The Personal Compassion of Christ

There are few things as spiritually moving than reading the personal miracles of Christ found within the gospels.  Immediately, images of blind men being healed, the leapers being clean, the woman reaching for his clothing, the raising of a friend from the dead, and so many other gentle moments not only make Christ personal but personable to us.  Few people can read those passages and not feel an increased desire to know this man, and to be favored in his eyes.

Yet, as we read there are times when we notice curious behavior from the Savior in these actions.  It was not uncommon for him to go out of his way to perform such an act of mercy, and then to go equally out of his way to look his brother in the eye and say, “Tell no man.”

There is a part of this experience that can and has raised eyebrows.  As a man with such a mission, and such a message as being the Son of God – can there be any greater evidence (in many minds) than the acts of mercy and healing that he performed?  Many could, and have argued, that there would be no greater evidence or sign than these acts to these people.  So why wish to keep such things a secret?

A potential answer for that may be seen when such a command to “tell no man,” was not heeded.  It was in these events that his name was broadcasted throughout the land.  In many aspects people would view that this was a successful campaign of notoriety that he undoubtedly deserved.  Yet, the results of such a campaign were crowds of people, onlookers, and people clambering for his touch – not his message, but his healing hands.  It was after one of these events in Mark, that the press became so great that he had to remove himself from the city and go into “desert places” and allow the people to come to him.

This was not the prime circumstances for his message to spread.  He would be limited in who his message would be delivered to, and limited in what people requested of him.  Notice after such claims spread abroad in the land how often he is asked for forgive sins and heals their souls compared to those who just ask to heal their physical afflictions.

Now in this discussion many people identify why he counseled such followers to “tell no man” of the things which he had done, but few reflect on why he did such acts in the first place.  It becomes apparent after the fact that as his name becomes synonymous with healing physical infirmities that he will be bombarded and limited in his spiritual reach.  So why do it?  Why risk his mission, his goals, and his eternal objectives?

Because of his compassion for the person.  “Is there a parent who when his child asks for a fish gives him a stone?”

He wanted no recognition, no public praise, no admiration for such acts.  It is apparent that with his regular counsel, “tell no man” that he had no wants or desires for that event to aid his cause.  There was no selfish motivation in these acts – and despite the common Sunday school discussion, these acts are not intended to teach us anything but selfless service. “Tell no man,” means that there is no other motivation but for the personal wellbeing of the one – the single soul who was touched, cleansed, and made whole in the process.  In that moment, as the patient and the eternal physician made eye contact there was no other motivation than for the temporal comfort (and eternal condition) of that single person.

Are there more people who he touched, healed, and changed their lives that we don’t know of?  Absolutely!  When John says that Christ did so much that if every one of them were to be written the all the books in the world could not contain them – leads me to believe that there were many who were touched by the Savior, and heeded such a command.

Today we live in a society and religious culture which emphasizes the messaging of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, and the spreading of that message.  We are taught to bear testimony, and to share experiences with other to help strength faith and promote progression within the community.  These are important aspect of the gospel message – spreading the good word.

Yet are there times within our lives where the Savior performs a personal miracle and in essence whispers – “tell no man” ? Are there times when events take place, and we are told to keep such things close to the chest? And by so doing would we be allowing him to fulfill his greater purpose - whatever that might be?  By keeping this command when they are issued, are we showing him and allowing him to be more involved in our lives on his terms?

In the Doctrine and Covenant Joseph Smith is told, “that which cometh from above is sacred and ought to be spoken of with care, and by constraint of the spirit.”

There are times in our lives where the Savior wishes to take our hour head in his hands, and pull our eyes to met his and tell us, “I love you.  You are okay.  Things are going to be alright. I am here for you, and I will be here for you.”  And he wishes to do so for no other reason, and with no other end result in mind than for our personal comfort.

He is a personal Christ, he is our personal brother, and he is our personal Savior.  There is no greater compassion than his personal compassion for us individually.  It is that personal compassion that suffered and bleed – and for many souls for no other purpose but to increase their eternal comfort through providing a universal resurrection; and for others providing a personal redemption.  Not so that we could praise him, but so that we might be one with him, equal with him, share with him his life, and embrace him not as subordinates, but as brothers and sisters.  And although not the intention for which he performed such an act, such an act deserves the highest of praise and loyalty.

The Indirect Correlation Between Faith and Works

The famous line out of James regarding faith without works being dead, emphasizes the need to go and do; to know and believe is nothing without going and acting upon that faith.  These concepts have helped align many Christians with their faith, and put them into action.  But there appears to be more to this equation when we read about the life of the Savior, and the impact his presence made on those around him.

One of my favorite stories, which seems to have little fan fare, is in Mark Chapter 4.  Here the Savior is moving through a crowded street and is being pressed upon by the crowd.  By picturing the scene, we can see him possibly being jostled around as he makes his way through the crowded streets; shoulders being push against him, arms reaching out for him, bodies making full contact with the man that was causing so much attention.

