children who come home from school and report on all the cheating they see and yet will not do so themselves.  If we have no integrity, we have nothing indeed.  My hope is in the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I know that it is in how we live that truly reflects what we believe.  If we walk in his paths, his light will be directed to our feet.  As Paul told the Romans, "All things work together for good to them that love God" (Romans 8:28).