John the Baptist: A Burning and a Shining Light by Robert J Matthews

[There is a good reason you see these two paintings everytime the topic is Jesus' baptism by John: there aren't any other good ones.  Most show John pouring water on Jesus's head from a sea shell.  Where would he have gotten a sea shell in the Judean Desert?  Why go all the way into the Jordan River if all you need to do is pour a quarter cup of water on his head?]

[This painting by Bruegel  is affectionately known as "When John visited the Netherlands.]

In the December 1972 issue of the Ensign (that was the month I first went to the temple: I got married in January of 73), there is a long and excellent article about John the Baptist, written by Robert J Matthews.

Highly recommended reading.

Here is Tissot's version: where is the river?

And finally, another good one I found: JKRichards

The Intertestamental Period : Resources

Ensign article, December 2014 : this link takes you to a 6 page, illustrated article by Brown and Holzapfel summarizing their 200 page book.  Great place to start.

James Faulconer has a good summary on his blog, Feast Upon the Word Blog.  I actually recommend EVERYTHING James has written.

Kevin Barney also has a good post over at By Common Consent.   

The Gospel according to Mark : commentary by Julie M Smith

IMHO the best volume in the new series:
New Testament Commentary: The Gospel According to Mark
Author Julie M. Smith
Available now! Order it through BYU Studies!

The Gospel of Mark is an undiscovered gem, hiding in plain sight. Mark’s story—at least from the vantage point of a twenty-first-century audience—is virtually unknown. Following broader trends in Christian history, Latter-day Saints have focused on the other Gospels. Mark’s Gospel gets very little attention and, when it does, it is usually read through the lenses of the other Gospels, with the result that Mark’s distinctive voice is muted.

But the Jesus presented in Mark’s Gospel is worthy of study: He is a man of action and few words. He is witty, warm, and wise. He’s also the Son of God. He has power which leaves people in awe, and he uses that power to help the people most people don’t like. He hugs little kids. He listens to and learns from women. He banishes demons and reminds parents to feed their children. He doesn't know everything, but he does know how to end chaos. His disciples usually misunderstand him, but he teaches them continually and patiently. This Jesus is betrayed and abandoned and alone and humiliated, but he still chooses God’s will over his own—even though he didn’t want to. Mark tells an amazing story.

The overriding goal of this commentary is to recover Mark’s unique voice. Special attention is given to five areas:

An examination of the differences in ancient texts of Mark is used to make conjectures about how the text read in its earliest versions.
Basic cultural knowledge is supplied to help the modern reader bridge the gap to the ancient world.
Biblical allusions in Mark’s text are explored and explained.
Literary structures, both large and small, are considered.
The traditional neglect of women’s stories is corrected.
The result is a commentary that answers the question, “What would Mark’s story of Jesus have meant to its first audiences?” in a way that informs and inspires Mark’s readers twenty centuries later.

https://byustudies.byu.edu/content/new-testament-commentary-gospel-according-mark

Matt 3, Mark 1, John 1, and Luke 3 : Baptism of Jesus by John

Both the Pharisees and Sadducees react to John baptising in the Jordan.

John Welch and John Hall have produced a book of New Testament charts, one of which compares these three groups. Here is that chart and commentary from the book: 

The New Testament mentions several Jewish social institutions that can be quite confusing. The charts in this section provide basic information about the main groups with which Jesus interacted or may have had contact. Beyond the aristocratic Herodians, three main Jewish sects were religiously active during the time of Jesus: Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes. In addition, many Jews would have been unaffiliated with any of these particular movements.

Pharisaic (separatist) Judaism is known through later rabbinic writings. Jesus clashed with the Pharisees partly because he encountered them often in the outlying villages and also because he shared many of their underlying religious concerns. Friction is often the greatest between groups that are actually the closest to each other.

The Sadducees were largely hellenized Jews who controlled the temple and Sanhedrin in Jerusalem and cooperated with the Romans.

The Essenes, who awaited the impending arrival of the apocalyptic end of the world, occupied one neighborhood in Jerusalem and may have drawn adherents from all around Judea. They were centered at Qumran where they copied biblical scrolls and produced sectarian documents found among the Dead Sea Scrolls. They are never mentioned directly in the New Testament. This chart compares these three main sects on a few of their most salient points of doctrine and practice.

References:

Elias J. Bickerman, The Jews in the Greek Age (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1988).
Victor L. Ludlow, "Major Jewish Groups in the New Testament," Ensign, January 1975, 26-29.
Frederick J. Murphy, The Religious World of Jesus (Nashville: Abingdon, 1991).

A second chart looks at the legal views of Pharisees and Sadducees: 

The most influential religious groups in Jesus' world were the Sadducees and Pharisees. As chart 3-2 shows, the Sadducees are rarely mentioned by name in the New Testament. They were influential, however, in the political sphere. They probably controlled a majority of the Sanhedrin and may be identified or closely associated with the Chief Priests (see chart 3-9).