Then somewhere down the street there was a woman, and looking up the street, saw the pressed crowd making their way down.  Within herself she knew it was the Savior, and she said, “If I but touch the hem of his clothes – I will be healed.”  The scriptures say she was sick with an issue of blood. 

As the crowd moved past where this woman sat, she reached through the crowd, touched his garment, and was healed.  By most accounts the Lord physically noticed something spiritual happen – and he stopped and asked a question.  It is the dialogue that follows that inadvertently teaches a lesson. 

For all intents and purposes the Lord asks, “Who touched me?” 

I can imagine the confusion as his disciples and apostles were gathered around him – thinking in their heads as they were reflected upon the crowd and the press as they moved down the street, “What are you talking about – everybody touched you!”

The Savior eventually readjusts his attention, finds the woman, and confirms that her faith made her whole.

But what about those thoughts that might have gone through the apostle’s head?  Weren’t they right – wasn’t he touched by many?  Yet, it was this woman that reached out, and with her faith was made whole.

In this event the Savior was touched by countless people, but only one we know of was healed.  Countless performed the physical act and work necessary to receive the same blessing, but only one received it.  James teaches us that faith without works is dead; but Mark teaches us through this experience that works without faith is equally dead.

The Incomplete Sixth Period of Creation

There is a commonly overlooked parallel between two cannons of scripture, the existence of which can help lead to a greater understanding of the most known story in western religion.

The Old Testament begins with the oldest story of mankind, known by the title The Creation.  The first chapter details the seven creative periods where every physical thing perceived by man is organized or created, with the concluding period discussed at the beginning of the second chapter.  Yet at this point within the story the narrative seems to change, and the story reverts back to what seems to be things that take place on the sixth creative period – the formation of man, also known as Adam.  From verse three of the second chapter when the seventh creative period ends and the LORD rest, to the fourth verse which begins in detail the activities that took place in the sixth creative period we have a strong narrative switch.  Such a narrative switch could easily go unnoticed, and the value of such a switch could be questionable.  Yet, as usual latter day revelation can help reframe this narrative switch to help us better understand it’s potential purpose and value – and more importantly our potential purpose and value.

For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they open up The Book of Mormon and start with, “I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents…” The first verse of the first chapter of the first book is the easiest place to start when reading a book of scripture for most people – but not for those with the Hebrew background. 

Readers of The Book of Mormon may or may not notice the importance of the introduction to the first book of Nephi.  At the top of the first page, before the first chapter begins the reader will notice that there is a rather lengthy introductory paragraph to the book.  This paragraph contains a general outline or preface to what is about to be written by Nephi, and was in fact written by Nephi himself (“I, Nephi, wrote this record”). Previous to Nephi beginning the tale of his families journey’s he does what every good Hebrew author had been taught to do – give a short introductory section on what the reader will read with some background information to help the readers along.  It is even in this paragraph that we learn information about his family that otherwise is never explicitly mentioned in the rest of his record.

What does this have to do with The Creation story in Genesis?  Everything.

Nephi was writing in the language of the Egyptians, but was taught after the manner of the Jews.  He was following the literary rules and structure that he grew up with.  The same literary rules that would have been taught to him using the Books of Moses as precedent, beginning with Genesis.  So then begs the question:  Where is Genesis’ introductory paragraph?

It is found as Genesis Chapter 1 through the third verse of Chapter 2.  Here the author grants the reader and introductory paragraph of what is or has taken place.  The introduction, much like Nephi’s pattern, tells the reader informational background about the creation to set the scene for the rest of the record.  It tells of the creation, and of the pattern of creative periods. 

Then it starts in the fourth verse of chapter two where the story really picks up – the sixth day.

In the introduction, the reader is told that Man was created in the image of God (1:26) in the sixth day; then in the story the sixth day begins with the creation of man.  Yet, there is a question to be begged out of this – outside of the introduction to the Book of Genesis (or possibly the whole collection of the Books of Moses), where is the seventh day rest?   At what point is it fulfilled in the story, that man’s creation in the image of God is complete?  Or is it?

In this light we learn that the entire Book of Genesis, potentially the entire documentation of The Law, and even the entire collection of sacred writings throughout history is really a documentation of the sixth day of Creation.  God hasn’t created us in his image (fully) yet, but is in the process of doing so.  The sixth creative period hasn’t ended, and he hasn’t rested yet.  When Alma asked, “Have you received his image in your countenance?” how many can truly answer in the affirmative?

God hasn’t made man as designed yet, but he is making man.  The fifth creative period has ended, the sixth creative period is in the process, and the seventh creative period is prophesied to come.  Adam was the dawn of that day, and with each prophet that followed we see the Lord’s hand in the creation and evolution of man into the image of God referred to in the most sacred introductions of holy writ.  

John and Jesus – Defining the Social Context of the Gospel Message through Differences

There may be no more unusual relationship in the scriptures than that of John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth.  Cousins related by blood, both with unique conception stories and childhood upbringing.  Both sharing the message of the universal Gospel, and the elder humbly submitting to the authority of the younger – allowing one to diminish as the other increases in power, authority, and social popularity.

