Week 7 Student Choice Assignment

Choice 5: John 13:34–35. A New Commandment

1. According to John 13:34–35, how can others know if we are disciples of Jesus Christ? If ye have love one to another.
2. List some specific ways a disciple of Jesus Christ might respond in the following situations (in accordance with John 13:34–35):
• Someone you know is ridiculed or made fun of because of the way he or she dresses. You stick up for that person and show love for all men by helping the people making fun of her that she is wrong.
• You see a new person at church. I would sit by this person and try to make them feel welcomed in church.
3. Ponder the question, “Do people know that I am a disciple of Jesus Christ by the way I treat them?” Select a family member, coworker, or neighbor and make a short list of things you can do during the coming week to show him or her the kind of love the Savior would show. Then follow through with what you wrote down. I can do better at not judging others, being kind to those I don’t know, reaching out to those in need of help, saying nice things to people around me.

Choice 1: Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46; John 18:1-2. The Savior’s Suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane

1.   Review Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46, making a list of words and phrases that describe the Savior’s suffering. Include in your list clarifications provided in the footnotes.

·         Exceeding sorrow-Matt 26:37

·         Fell on His face-Matt 26:39

·         Betrayed-Matt 26:45

·         And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; ^atake away this ^bcup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.-Mark 14:36

·         Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.-Mark 14:41

·         And being in an ^aagony he prayed more earnestly: ^band his sweat was as it were great drops of ^cblood falling down to the ground. Luke 22:44

2.   Write additional insights about the Savior’s suffering in Gethsemane found in the following resources:

·         Mosiah 3:7; Alma 7:11-13; Doctrine and Covenants 19:16-19 These scriptures explain a lot more about the atonement and what the Savior went through then the ones in the New Testament do, they really build upon what the bible teaches and help to explain more what He went through.  

·         The institute student manual commentary, “To What Extent Was the Atonement Completed in the Garden of Gethsemane?” (p. 173) It is finished was Christ last words on the cross, his crucifixion was the end of the atonement.

·         The institute student manual commentary for Luke 22:44, “And Being in an Agony, He Prayed More Earnestly” (pp.173-74) “The suffering of the Son of God was not simply the suffering of personal death; for in assuming the position that He did in making an atonement for the sins of the world He bore the weight, the responsibility, and the burden of the sins of all men, which, to us, is incomprehensible.”

·         The institute student manual commentary for Luke 22:44, “And His Sweat Was As It Were Great Drops of Blood Falling Down to the Ground” (p. 174) “It was not physical pain, nor mental anguish alone, that caused Him to suffer such torture as to produce an extrusion of blood from every pore; but a spiritual agony of soul such as only God was capable of experiencing.”

3.   Read Matthew 26:36 and the institute student manual commentary for Matthew 26:36, “Then Cometh Jesus … unto a Place Called Gethsemane” (pp. 172-73). Write a paragraph about how the meaning of Gethsemane adds insight to what the Savior experienced there. “John refers to the spot as a garden, from which designation we may regard it as an enclosed space of private ownership. That it was a place frequented by Jesus when He sought retirement for prayer, or opportunity for confidential converse with the disciples, is indicated by the same writer.”

4.   Write response to each of the following questions, looking for lessons you can apply to your own life from the example of the Savior in Gethsemane:

·         What were the Savior’s disciples doing while He was praying? What had the Lord taught the Apostles in Matthew 26:41? What does His example teach about how to be obedient even when “the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak?” How does Doctrine and Covenants 10:5 apply to this verse? The disciples were sleeping while the Savior was praying and going through the atonement. He taught the disciples to watch and pray so they don’t enter into temptation. He teaches that we need to be alert spiritually so we are not deceived by the flesh of men. We need to pray always that we may come off conqueror that we may conqueror Satan; Heavenly Father will help us if we ask.

·         Read Mosiah 15:7; 3 Nephi 11:11; Doctrine and Covenants 19:19. Write the phrases from these verses that describe what motivated the Savior to “drink the bitter cup.” The will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father. He drunk the bitter cup that the father gave him. He glorified the Father in taking upon him the sins of the world. His Father asked him to do something, and He did it. There is no greater example of following God than this.

·         Write your thoughts about the Savior’s use of the word nevertheless in Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42. In each of these accounts, what did the Savior initially ask for? What did He say next, using the word nevertheless? What does it require to submit one’s will to the Father in this way, no matter how painful or difficult the outcome might be? When have you followed the “nevertheless” pattern the Savior exemplified in these verses by submitting to Heavenly Father’s will even though it was very difficult?  The Savior initially asks that the bitter cup pass from him, He was in pain and He knew that is was going to get worse. He asked if He could stop, but then he said not my will, but thou will be done. It requires lots of faith and prayer to submit your will to the Lord’s especially in this way, it is impossible for anyone other than Christ to do the atonement and it would be so hard to accomplish. We can follow Christ and submit our will to him by listening and following Christ and Heavenly Father in no matter what they ask us to do.

·         According to Luke 22:44, as the Savior’s agony became more intense, how did His prayer change? Do you feel more like praying or less like praying when you are suffering? When has it made a difference in your suffering to have turned to the Lord with more earnest prayer? He prayed more earnestly when the suffering became more intense. I think it is second nature for me to pray more when I am suffering. It has made a huge difference in my life and I am blessed for it, praying always helps me get through hard times.

·         Reflect on what you have learned about the Savior’s suffering in Gethsemane. Write a paragraph about lessons you can apply to your own life from the example of the Savior in Gethsemane. I have learned that prayer will get you through anything. It is important to pray when we are suffering so the Lord will help us through and bless us more. Also I learned that we need to be more willing to do the Lords will and not ours, if Christ suffered as much as He did and He was able to submit to the Lord, we can do the same.