NT Come Follow Me 2

NT Come Follow Me Lesson 2

Introduction: We Are Responsible for Our Own Learning

“Be It unto Me according to Thy Word”

Miracles happen: Elisabeth was to bear a son, even in her old age, who would be the prophet who prepared the way of the Lord. Mary was to be the mother of the Son of God, even though she was a young woman.

Yamel and Lluvia can testify that miracles happen. There young child Yamel Yusef is their own miracle child.

What miracles have happened in your own life that remind you of the goodness of God?

Tom and Whitney chose to be baptized again.

Hearts are softened. My brother Jon has been in contact and visited with my Dad again. He helped to patch and repair the crack in the foundation of his house.

Luke 1:37 “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

I can choose to respond like Mary did, and I should. We need to bend our will to the Lord’s will.

Luke 1:38 And Mary said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.”

Personal Study: Who were Matthew and Luke?

Matthew had been a tax collector or a publican. He wrote the Gospel according to St Matthew mainly for the Jews. He emphasized Old Testament Prophets about the Messiah that were fulfilled through Jesus Christ’s life and ministry. Matthew 10:3

Publicans were detested by the Jews and excommunicated.

Luke was a Gentile physician who traveled with Paul. He wrote the Gospel according to St Luke to the Gentiles. He testified that Jesus Christ is the Savior of both the Jews and the Gentiles. He recorded eye witnessed events of Jesus life, and he shared many stories and examples with women involved.

Gospels 

HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/harmony/introduction?lang=eng

Matthew 

Gift of God. Known before his conversion as Levi.

His chief object is to show that Jesus is the Messiah of whom the prophets spoke. He also emphasizes that Jesus is the King and Judge of men.

Luke

Luke wrote the book named after him as well as the Acts of the Apostles.

Acts 16:10 He traveled with Paul. He was born of gentile parents and practiced medicine.

2 Tim. 4:11 Luke was with Paul during his second Roman imprisonment.

The Acts was a continuation of the Gospel and deals mainly with the growth of the gentile churches.

JST Luke 1:1 attributes to Luke a high calling as a “messenger of Jesus Christ” in footnote a.

Personal Study: Jesus Christ was born of a mortal mother and an immortal Father.

As you read Matthew 1 and Luke 1 consider how your faith in the Savior is strengthened by the testimony of these two apostles. Why is it important to know that Jesus was the Son of God and also the son of Mary?

President Russell M. Nelson explained that the Atonement of Jesus Christ “required a personal sacrifice by an immortal being not subject to death. Yet He must die and take up His own body again. The Savior was the only one who could accomplish this. From His mother He inherited power to die. From His Father He obtained power over death” (“Constancy amid Change,” Ensign, Nov. 1993, 34).

Personal Study: The faithful willingly submit to God’s will.

God has a plan for each one of us. Sometimes that plan comes as a surprise, and it isn’t what we ourselves had planned, and/or it doesn’t come in the timing we expected it.

We can learn from Mary’s example (as well as Joseph’s, Zachariah’s, and Elisabeth’s).

Luke 22:42 How do the examples of Elisabeth, Zachariah, Mary and Joseph correspond to what we read from the Savior in this verse?

Gabriel Man of God. The name of an angel sent to Daniel (Dan. 8:16; 9:21); to Zacharias (Luke 1:11–19); and to Mary (Luke 1:26–38). He is identified by latter-day revelation as Noah (HC 3:386).

Personal Study: God’s blessings come in His own time.

The Lord has not forgotten you. He did not forget Zachariah and Elizabeth, or John. He did not forget Yamel and Lluvia, or Yamelito.

After faithfully waiting, Elisabeth and Zacharias were blessed with a son.

As Elder Jeffrey R. Holland promised: “While we work and wait together for the answers to some of our prayers, I offer you my apostolic promise that they are heard and they are answered, though perhaps not at the time or in the way we wanted. But they are always answered at the time and in the way an omniscient and eternally compassionate parent should answer them” (“Waiting on the Lord,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 115–16).

We may find ourselves waiting for blessings from the Lord? What should we do while we wait?

Personal Study: Mary testified of Jesus Christ’s mission.

Mary’s words were prophetic in Luke 1:46–55, just as Hannah’s were in 1 Samuel 2:1–10
How do these compare to the Beatitudes? Matthew 5:3–12

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/matt/1?lang=eng

Matthew 1:18–25  How does Matthew describe the miracle of Jesus’s birth? (Jesus Christ was born of a mortal mother and an immortal Father.)