Yet, within this relationship a powerful message comes, not from what they have in common – but what they don’t have in common.

Here we have for all intents and purposes a hermit, living in the wilderness, who lives on eating locusts.  For some reason he is regularly depicted as someone wearing fur, unshaven, and unkempt hair – somewhat of a social bum.

Then we have someone who is schooled and educated (to what extent secularly is unknown), he knows how to speak and talk eloquently, he reasons and can converse with any social class.  He is popular among his colleagues, and challenging to his enemies.  He carries with him a social status, and a social claim – King of the Jews – and he commands attention.  He is a socialite in many respects.

These differences were emphasized by Christ, when he was challenged for drinking and dinning with the masses.  His response to the challenge was to highlight the hypocrisy within their criticisms: a reference that John had been sent who didn’t sup and didn’t drink (and was a hermit) and was criticized for not doing so, and then Christ was sent who did sup and did drink (somewhat of a socialite) and in turn was still criticized. 

To some degree, if images of these two characters were placed side by side, it would appear somewhat awkward; the hermit and the socialite.  No doubt this discrepancy between the two social statuses increases the awe at took place at the baptism of Christ – the city boy submitting himself to the hermit in the woods, while at the same time the hermit acknowledging the power within the city boy’s authority.

But regardless of how awkward that is in a social context (standing side by side); we have to remember that they stood side by side.  They shared the same message.  They were on the same team.  And regardless of how they looked, appeared, or acted – they were carrying the same message.

There is a powerful message here of differences in administration and lifestyle.  This was the lifestyle (environment) that John chose; it can be assumed that there was something about the wilderness that he enjoyed – yet, he carried the same message.

Is this not relevant today?  We see people placed in positions within the church who may appear of a different class, missionaries with thick accents, and life acquaintances who seem to have picked a different path.  But can they all not carry the same message?  Can’t they all have the opportunity to succeed in their endeavors?

The Gospel is true – but truth doesn’t come with an image or a status, but with a spirit.  Truth can be independent of style, technique, or personality.  God requires all types to do all types of thing – for he looks upon the heart, and not on the outward appearance. Should not we do likewise?

Thorn of the Flesh Creates the Path of Ordination

There was once a small boy who fell in love with all things grand; the power of a ship, the influence of a building, the grandeur of a bridge.  This young boy would look out at the harbor and watch all three of these engineering feats are built, function, and be demolished.  For this young boy this was an awe-inspiring scene. 

The desire for this child to participate in such grand events became strong.  There was nothing in his life that would be more satisfying than influencing these grand engineering feats.  To design a bridge, to build a building, to run a ship – all would be heaven to this young boy.

And so the boy went out one day, and decided that he was going to BUILD – and he was determined to participate in this world of engineering. 

Yet, as he started to work on his first masterpiece, as a young child in his backyard, he noticed something that he has never noticed before.  This young child noticed that he was born without a joint in his thumb, making it unable for him to bend his thumb under his nail. This was something that he shared with his brother and both of them inherited it from their father.

Now to say that he never noticed this before wouldn’t be entirely accurate.  He was well aware that he couldn’t bend his thumb from birth; it just wasn’t until this moment in his life that it ever seemed to matter.  This young child was not able to handle materials as well as he would need to in order to work on these structures, and when he realized this he was devastated.

 Yet, don’t judge this boy – he didn’t just give up.  He tried, and he pushed, and we did everything within his power until he just realized that he was physically unable to do what was necessary to get what he wanted.  And sadly he was right.

Being disappointed with such revelations – the young boy retired to his house.  When his mother passed away, he found himself retired to his attic.  There in his attic, alone, and disappointed with the lot afforded to him, he learned that with his thumb he was able to do only three things that he found value in.  First, of all he could think, imagine, and escape into worlds of his own making – worlds with talking animals that dressed as humans.  Second, he could hold a book, and therefore read and learn the minds and thoughts of others.  Third, he could hold a pen or a pencil, which allows him to draw pictures of his Animal-land, and write stories of various adventures.

Years later, this boy, unable to do what he dreamed of most of all, eventually became the one and only C.S. Lewis.  He became one of the greatest and most universally respected inspirational Christian authors in the world.  He changed and has influenced the minds of millions – and has brought more people closer to their faith than arguably any modern author.  Potentially all of this as a result of an inherited missing thumb joint.

Paul speaks about his “thorn in the flesh” which many of us lament, but Paul praises.  The praise of Paul comes from his constant reliance on Christ to endure and live through such thorns.  But for Mr. Lewis, would just thorn be accredited to placing him on the path in which he was fore-ordained to do?  Is his handicap really what enabled him to accomplish his grand work?

Are our thorns here for that very same reason?  If Mr. Lewis had his everything he wanted as a child, would he have become what he had become?  If we had everything we felt we needed, would we become what he are needed to become? 

May all of us embrace our missing thumb joints and our thorns – not only that we may rely on the grace of Christ to help us endure (as Paul would say), but that we might follow the path and be in the place that Christ wants us to be (as exampled by Mr. Lewis).