Day 14 Learn of Christ: Jesus Christ, Davidic Descent of

Jesus Christ fulfilled every prophecy concerning Him. If the people had taken time to investigate, they would find their awaited Messiah. This shows how important it is to be a scripture scholar...study the works of God and this will help you find the Messiah.

Day 13 Learn of Christ: Jesus Christ, Crucifixion of

 

What a horrible price of torture to pay in order to redeem us. Totally innocent, Christ was condemned for envy and hatred to such a cruel death. And He knew it, but He kept eternal perspective and offered Himself a ransom willingly to save me, to save you. Do I "remember what was done that the sinner might be won"? (Hymns, 185). Remembering Him more and what He sacrificed makes me complain less, fills my heart with gratitude, and humbles me to repentance. It is wise to remember.

Day 12 Learn of Christ: Jesus Christ, Creator

 

The Lord Created All Things

How powerful to know that all things were created by Jesus Christ. To remember that every bird, every bud, every bug came by His hand...the heart, the lungs, the brain...the stars, moon, and wind. It just instantly humbles, you, and you then desire to bow before Him and worship Him. You gain confidence that He can teach you, so you learn to seek after Him. You want to obey Him. No wonder CREATION is a pillar of the Plan of Salvation.

Day 11: Learn of Christ: Jesus Christ, condescension of

The First Christmas

How far Christ descended! Can you call it FALL when he deliberately chose to leave His high station to redeem us? Maybe if Christ had succumbed to Satan's incessant temptations, you could say He fell. However, since He did not succumb, I believe we must ever remember that Christ condescended--He did not fall. That word choice becomes significant to our salvation. He could not have redeemed us fallen ones had He fallen himself.

Day 10 Learn of Christ: Jesus Christ, Birth of

 

The Nativity

The story behind the birth of Jesus Christ fulfilled the prophecies regarding his birth to a virgin mother, signs in the heavens, and his birthplace of Bethlehem. However, because he dwelt in Nazareth, he became known as Jesus of Nazareth. Thus, it was easy for people to reject him and his ministry--he wasn't called Jesus of Bethlehem, afterall. 

Likewise, did anyone ask when his birthday was? If they had, they might find in the records or even recall the huge star that lit up the night on that date. At the very least, they might recall the slaughter of children in Bethlehem by Herod's jealous raid around that period of time--another prophesied event.

Again, because Mary was married to Joseph the Carpenter, it was an easy assumption that Joseph was the father of Jesus.  Because people made these assumptions, they easily dismissed the Savior's testimony that he was their long-awaited Messiah asking, "Is this not the carpenter's son?" (Matthew 13:55).

Perhaps it would be wise of each of us to not so readily dismiss things that don't fit within our paradigm of how both God and the world work. The simple exercise of exploring claims, asking questions, researching, and discerning may unravel astounding truths to us that we would have otherwise missed without the effort. In the case for Jesus Christ, not exploring His origins and witness led to eternal consequences for his critics. Let's not follow their short-sightededness.

Day 8 Learn of Christ: Jesus Christ, Baptism of

John the Baptist baptizes Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ, though sinless, obeyed His Father and set the example for us by getting baptized. He invites all men to follow His example as baptism opens the gate into His eternal kingdom. How merciful is the gift of temple work--specifically the baptism for the dead. This sacred work allows proxies to stand in for those who have died and to receive the ordinance of baptism in their behalf. This makes this commandment possible for every child of God who ever lived or will live upon the earth, if they will accept the proffered gift. Not only does God give commands, He provides an example and the way for those commandments to be fulfilled. Nothing is impossible with God.

Day 7 Learn of Christ: Jesus Christ, Authority of

 

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

The Jews asked, "By what authority doest thou these things?" (Mark 11:28). Jesus Christ's authority came from his Father before the earth was created. He had power to create, redeem, preach, heal, minister, etc. from His Priesthood, the order of The Son of God. Surely He is authorized in every action he takes...especially because He obeys every command from his Father, the author of all authority.

Day 5 Learn of Christ: Jesus Christ, Ascension and Descension of

Christ Appears to the Nephites

Magicians levitate and angels appear, but who ascends? Only one!

That one is Jesus Christ. In mortality, he demonstrated power over water (Matthew 14:25).  In His visit to the Nephites, we have record of His power over fire (Helaman 5:23, 3 Nephi 17). By His power, His servants moved mountains showcasing His power over earth (Moses 7:13). In His ascension and descension to earth (3 Nephi 10:18, 3 Nephi 11:8), He demonstrates His power over air.

Water, fire, earth, and air--the classical elements upon which ancient cultures built their philosophies, science, and medicines--are subdued by One.

Surely, this IS the Christ!

Day 4 Learn of Christ: Jesus Christ, Appearances, Postmortal

 

Mary Magdalene speaks with Christ after His Resurrection. 

In a court of law, how many witnesses does it take to corroborate a claim?  God's law states that "in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall all my words be established" (see Deuteronomy 19:15; 2 Cor 13:1). He often gives more witnesses than two or three, however. In the case for Jesus Christ,  there are thousands of witnesses that confirm that 1) He lives, 2) He has a physical body, and that 3) He visits and speaks with mankind.

1) He lives: The New Testament confirms that though crucified, pronounced dead by Pilate, and laid in a tomb, the resurrected Christ visited Mary, his 11 apostles, 2 men on the road to Emmaus, over 500 people at one time, Stephen, Saul, and Ananias. He visited and taught His closest associates for 40 days. The Book of Mormon testifies of His visit to over 2500 men, women, and children after His resurrection. In the Doctrine and Covenants and The Pearl of Great Price (two volumes of modern scripture), we have the account of His appearances and instruction to Joseph Smith, Jr., Sidney Rigdon, and Oliver Cowdery.  The Doctrine and Covenants further  confirms that in our modern era, Jesus Christ continues to visit and teach individuals who qualify themselves (see D&C 67:10). Many witnesses, including modern-day apostles continue to testify of the Living Christ and His continued visitations and teaching. 

2) Most of the witnesses listed above were invited to both see and feel the nailprints in Christ's hands and feet and the wound in his side. They testify of the reality of  His physical, resurrected body. Their testimonies corroborate each other's. As an added witness, Jesus Christ ate fish and honeycomb with his apostles to prove to them that He was not a spirit but that He had a physical body.

3) Paul and other prophets teach that God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:37). If Christ appeared to men and women in days of yesteryear, then will He not continue to visit His righteous servants today and in the future? I testify that He does and that He will continue to do so. But, you don't have to take my word for it. Here are His words: Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am (D&C 93:1).

To summarize my case for the reality of Jesus Christ, I use the words of Peter:  "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty"  (2 Peter 1:16).