Jesus confronts the Pharisees. (Matthew 21-23; Mark 11; Luke 19-20)

Matthew

21:19

Jesus didn't like any form of hypocrisy - in a man or in a tree. "And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away." Obviously, this story is about more than a fig tree.

This tree was showing leaves but not producing fruit. From my understanding, if there are leaves, there should be fruit. So, this tree had the appearance of being fruitful but wasn't.

It is a problem with this tree and also with humans. If we appear to be fruitful but aren't, that's bad. We should not have the appearance of righteousness without the actual righteousness. We cannot be righteous and bear no righteous fruit.

I'm afraid that I have a problem with this. I find myself doing the right things:

• Going to church.

• Fulfilling my calling.

• Attending the temple.

• Paying tithing.

• Reading scriptures

But, I may not be very good at actually serving others. I think that everything on that previous list is meant to help us fulfill the two great commandments. I think I fall short there. I know a lot about the gospel and scriptures - but do I put that into practice in my day to day life? I think, at times, I'm a leafy tree that isn't bearing fruit.

I don't want to end up withering away. I think that happens when we follow the gospel in a way that develops our knowledge and understanding but isn't pointed outward. Kinda like a tree that gathers nutrients from the ground for its growth and beautification. If we remain in that condition, we'll eventually wither away.

21:22

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." There is a similar scripture in 3 Nephi 18:20, "And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you." Another verse in the Book of Mormon, in Mormon 9:21, reads: "Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him." It seems like a pretty simple principle. It's one that I really struggle with.

Don't get me wrong. I ask for things all of the time in my prayers. I do have faith. I believe that God answers prayers. However, I believe that God's will is driving the universe and all aspects of my life and my prayers aren't going to change God's will ever. So, in a way, my prayers don't have a lot of faith.

But, the scriptures tell a different story. There are examples where God was convinced. In last week's study, Jesus taught a parable about an unjust judge that acted based on the nagging of a widow.

I do have knowledge that God will intervene when asked. I just need to build my testimony of that. I'm kind of embarrassed to say that it's an area that I have a lot of work on. It is what it is. I have a goal to exercise more faith in my prayers. I need to "doubt nothing." I have faith that my faith will be proven.

21:28-31

"But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you." This is such a great parable. Jesus was really good at this.

It illustrates the condition of the Pharisees so perfectly. Two points of comparison:

1. Consider the final trajectory of someone who makes a bad choice but then repents. That person, if they continue to repent, can be perfected in Christ.

2. Compare that trajectory to someone who outwardly commits but doesn't act on that commitment. Again, if they continue to do this, their trajectory of progress flatlines. Over time, that person is essentially damned.

Publicans and harlots may be making poor choices now for a myriad of reasons. There is hope that they will eventually repent and turn from the path that they are currently on. In the end, it is better for them than the Pharisees who live as unteachable hypocrites.

We should not judge the Pharisees and consider them much weaker than we are. We can be just like them if we aren't vigilant about our own righteousness.

21:43

"Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." This verse is speaking about the apostasy and the restoration in the nation of America. I'd be curious to learn what other Christian religions think about this verse... It clearly talks about an apostasy and restoration.

The kingdom that we are currently building will not be taken or destroyed. This one will endure until Christ will come. In Daniel, we read, "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." The Israel that we are gathering will never be destroyed or dispersed.

22:5

I've written about this parable before. It's interesting in verse 5. "But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise." What does it mean to make light of something? It means to treat something as not very serious.

I think many of us aren't taking the gospel very seriously. We are living good lives and are good people but may be focusing on the "management of the creature" rather than focusing on our spiritual progression.

What I mean is that we may focus 99% of our time and energy on the urgent things that come up in our day-to-day life. For example, in any given day, we may:

• Sleep eight hours.

• Prepare physically for the day for one hour.

• Work for nine hours.

• Drive for an hour.

• Watch TV for two hours.

• Scroll on the internet and social media for an hour.

• Relax for an hour.

• Interact with family members for an hour.

That's 24 hours! Granted, much of the time here is spent on things that are required. It is time required to earn a living in this world. It's not bad. It's just that we are focusing almost entirely on our "farms and merchandise." That kinda looks like we are making light of the gospel. We strive to squeeze in 30 minutes of scripture study and prayer each day.

