Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Mary of Bethany anoints Christ to be King (Fulfilling Psalms 23:5)

Rynna TEACHER 3-7-2017                           
(Palos Verdes CA Stake of Zion)

This is the first Tuesday after Fast Sunday, my time to take NOTES. We visited with Dale Hanks on the way in—he helps maintain the Los Angeles Family History computer network, now sent from SLC.  We also discussed briefly President Russell M. Nelson talking at Roots Tech 2017.

CURRENT POLITICS TO DO WITH USA/ISRAEL/GOSPEL
So much going on makes it very interesting. Where is the cause and effect? Things need to be attended to.  Remember the Plan and that God is in charge. Politically, culturally, personally, all over the world, changes are happen. The poppy flowers will bloom in May—watch Conference.

Patriarch Hanson adds, “If we follow the prophet, righteously, we have nothing to fear.” Rynna sees the wheat being shifted from the tares.  Who is God’s Army?  We are!

A prominent Rabbi shared his Vision of current events in a new light: (1) Evil spirits arise; [“They that be with us are greater in number!”]  (2) Two planes disappear; (3) US sent delegates to Israel, and Trump works in secret to fix crocked things;  (4) ISIS will not be wiped out.  They hate Christians more than the Jews who will have time to gather back to their homeland, Israel.  (5) Russian sold missiles to Iran that are very deadly.  (6) They will get a computer virus to blow up.

President Trump works to move the capital of Israel to Jerusalem, sending Republicans over.   The American Consulate building could be the first headquarters.

A ‘two-state solution’ would result in creating a Terrorist state—hence Trump will seek the better solution of Israel, as the integrated ‘one-state solution’ with Palestinians integrated.

“Good Luck on that.”  There will be war within Jerusalem, with two prophets going to seek peace;  they will be murdered and their bodies will be dragged through the street.  It is a Muslim process, like in Benghazi.  Think of that prophecy. Joseph Smith said the two will be of the Quorum of the Twelve, and after three days they will resurrect before the people.

There are incredible prophesies that are before us where the Lord teaches what comes.  Look at the Early Saints if you want to see persecution—they remained incredible.

On June 2nd, they will start excavating for evidence that the Ark of the Covenant was there.


THEOLOGY STUDY
“Who are the Seven Marys in the New Testament?”  (Hebrew name is ‘Miryam’ and was a very popular name because Miryam/Mary was to be the mother of the Messiah.)

The Catholic Church was forced to recant and say Mary Magdalene was not  a prostitute.

Mary of Bethany was heiress to a shipping company.  She anointed the feet of Jesus, and symbolized washing of feet (traditional tribute) with her tears of gratitude to dry with her hair.

She gathered women for the missionary force of Jesus Christ at the time. Jesus encouraged her.

Mary of Bethany (the sister of Martha and Lazarus) is not Mary Magdalene.  At different times, they both knelt at the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet. 

Mary Magdalene saw the resurrected Christ first.  She was His first witness.  Jesus gave her the first assignment to be His witness, even to the Twelve.  She had he faith when the Twelve were lacking faith.  Sue points out that He gave emphasis to women, who can see good things too.

He told the other three Marys to tell the Twelve Disciples to meet him down at the Sea of Galilee.  They truly were the Relief Society of Christ’s ministry, providing food/clothing/shelter.

We read John 12:1-10.  The setting is critical: Home of Martha of Bethany, Mary's older sister.
Also Luke 10:38-42 to note some of the profound differences, to strengthen understanding.  Martha was a widow and owned the home. It was unlawful for women to interact with a Rabbi.  Women were arrested for what Mary of Bethany did and people were always watching Jesus.

Mary was declaring her Discipleship by sitting at the feet of Jesus. 

John 12 covers the more spiritual aspects.  Martha was the one with the testimony.  With Lazarus, Martha went out, while Mary of Bethany was home crying. The Joseph Smith Translation has one word changing it all.  Christ comes to the people that he loves at the beginning of the week to begin it all.  He couldn’t go into Jerusalem till after this.

Mary anointed with costly oil, filling the room with aroma.  She also anointed His head.  Very interesting that the oil was carried in the stone box of alabaster.  She broke the jar and it could not be used again.  Alabaster was rather transparent.  The mountains of India have the spike-nard to put in the alabaster jar.  She had a pound worth an entire year’s wages.   We don’t know how she got it, except in the Apocrypha it came via the three wise men.   It could have fed an army of 5,000 men for one year. 

This ordinance of anointing the head with sacred oil was to be King of Israel.  Anointing the feet was for the dead.  It came from the mother of Jesus, “This is for my son.”

The aroma of the spikenard represents the Spirit of the Lord filling everywhere.

Mary gives her total love to the Master for what he was about to do.  She knew.  Jesus reacts and Joseph Smith translates:  [Not plugging in, my computer battery didn’t sustain the screen.]
Testimony and Closing Prayer.

NOTE:  Please review these student notes.    Lynnette and Charles.Edwin.Shipp@gMail.com

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