Vs 20-21, 23 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Matthew 1:18–25 What do you learn from Joseph’s example about accepting God’s will? (The faithful willingly submit to God’s will.)

Vs 18-21 Joseph didn't want any harm to come to Mary. Before Gabriel told Jospeh that Jesus would be the Son of God, he must have been disappointed, but he still acted out of love and concern for Mary.

Vs 22-23 This was all prophesied beforehand. The Jews knew that a virgin named Mary would be the mother of God's own son. That's why there were so many Mary's in that day.

Vs 24-25 Joseph had respect for what the angel told him in his dream. He did not hesitate to take Mary to wife, and he hearkened to the will of the Lord. He acted responsibly as a guardian to both Mary and Jesus and did not know Mary sexually until after Jesus was born; there was no question that Jesus was born of God.

Family Study: Family History and Genealogy: Matthew 1:1–17.

How does knowing about your family history bless your family? Do you know the stories of your ancestors?

vs 16 The mortal genealogy of Jesus is set forth. He is the One that was in line for both the throne of David the king. He will be the King of kings forever.

The linking of generations is important. Get to know your family.

Family Study: Fear Not: Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:11–13, 30.

What causes us to be afraid? How can the Lord take away our fears?

We are afraid of the unknown. We are afraid when we lack understanding or don’t know how to proceed.

Family Study: With God Nothing is Impossible: Luke 1:37.

God accomplished seemingly impossible things in Luke 1. What miracles have you seen in your own life?

Family Study: Magnify the Lord: Luke 1:46–55.

What great things has the Lord done for you? How can you magnify the Lord?

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/luke/1?lang=eng

Gabriel promises Zacharias that Elisabeth will bear a son, whom they will name John—He also tells Mary that she will be the mother of the Son of God—Mary visits Elisabeth and utters a psalm of praise—John the Baptist is born—Zacharias prophesies of John’s mission.

Luke 1:5–25, 57–80 What do you learn from Zachariah’s and Elisabeth’s experiences? How did they remain faithful? (God’s blessings come in His own time.)

Vs 5-6 Zacharias and Elisabeth were both righteous, kept the commandments and ordinances of God, and were blameless.

Vs 11-17 John's mission made known to Zacharias by the Angel Gabriel.

Luke 1:26–35 How does Luke describe the miracle of Jesus’s birth? (Jesus Christ was born of a mortal mother and an immortal Father.)

 Vs 26-33 Gabriel was also sent to Mary to let her know that she would be the mother of our Lord. He tells her of Jesus's mission.

34-35 Even though Mary had never slept with a mortal man; she would be the mother of the Son of God. The Holy Ghost would come upon her and she would be overshadowed by the power of the Highest; and she would conceive His Son.

Luke 1:26–38 Write messages from Mary and the angel and how they apply to you. (The faithful willingly submit to God’s will.)

28 “The Lord is with thee.”                          The Lord is aware of my situation and struggles.

34 “How shall this be?”                                 We can ask questions, so that we can understand God’s will.

Both Zachariah and Mary asked how these things could be. Vs 18, 34

Vs 36-38 The Angel Gabriel gives both Zachariah and Mary a sign by which they’ll know that the things that he tells them will be fulfilled (vs 19-20 and vs 36-38). Zachariah would be struck dumb, so that he’d trust in the message that was given. Mary was allowed to know that her Cousin Elisabeth was with child, and she would visit her and see for herself. Both of them would learn that with God nother is impossible.

Vs 39-40 Mary straightway believed Gabriel and went to visit Elisabeth.

Vs 41-45 Both Elisabeth and her son John within her room recognized that Mary was the mother of our Lord. The babe leaped in the womb; his mother testified that Mary was the mother of our Lord, and she offered reassurance to Mary for her faith and belief that she was chosen and would be the mother of Jesus Christ.

Luke 1:46–55 What have you learned about the Savior’s mission through Mary’s testimony? (Personal Study: Mary testified of Jesus Christ’s mission.)

Vs 46-55 Mary praised God for the blessing she received to be the mother of His Son, and then she testified of the mission of Jesus Christ and His gospel.

Vs 63-64 As soon as Zachariah let the villagers know that his son's name was John, he was given back the power of speech, to the amazement of all those that were there.

Vs 66-80 As soon as Zachariah was given back his voiced, he bore testimony of the mission of his son John and of the mission of our Lord Jesus Christ.