Obviously, we can't all study the scriptures for eight hours each day. What I'm saying is that perhaps it could be a little more balanced. Maybe we could trim some of the unnecessary things that we do and replace it with studying and going to the temple.

Let's not feel overwhelmed and stressed and guilty. But, let's lean into living this gospel in a way that shows that we aren't just making light of it.

22:11-14

The king had called anyone whom his servants could find. Everyone was invited. No one was rejected. “And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.”

However, it was still up to the people to come. They had to choose to attend the marriage. However, they needed to conform precisely to the dress code to participate. They may have had their personal preferences about what they wanted to wear. They may have wanted to behave in a way that was satisfying to them but didn’t match the wedding protocol. They wanted to do join…but join their way.

Much of the world has this approach. They want to worship God in a way that is pleasing to themselves. They want to live a righteous life according to their truth. They may skip any established religion to discover spirituality in their own way - which way could be completely personal to them. Indeed, they are wearing exactly what they want to wear without any interest in conforming to the statutes that the king has set.

How does this apply to church members? It may be that we are choosing which aspects of the gospel we want to live as if it was a “spiritual buffet.” We like living the Word of Wisdom but don’t enjoy the law of tithing. We may appreciate the uplifting lessons we learn from our church leaders but reject many policies that they put forward.

This life is about learning how to submit to the will of God. We can not worship a supreme being while making our own preferences supreme. It’s hard to do. It’s easy to accept an invitation and show up. It’s hard to show up and live in God’s way. It’s why “many are called, but few are chosen.”

And what makes us chosen? Our choices. We choose to be chosen! It definitely isn’t some predestined sorting that happens based on the whims of a God who has favorites. It is 100% up to us to choose to be chosen.

22:15-22

The Pharisees wanted to discredit Jesus using questions designed so there was no good answers. The scriptures say that they were attempting to “entangle him with his talk.” They were asking “Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?” Both a yes or no answer would be a problem for Jesus:

• If yes: He would be demonstrating loyalty and submissiveness to Rome. This is a problem for Jews.

• If no: They could report him to the Romans for inciting rebellion.

It demonstrates a practiced skill for using words and questions. I’m certain that they did this a lot internally. I can picture much of the Pharisees’ team meetings being about tricky questions.

First of all, Jesus knew exactly what they were doing. “But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?” He knew that they weren’t seriously attempting to learn truth. Instead, they were just trying to trick him. I think it’s interesting that he references their hypocrisy rather than their guile. It was the bigger problem. Jesus never focused on a symptom of a greater disease.

Jesus didn’t take the bait. He answered in a way that they weren’t expecting. He gave a third answer. After asking them to bring him a penny, he asked “Whose is the image and superscription? They say unto him, Cæsar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.“ This was a way to answer correctly, not offend the Jews and not appear to be a insurrectionist.

Of course his answer is brilliant. They knew it too. “When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.”

22:23-33

The Pharisees needed a break. The Sadducees “which say that there is no resurrection” attempted to trick him. The important point to remember is that they DID NOT BELIEVE IN A RESURRECTION. Yet, these same people are asking him a question in a way that attempts to demonstrate that the resurrection is not reasonable.

They cite an example of a woman who has seven husbands die - one after the other. Who would she be married to “in the resurrection.”

First of all, do we think this is a question about marriage? No it isn’t. It is an example to demonstrate the supposed silliness of resurrection. Of course, Jesus’s answer focuses on the resurrection - not marriage.

He’s not going to get into the details of marriage assignments to people who don’t believe in the resurrection! It would be like someone not believing that planes can fly asking “What if the flight number changes seven times mid-flight?” You wouldn’t attempt to explain how flight numbers are assigned if they don’t even believe in airplanes!

Having said that, his answer appears confusing. “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.” They didn’t understand the scriptures or the priesthood. Those who are married civilly and never accept the opportunity to be sealed by proxy under priesthood authority will not be married in eternity.

The Sadducees said that the seven brothers were “with us.” So, we may assume that these are people who wouldn’t be submitting to priesthood authority in being sealed for time an all eternity. Jesus was focusing more on their ignorance and pride rather than teaching how marriage works.

Luke gives us a little more information in Luke 20: 34-36. "And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection."

