Insights Gained Throughout the Semester

Over the past couple of months, I have focused on looking for pictures or paintings that represent my thoughts or what I have read. In the New Testament we read about Jesus Christ from the very beginning of his birth, his miracles, and at the very end, his death and resurrection. This journey has been interesting in finding out the perspective of artists and how they depict or tell the story of Jesus. My favorite creations that i have found where the ones that involved cut glass and where displayed as windows. The amount of colors and brightness used in them makes the glass creation a beauty. I could stare at them for hours and really connect with what the artist portrays. Other pictures show Jesus angry, for example when he casts out the people out of his temple. I was able to feel the frustration he felt through the painting and learned how important and sacred the temple was. Overall, all the paintings I have shared i have really liked, but my favorite will always be the portrait of Jesus Christ that the church come out with.

This is by far my favorite picture of Jesus. i think the artist did a great job in Jesus' facial expression. The picture has an illusion in which we can see Jesus Christ showing us two emotions in his face. One, if the left side of his face is covered his right side demonstrates kindness, love and compassion. The second, if the right side is covered, the left side of his face shows seriousness and even makes him look mad. I like that you can see both emotions because that is Jesus Christ's true nature. At judgment he will show compassion towards us but will not tolerate injustice.

Jesus Christ is our older brother and saved our lives by sacrificing his. Over the semester i learned that he is just like us. He is not some sort of robot that we cannot explain his actions. He looks, act, and lives like us. The pictures i shared where able to make me truly conceptualizes Jesus Christ as someone like me. This encourages me to strive to become like him because now i have a better knowledge of knowing that i can!

Matthew 28, Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20-21

In Matthew 28 we learn of Jesus Christ's ressurection. An angel speaks unto Mary and tells her to gather up his desciples. I am amazed at the ignorance and denial that the Jews have when they pay the soldiers to say lies and say that Jesus was taken at night. Some, their faith was weak,

 16 ¶Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.

 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some adoubted.

 18 And aJesus came and spake unto them, saying, All bpower is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

" 16 ¶Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some adoubted.
 18 And aJesus came and spake unto them, saying, All bpower is given unto me in heaven and in earth."

Even his desciples doubted that he was ressurected. It is natural for the man to doubt but thats why we have the spirit to discern from truth and lies. We need to be strong to be able to discern from that and not doubt like his desciples did.

Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 23; John18:28-19:42

In this section of the scriptures we are able to learn about the compassion of great leaders and the influences of Satan too. When Jesus is sent to Pilate the people want him dead. However, Pilate keeps reapeating to them that he sees no fault or crime. The people constantly beg for his crucifiction and Pilate doesnt want to kill Jesus. he evn tries to convince him to fight for his life,

 10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?

 11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no apower at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater bsin.

 12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Cæsar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a aking speaketh against Cæsar.

 "10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
 11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no apower at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater bsin.
 12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Cæsar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a aking speaketh against Cæsar."

We find out that Pilate is not a bad guy but he is also not strong enough to fight for what is right. We mus be carefull to not act as Pilate and always be strong members and fight for what be believe.

Matthew 26:36-75; Mark 14:32-72; Luke 22:39-71; John 18:1-27

 While I was reading this week, I was able to really feel the love Jesus has for me and everyone else. In one last act of the natural man, Jesus "39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and aprayed, saying, O my bFather, if it be possible, let this ccup pass from me: nevertheless not as I dwill, but as ethou fwilt." This scripture demonstrates to us how Jesus is also a human. He has carnal thought, emotions and feelings. He is going through allot of pain and if it were up to him he would want to be done with it as soon as possible. But when he saus whatever you will may be Heavenly Father, he shows us the love he has for us. He loves us so much and want our salvation that much that he is willing to go through all that pain for our salvation. I learned that what i suffer here on earth isnt nearly what Jesus Christ went through. It is a humbling scripture. 

Matthew 26: 30-35; Mark 14:26-31; Luke 22: 31-38; John 15-17

In matthew 26 we learn evenmore about Jesus Christ' divinity when he can forsee and predict the behavior of his desciples and yet they still question him. We must never deny the name of Jesus Christ. He is our savior and knows us personally.

Matthew 26:1-29; Mark 14:1-25; Luke 22:1-30; John 13-14

I really liked these few words that Jesus shares with his desciples. Even at the end of his life when he is captured Jesus shows us a little humor and a lesson to learn.

 "51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a aservant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.
 52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall aperish with the sword.
 53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
 54 But how then shall the ascriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?"

He demonstrates to us the humilty he has that he is willing to go with these men to be sacrificed and not put up a fight. He tells them i can have angels destroy you and protect me but yet i dont and you still dont belive me? This teaches me that no matter how afflicted i may feel in life i should always follow the gospel and the teachings that go along with it. 

Matthew 25; D&C 45:56-59

We discussed in class the significance of the story of the ten virgins. I liked the last two verses of the story,

12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I ^aknow you not.

13 ^aWatch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

I like this because Jesus Christ is the bridegroom and his people are the virgins. We must be ready at all times for when he comes for us. We need to remeber to always be prepared and to listen to what he asks us to do. If we are not prepared he "will know us not" and will close the door on us because we willfully rejected him knowing the consequence. In my life u must always remeber to stay strong in the gospel and share it with others.