Miracles are evidence of Faith and God’s Power

Here are some of the many Miracles that Christ performed during his ministry:

Reference	Miracles of the Lord	Who Demonstrated Faith
Matt 8:1-4	Healed a Leper	The Leper
Matt 8:5-13	Healing of a servant sick of the palsy or paralysis	The Centurion
Matt 8:14-15	Healing of Peter’s mother-in-law who was sick with fever	Peter, the mother-in-law
Matt 8:16	Many who were possessed with devils were healed and the spirits cast out	All those to came to Christ that were sick
Matt 8:23-27	Christ calms the Sea	Christ’s disciples by waking and coming to Christ
Matt 8:28-34	Christ casts out evil spirits of two men and they went into a herd of swine	The Devils sort of did. They recognized Christ and his power
Matt 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-34	A woman diseased with an issue of blood is healed by merely touching Christ’s garment.	The woman
Matt 9:27-31	Two blind men are healed	The two men
Mark 2:1-12	A man sick with palsy is healed and his sins are also forgiven him	The man with palsy, & the men who carried him

After reading through many of the miracles that Christ performs, it sometimes amazes me with how much compassion, patience, and love he had for those that came to him in need. I know that he treats me in the same way when I go to him with my trials and I know that he welcomes me with open arms even if it seems I don’t deserve it. People came to him a lot even when he was “busy” doing something else, but he always took the time for others. It also gives me faith to know that with Christ’s help, we are able to overcome anything. I don’t know if I would have as great of faith as some of those who were healed had, but I do have faith enough to know that Christ can help me in my weaknesses because he understands what I am going though. He loves me and is there to strengthen me and lift me up.

The Baptism of Jesus Christ

Matthew 3:13-17

The Baptism of Christ is a humbling story for me. If we think about it, why would Christ really need to be baptized? Wasn't he perfect? The fact is-he WAS perfect. We know that he suffered temptation, but he was sinless. Because of that, I can imagine how John the Baptist felt when Christ came to him and asked for John to baptize him! In Matthew 3:14 we read about John's reaction. "...(he)forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?"
But Christ answers, " Suffer it be so now; for thus it becometh us to fulfil all" righteousness."

"Then he suffered him. 16. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of god descending like a dove, and lighting upon him;17. And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Here is something interesting I learned from reading the student New Testament Manual:

What Is the Significance of the Holy Ghost Descending “like a Dove”?

‘The sign of the dove was instituted before the creation of the world, a witness for the Holy Ghost, and the devil cannot come in the sign of a dove. The Holy Ghost is a personage, and is in the form of a personage. It does not confine itself to the form of the dove, but in sign of the dove. The Holy Ghost cannot be transformed into a dove; but the sign of a dove was given to John to signify the truth of the deed, as the dove is an emblem or token of truth and innocence.” (Smith, Teachings, pp. 275–76. Italics added.) It thus appears that John witnessed the sign of the dove, that he saw the Holy Ghost descend in the ‘bodily shape’ of the personage that he is, and that the descent was ‘like a dove.’” (McConkie, DNTC, 1:123–24.)

How cool is that?! We are taught in our church that the Holy Ghost has a 'bodily shape', so this makes much more sense to me of what "descending like a dove" means.

"To Fulfill all righteousness"

So, to again answer the question as to Why was Christ baptized?
2 Nephi 31:9 "And again, it showeth unto the children of men the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before him."

1. Baptism is one of the ordinances of our church. It is something we all must enter into in order to return to him.
2. It shows the humility of Christ.
3. Jesus Christ obeys all of Gods commandments

God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost- THREE separate beings
In this passage of scripture we also have evidence that the Godhead are three separate beings.

1. Jesus-being baptized
2. Holy Ghost- lighted upon Christ
3.God- a voice from heaven

The Childhood of Jesus Christ

We do not know very much about Christ's childhood. The scriptures mainly give us teachings from his ministry, so I wanted to learn a little bit more. While reading in the Institute New Testament Manual, I learned some really awesome things I want to share.

Jesus Had to Overcome the Veil

When Jesus was born, “the veil of forgetfulness common to all who are born to earth, by which the remembrance of primeval existence is shut off” was cast over him. (Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p. 111.) In the premortal world, Jesus had stood as “one like unto God” ( Abraham 3:24 ), “more intelligent than they all” ( Abraham 3:19 ), meaning all the other created spirits. But although his capacity was greater than that of any other, and he was designated to become the Only Begotten Son, still he was meek and humble; and he condescended to have a veil cast over him and to have the knowledge of his glor

y and power in premortality blocked from his mind at birth.

Because Christ forgot everything just as we did when we came here, he had to learn line upon line, precept upon precept. (or as the scriptures say, "grace by grace") There is little doubt that he learned things much quicker and more efficient than we did, but it still took time and experience.

As a Child, Jesus Sought to Learn from His Father

In the Inspired Version (of Matthew. JS-Matthew), the Prophet added the following verses to the recorded account of the Savior’s youth.

“And it came to pass that Jesus grew up with his brethren, and waxed strong, and waited upon the Lord for the time of his ministry to come.

“And he served under his father, andhe spake not as other men, neither could he be taught; for he needed not that any man should teach him."

“And after many years, the hour of his ministry drew nigh.” ( Matthew 3:24–26, Inspired Version .)

Although the word father in this passage perhaps refers to Joseph, yet the content of the passage certainly shows that Jesus was taught by his real father, God the Father.

It is, however, possible that Jesus attended the Jewish synagogues and was taught in the learning of the Jews by the rabbis. If so, much of what Jesus heard would have been a perversion of truth, for Judaism was in a state of apostasy.

His most significant education,therefore, came through the Spirit from his Heavenly Father. Jesus testified of himself:

“I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.” ( John 8:28 .) And again: “The Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.” ( John 12:49 .) Who taught Jesus what he knew? His Father, God the Fat

her, taught him. That he was taught by wiser than mortal men is evident, and that he learned his lessons well, for the Prophet Joseph Smith said of him:

“When still a boy, He had all the intelligence necessary to enable Him to rule and govern the kingdom of the Jews, and could reason with the wisest and most profound doctors of law and divinity, and make their theories and practice to appear like folly compared with the wisdom He possessed; but He was a boy only, and lacked physical strength even to defend His own person; and was subject to cold, to hunger, and to death.” ( Teachings,

A new thought for me:

It is improper to suppose that Jesus was not tested and tempted equal to his great capacity. The fact that he was sinless and that he resisted every temptation does not make it any less a fact that he was subject to temptations. He knows how difficult temptations are, because he experienced bitter temptations; but he resisted them all. (New Testament Institute Manual, pp.23)

I was a little struck by this. I guess I just assumed that Christ knew everything I went through because of the Atonement. He did, but I didn't realize that he suffered temptation throughout his life greater than we will ever know. Knowing this has helped me to better understand how grateful I am for him. He was tempted so much more than I, yet he resisted ALL temptation. I know that Christ has suffered for me and through him, I can be forgiven and made clean. I tesify that I know he lived again after he died and that he will return again. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.