Jesus makes the point further by taking it back to the resurrection. He said, “But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” He’s making the point, using their scriptures, that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob continue to live. God isn’t the God of dead men - they continue on.

To God, physical death is not as significant as it is to us. Our physical death, to us, is the end of everything we know. Because of the veil, our death seems like a singular event. To God, death is a simple change of state. We move from one phase of our development to another.

To God, we are all living beings from eternity to eternity.

22:41-46

The final time that the Pharisees questioned Jesus are found in these verses. “While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.” This is THE point that Jesus is making with the Pharisees. He’s making the point that he is the Son of God!

By saying that Christ is a simple descendant of David, they are skipping the point that he is the Son of God. If David referred to Jesus as his Lord, how could he be David’s son?

I think it’s interesting that they didn’t ask him any more questions after this. They realized that they weren’t going to be able to publicly debate Jesus to destroy his credibility. They weren’t going to be able to “entangle him in their words.” They would have to do something else more diabolical to remove him from their midst.

23:3, 5-7

“All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.” It appears that the Pharisees were teaching correct principles from the law of Moses. Jesus is encouraging the people to observe to do what they say.

However, Jesus was very clear about the distinction between what they say and what they do. They were saying the right things but not doing them. They “say and do not.”

How many of us are in that boat? How many say the right things at church and then do something different at home? Which matters more? What we actually do is evidence of who we are. It’s very easy to speak of a principle. It’s much harder to live according to that same principle.

“But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.” This is additional examples of how the Pharisees’ motivation is the respect of others. Their behavior has little to do with true worship.

They wanted the phylacteries (little boxes containing scriptures attached to their foreheads) to be enlarged. Why? To appear to be even more righteous. They enlarged the tassels that hung from their clothing. Why? As a sign of their superiority. Since they were so righteous, they couldn’t just walk around with normal tassels.

They love the uppermost rooms and chief seats. Who doesn’t? I can easily see myself being a Pharisee. I LOVE being in first class on a flight.I love the way I’m treated special. If I’m being honest, I love the exclusivity. It’s something that I have to fight. Maybe we all do.

23:13-14, 16

“But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.” They were the worst kind of people. They should have known better. They actively attempt to keep people down. They don’t partake of the blessings that should be there. Through their actions, they prevent even honest souls from progressing.

It’s one thing to ignorantly sin or sin out of weakness or to just have a underdeveloped character. It’s quite another to understand the gospel and to pull others down to maintain your worldly respect and power. That’s a whole other leaves of wickedness.

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.” Even more, they take advantage of the disadvantaged. Also, it’s one thing to say a quick prayer for the appearance. It’s another to maintain a conversation with your Heavenly Father just to look good to others. Each minute that ticks by burns this pride into your character. If I pray in front of a group for an hour with the sole purpose of appearing righteous, I’m setting this hypocrisy in concrete. It’s no wonder Jesus said that “ye shall receive the greater damnation.”

“Woe unto you, ye blind guides…” Wow. That sums it up. A blind man wouldn’t offer to be a guide. What makes it terrible is that the blind man doesn’t even believe that he is blind. In fact, he may believe that he has super-vision. He may believe that his vision is better than anyone else’s. This type of arrogant blindness is very damaging for others who may believe his claims to visual excellence.

23:23-24

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” This is another problem. These Pharisees were hyper focused on the details of their religious tradition. They are suffering from a very bad case of being “myopic” as President Nelson explained. They are losing the big picture and caring only for the unimportant strictures of their bloated religious practice. In a way, they care about strictures more than scriptures.

Do we do the same sometimes? Do we consider someone who attends church every week but isn’t kind to be an active member? If someone has a temple recommend but is self-centered - is he a disciple of Christ? We cannot “strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.”

23:25

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.” So much of what Jesus said is about hypocrisy. We really need to consider our condition. If our first thought is that we are doing awesome in our hypocrisy - it may be time to take another look.

We can have the appearance of righteousness. If we keep up that appearance long enough, we may even fool ourselves! If we’ve fooled ourselves, how can we possibly improve?? It’s very hard to repent of something that you aren’t even aware of!

“Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” If we are aware of our hypocrisy, there’s a chance that we will repent. Again, the danger if that “man” that we appear righteous to is ourselves!