Chart 3-3 shows the most likely legal differences between the Pharisees and Sadducees during biblical times and perhaps later. These issues have been reconstructed out of later Jewish writings, especially the Talmud. One of the main differences between the Pharisees and the Sadducees was what they counted as "law." Jesus was frequently asked questions about how the law should be understood, and from all appearances, this was a controversial topic of the day. The Pharisees included the oral law, or traditional rules that go beyond the legal materials found in the written Torah (the first five books of the Bible). Knowing something about the kinds of legal arguments that were controversial at the time of Jesus helps modern readers understand some of the questions that were asked of him and how his audiences may well have understood the contemporary significance of his answers and teachings.

References:

Anthony J. Saldarini, "Pharisees," ABD, 5:289-303.
Gary G. Porton, "Sadducees," ABD, 5:892-95.
Chart 3-3 is drawn from Gregory R. Knight, "The Pharisees and the Sadducees: Their Respective Outlooks on Jewish Law," BYU Law Review (1993): 925-48.

Two other charts are helpful this week: Passages on John the Baptist 

and a chart paralleling the four different gospel accounts of the baptism, along with the JST version.

Each of the four Gospels gives an account of the baptism of Jesus, and further information is added by the Joseph Smith Translation of Matthew. Most of the details are consistent among these accounts concerning where and how Jesus was baptized. Because of minor differences, however, major questions have arisen. Was the Spirit that descended that of God himself (Matthew) or the Holy Ghost (Luke) or just "the Spirit" (Mark, John)? Did the Spirit perhaps descend only once, or perhaps twice: once before the baptism (John) and again right after? Did the voice from heaven come right after the baptism, or apparently afterward as Jesus was praying (Luke)? Did the voice say to John, "This is my beloved Son" (Matthew), with the added words "Hear ye him" (Matthew JST), or did the voice say to Jesus, "Thou art my beloved Son" (Mark, Luke), or did only the Baptist testify, "This is the Son of God" (John)?

The purpose of this chart is not to create confusion but to display the source of considerable scholarly inquiry. The solution to these problems may rest in the fact that concurrent recipients of a spiritual experience may each receive a version of that divine manifestation suited to their own vantage point. Thus, John the Baptist could have heard "This is my beloved Son," at precisely the same time that Jesus heard "Thou art my beloved Son." Jesus could have been offering up a prayer while John was baptizing him. If God can listen simultaneously to prayers from multiple people, he can also respond to them both simultaneously and individually.

References:

S. Brent Farley, "The Baptism and Temptations of Jesus," in Studies in Scripture Vol. 5: The Gospels, ed. Kent P. Jackson and Robert L. Millet (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1986), 175-87.

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Access to the book appears to be free online. I found it at this link: https://byustudies.byu.edu/new-testament-charts. 

But, I have a subscription to BYU Studies so it may just recognize my computer. 

Mark 1, Matt 3, Luke 3 Baptism for kids

Just posting some fun activities for kids teaching about baptism by John.  

I enjoy pictures that DO something. Directions below.

Print out these pictures below and cut them apart so kids can put them in the right order to tell the story

Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2

Sorry this post is so late.  Other stuff going on.

A reminder that I have two 1 1/2 hour long Institute classes on Matthew and on Luke posted for your viewing pleasure on our Salem Stake website.  Even though the site says "Old Testament," in December I showed how you can find most of the traditions of Christmas in the Old Testament, the scriptures for the early Christians.  Matthew is week 9 and Luke is week 10. 

Here is the link: 

http://salemzion.org/new/index.php/resources/adult-institute-old-testament/

Secondly, I am trying to post an activity each week for kids: so here are a couple of Christmas activities that my mother, LaFawn Graff Holt,  drew for "The Children's Friend" when I was 4 years old.
Later, the Primary made the Baby Jesus Story into a big poster they used in the classroom.

Click on the picture to get a printable JPG.  I like to print the 'windows' on colored paper, cut out the holes for the windows, and then laminate it so the mask doesn't tear.  Be sure and flip the mask over and find 4 MORE sets of pictures and scriptures.

One More Time: Old Testament Timeline

EVERY semester we start with Margot Butler's Old Testament timeline.

To make it easier to find, I am posting it again here.  Just click on the pictures and the JPGs  will open for you to print.

Thanks to my son, David, who converted a very old copy into these crisp and clear vector graphics! 

   

Diana Webb's blogpost on John 1

Diana attended my classes for years and taught other students Hebrew, before going on a mission in So. California.

She has posted a great lesson on this week's CFM reading: John 1

You can read it at: https://ldsmag.com/come-follow-me-for-sunday-school-lesson-helps-for-john-1/

John 1 : "No man has seen God. . . . "

John 1:18  No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Clearly there are doctrinal problems with this text.  Joseph Smith recognized that and he made changes in his Inspired Version: 

Joseph Smith Translation of John 1:19 And no man hath seen God at any time, except he hath borne record of the Son; for except it is through him no man can be saved.