23:30

“And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.” Don’t we all think this? We can’t imagine rejecting his teachings if we heard him firsthand. Don’t we all believe that, if we were in the crowd when Pilate presented Jesus, that we would have clamored for his release? Don’t we all believe that we would never betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver? Don’t we all think that we would never deny him three times? At least with me, I always imagine myself being a perfect disciple in each of these situations.

However…I may not have been. And, in a way, I reject Jesus myself when I choose to follow my own will rather than his. I am not a perfect disciple now and I wouldn’t have been then. The key is to understand that we can all improve and take the lessons of the past and ASSUME THAT WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS and attempt to apply the principles.

Mark

11:18

After Jesus cleared the temple, "the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine." They didn't fear him for any other reason but the people were "astonished" at what he was saying. The people were impressed. The people had been affected. They were becoming converted.

If you consider the affection the people had for him and his vocal disapproval of the people in power - that doesn't end well for the scribes and chief priests.

I think a small part of this is that some of them probably felt the weight of guilt. They may have, at some level, understood that they had abandoned the big picture. They might have felt uneasy with their position.

Imagine if they were fully living the gospel without guile or pride or ulterior motives. I don't think that they would feel so vulnerable. When we know our feet are on solid ground of the gospel, we don't feel threatened by any worldly pressure.

11:25-26

"And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." If we are holding a grudge while we are begging God for forgiveness, there's a problem. We're not fully understanding the principle.

"But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses." It's not like Heavenly Father holds a grudge. It's that we deny ourselves the progression we would experience otherwise.

Also, when we have hard feelings for another, we will not have an easy time feeling the promptings of the Spirit.

Luke

19:12-19

This is a very interesting parable from the Lord. "He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow." I love this parable because it illustrates the principle of righteousness vs. capacity.

Some of us are given many spiritual gifts. Some of us are born into situations where we have every spiritual (and otherwise) advantage. Some of us are born into good homes and some of us are not. Our brains all function at different levels. Some are more brilliant than others. Some can easily understand complex gospel principles and others struggle. Some find it easy to serve others selflessly and others don't. Some fine it easy to lead and others shy away from any position of authority and shun the limelight.

Whether we are given ten pounds or five pounds, the key is that we are multiplying what we have. We are doing something with what we've been given. We aren't a black hole of the spiritual gifts tha we've been given. Instead, we are like the sun where what's happening inside of us radiates outward - affecting everyone we come in contact with.

Right this minute, I'm on a plane sitting across the aisle from Elder Cook and a few seats away is Elder Bednar. We are on a ten hour flight and they've been working about non-stop. They have obvious spiritual gifts and are doing something with it. Their security told us that they have been on a 14 country tour. It's amazing the work they are doing.

I could sit in my seat and feel bad that I don't compare to what they are contributing to the world. I have nowhere near the spiritual capacity of these men. By the way, they are dressed in suits and I'm in sweats so the difference is obvious visually! :)

The point is that it doesn't matter. They were given 1000 pounds and I was given one. The point is that we all should do what we can with what we've been given. In all cases, if we have, we will be told, "Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities." We can't just hide what we've been given - we must do something with it!

19:41-42

"And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes." First of all, it means something that Jesus is weeping over the city of Jerusalem. He could have all kinds of feelings. He could feel frustration and even anger at their rebellion. He could feel betrayed. He could just feel disappointment at their continued wayward choices. Instead, he feels compassion. He longs for them to experience the blessings that could have been theirs. I think he's yearning for them to have the peace that they've been striving for for centuries.

The truth is, they didn't need to be liberated from Rome to have peace. The peace that comes from righteous living can not be stripped away by an occupying power. Whether we are in the best situation or the worst, we can feel peace either way.

Unfortunately for those in Jerusalem, they weren't going to feel that peace. That peace was hid from them. I've experienced some of this sadness as I've yearned for people that we've been teaching to accept the gospel. It's disheartening to see them turn away.

As we've been traveling in Israel and Germany, we've seen many people who are experiencing life without the blessing of the gospel. As we're walking through crowds, I often like to empathize with their situation. For those who don't believe in anything beyond the natural world, I can't help but believe that I would be pretty depressed. If I thought that the best that this life could offer is what the world could provide, it would seem pretty meaningless. I'm actually impressed that so many people are decent, good people who get up and try to choose the right every day without any spiritual guidance. I do feel sad at the missed opportunities that not knowing about the gospel includes.

John

12:9-11

"Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus." Of course Lazarus was a big deal. I'm sure the news of this had traveled far and wide! Most of Jesus's miracles happened up North. Bethany and Jerusalem are about 90 miles South of where Jesus lived (it's so great having been in Israel for three weeks). There wasn't the internet or social media so word of mouth was the only way word spread. Since Lazarus was healed in Bethany, word certainly made it to Jerusalem itself.

No wonder that the chief priests were plotting to put Lazarus to death. What was their excuse with him? With Jesus, they were attempting to claim that he should be executed for blasphemy - which, in a twisted way, would be according to the law of Moses. What would their reason possibly be to murder Lazarus? These people, who were so deep into the law would be okay with breaking one of the Ten Commandments. Hypocrites!

12:19

"The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him." This line gives us incite into the minds of the Pharisees. They are:

• Blaming each other. These people definitely seem like a blame-avoidant group. I'm sure they all pointed the finger at each other rather than any one of them accepting responsibility.

• Regretting that they didn't do more. I'm guessing, if they could go back, they would have followed Caiaphas and his more severe plan of executing Jesus early on.

• Lamenting that Jesus has so many followers. All of their feckless strategies had been completely impotent. Truly, they had broke themselves against the Savior.

12:24-25

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." Jesus is perhaps describing the power that can come from the death of a martyr. A martyr's notoriety can spread far and wide if he dies for a cause.

Also, he could be referencing the power that comes from losing our life for the blessing of others. If we keep to ourselves and focus on ourselves, we remain a single kernel of corn. If we, instead, focus outward, our acts can have infinite repercussions.

Jesus makes the point in verse 25. "He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal."

12:27

"Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour." Jesus knew the torture, pain and death he was about to suffer. It's humanizing to consider that Jesus's soul was troubled.

He knew that there was no escape. He was going to suffer for us. He couldn't be saved from this hour because this hour was the reason he was born in the flesh.

12:30

"Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes." The people had heard a voice that "thundered" coming from heaven. It's interesting that Jesus feels it necessary to explain that the actual sound of the voice was for the people's sakes - not Jesus's.

I think Jesus was clarifying how his Father normally communicated with him. Jesus didn't require an audible voice to receive messages from God. I think we can and should be the same way. It's a good thing too because I would wager that almost all of the people in this Church haven't heard God's voice. Yet, we communicated daily.

The relationship and communication that Jesus had with Heavenly Father is an example and an inspiration for us about how to build our own relationship with Him.

12:35-36

"Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light." There are two big things that he says.

1. Believe in the light. Light allows us to see. Seeing is believing. However, when it comes to faith, believing is seeing. It requires some belief to see reality as it is.

2. Walk while ye have the light. It isn't good enough to sit in a room and enjoy the light. Part of believing in the light is taking action. We must be moving forward. This life and eternity is about progression. So, when we see light, we must walk towards it. It isn't enough to simply abide in the light.

If we believe and take action, we will remain in the light and additional vistas will be illuminated for us. If we don't believe or don't walk, darkness inevitably comes. Again, darkness inevitably comes. No one is spared from the darkness that always covers us when we close our eyes to the light and remain still.

12:42-43

"Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." This is sad. These were men of authority - the Sanhedrin. They could have had an impact if they would have acted on their beliefs.

But how many men's convictions have been smothered by the opinions of other men? How many have seen the light but have been ashamed? How many love the respect of strangers more than they love God?

Again, we shouldn't read verse 43 and pity these men. We should see how this applies to ourselves. How many times do we hold our tongue when we could share the gospel? How many actions do we take in a week for the praise of men? Do we do more for that than the praise of God?

12:47

"And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world." Jesus's life was not about judging and condemning. He didn't go around pronouncing judgments on the public - although he could have.

His life was about saving us. All that he did was to save. He is our Savior. This mortal life is about being saved - not judged. I think many of us live with a weight of fear of the judgment. That fear should be replaced with joy in the love that God and Jesus have for us. They've done an infinite amount of work for our salvation. We should have faith in them and that they are very good at this. Their goodness makes up for our repetitive failures!