This gives you an opportunity to introduce your kids to the JST.  Have them check the footnotes regularly for JST notations.  

The First Vision is a great example of what the Father generally does when He appears to us : He introduces His Son.  Here is a fun movable handout for kids to make.  Just follow the instructions (below) and reinforce the hole where the string goes through the page or the string will cut through the paper like butter.

This is from Ross and Guymon's Primary Partners : CTR B. 

Just click on the photo then save it before you try to print it out.

Joseph and Joseph

One of my favorite people in the Nativity story is Joseph.  (And I really dislike Catholic traditions about him in their attempts to support the perpetual virginity of Mary.  So, just ignore stories of an old, impotent and jealous Joseph.  None of them are true.)

 Notice how Matthew describes Joseph.

First, it is HIS genealogy we are given in Matt 1.  He should have been the inheritor of the throne of David.  He is royal, a king (Hebrew melek).  Of course, with murderous Herod on the throne, it would not be wise to advertise that claim.

Next, Matthew says he was a JUST man (Hebrew tseddek). That would be better translated as "righteous."

Combine those two words and you get Melek-tseddek, or Melchizedek.  I personally believe Joseph had the Melchizedek priesthood.

And, maybe the Wise Men (Jews from Babylon) had it, too.  At least I like to think they did.

Joseph was, of course, named for Joseph of old.  Like him, Joseph the carpenter (or maybe stone mason?) was a man in control of his sexual passions, was concerned about others, and was a dreamer of dreams who believed the dreams and helped them come true.  In Hebrew, that is one of 4 types of prophets: chozen, or dreamer. (the others are nabi or prophet, roeh or seer, and ish elohim, or man of God).  Count how many dreams Joseph has. Into and out of Egypt, saving the whole family.

Joseph of Egypt was clearly one of Pharoah’s wise men.  I’d love to know how Joseph taught Jesus the Gospel, helped his son become a prophet, a man of God, a Melek-tseddek.

So, as you sing, "We three Kings" think of three guys in your elders' quorum reading in Isaiah 60 that at the birth of the Messiah,  Kings would ride camels to meet him and take gold and incense as gifts.  I can imagine them saying, "If not us, who?  WE can fulfill these prophecies."

What dreams do you have?  How can we help each other make dreams come true?

Intertestamental Period : "The Lost 500 Years

Two excellent links to read more about the Intertestimental Period: what happened between the Old and New Testament.

Jim Faulconer: http://feastuponthewordblog.org/2010/12/19/nt-sunday-school-lessons-between-the-testaments/


Kevin Barney: http://bycommonconsent.com/2010/12/24/intertestamental-period/

And, if you want a BOOK on the subject, I recommend 

The Lost 500 Years: What Happened Between the Old and New Testaments

by Richard Neitzel Holzapfel and S. Kent Brown 

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=the+lost+500+years

New Course: Old Testament Background to the New Testament

BIG CHANGES : We will be using the NEW TESTAMENT as our text, of course looking at the Old Testament background. We will (I hope) follow the Come Follow Me schedule of readings.

I will be teaching four stake institute classes starting in January 23-24

Three in Salt Lake on Wednesdays and one in Utah county/ American Fork on Thursday evening.

 As always, there is no charge for classes not  listed on the BYU site.  Registration is just to get your email address for class announcements, or handouts or cancellations.

I hope to see you in one of the classes

Rebecca Holt Stay

Sandy : Wednesday morning, 9:00-10:30 AM, beginning January 23

Sandy Utah Granite South Stake Center

2126 Gyrfalcon Drive (10000 South), Sandy, Utah 84092

Register thru BYU Cont. Education

South Jordan :   Wednesday 11:30-1:00 PM, beginning beginning January 23

South Jordan Utah Stake

2450 W 10400 S. (South Jordan Parkway) South Jordan, Utah 84095

Register thru BYU Cont. Education  (I think: if it isn't listed, just come anyway)

Salt Lake Ensign : Wednesday afternoon, 2:150 – 3:450 PM , beginning January 23

Salt Lake Ensign Stake

135 A Street (A Street and 3rd Ave), Salt Lake City, UT, 84103

Register at the door.

NEW TIME :

American Fork:  THURSDAY evening, 7:00 – 8:30 PM, beginning January 24

American Fork Utah East Stake – Barratt Building - 270 North 900 East, Am. Fork, Utah 84003

Register at the door

2019 New Testament Timeline from Margot Butler

You know how much I love Margot Butler's Old Testament Timeline? 

Well, she drew one for the New Testament as well!

Click on the image below to open a printable version of this handout.

Classes start on January 23 and 24.  See you then.