"Lesson 19: “Thy Faith Hath Saved Thee”," New Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, (2002)
1. Introduction
a) Topic is Faith
i) Reading 1 – Elder David A. Bednar has said: The Apostle Paul defined faith as “the substance of things hoped for [and] the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Alma declared that faith is not a perfect knowledge; rather, if we have faith, we “hope for things which are not seen [but] are true” (Alma 32:21). Additionally, we learn in the Lectures on Faith that faith is “the first principle in revealed religion, and the foundation of all righteousness” and that it is also “the principle of action in all intelligent beings.” 1
These teachings highlight three basic elements of faith: (1) faith as the assurance of things hoped for that are true, (2) faith as the evidence of things not seen, and (3) faith as the principle of action in all intelligent beings. I describe these three components of faith in the Savior as simultaneously facing the future, looking to the past, and initiating action in the present.
Faith as the assurance of things hoped for looks to the future. This assurance is founded upon a correct understanding about, and trust in, God and enables us to “press forward” (2 Nephi 31:20) into uncertain and often challenging situations in the service of the Savior. (Elder David A. Bednar, Seek Learning by Faith, Ensign, September, 2007)
b) For those who are proud, the requirement to believe, live and act by faith is a great challenge, perhaps the greatest.
i) Faith and humility are companion virtues
ii) The impoverished and illiterate Peruvian widows has a great advantage in the field of faith
c) As we go through today’s lesson, let’s keep Elder Bednar’s basic elements of faith in mind:
i) assurance of things hoped for that are true
ii) the evidence of things not seen
iii) the principle of action in all intelligent beings
2. Jesus presents the parable of the unjust judge and the widow
a) Reading 2 – Luke 18:1-8
1And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
6And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
i) Easy parable to get wrong
ii) Christ gives part of the message in the beginning
(1) Verse 1 - that men ought always to pray, and not to faint
(2) Exercising faith is good for us
(3) Asking Heavenly Father for things we need is good for us
(a) We shouldn’t be surprised if life presents us many different situations that cause us to pray
iii) Verse 2 - There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man
(1) Here’s where some people get this wrong
(2) Is this judge a good person?
(a) which feared not God,
(b) neither regarded man
(3) Is this judge supposed to represent God?
iv) Verse 3 - a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary
(1) A woman who was wronged was seeking justice
(2) Righteous petition
v) Judge ignored her at first
vi) Verse 5 - Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me
(1) Why did the judge change his mind?
(a) Not because the woman had a good case
(b) Because she wearied him
(c) Was this a righteous reason for doing the thing the judge should have done in the first place?
vii) Verse 7 - And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
(1) The unrighteous judge is completely different from God
(2) Christ is contrasting God with the unrighteous judge, not comparing him
(3) God, who is righteous and kind, will of course help his children, not because they weary Him but because he loves and supports them
viii) Verse 8 - 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
(1) The real question is not whether God will respond to His children’s prayers, but whether His children will exercise faith in God.
b) Elder Bednar’s Elements of Faith
i) assurance of things hoped for that are true – prayers will be answered
ii) the evidence of things not seen – responses to prayer are evidence of God’s existence and His love, which we cannot see
iii) the principle of action in all intelligent beings – Faith in God causes us to petition Him for help in all aspects of our lives. Because He is good and just, we understand that He will respond.
c) Reading 3 - Elder Richard G. Scott said: “It is a mistake to assume that every prayer we offer will be answered immediately. Some prayers require considerable effort on our part. …
“When we explain a problem and a proposed solution [to our Heavenly Father], sometimes He answers yes, sometimes no. Often He withholds an answer, not for lack of concern, but because He loves us—perfectly. He wants us to apply truths He has given us. For us to grow, we need to trust our ability to make correct decisions. We need to do what wefeel is right. In time, He will answer. He will not fail us” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1989, 38; or Ensign, Nov. 1989, 30–31).
3. A blind man demonstrates his faith and is healed by Jesus
a) Reading 4 - Luke 18:35–43
35¶And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:
36And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.
37And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.
38And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
39And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
40And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,
41Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
42And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
43And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
i) Very simple story – teaches fundamental principles of faith
ii) Verse 35 – Blind man beside the road
iii) Verse 36-37 – Blind man heard the multitude, asked and learned Jesus was there
iv) Verse 38 - he cried
v) Verse 38 - Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me
(1) Alma 36:18 I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me
(2) This is a petition based upon faith that Christ can help, that one of His principle attributes is mercy for those in desperate need
vi) Verse 39 – People tried to quiet the blind man, but he kept up his petition
(1) Keep on praying, don’t stop exercising your faith
vii) Verse 41 – Christ asks a simple question - What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?
viii) Verse 41 – Asking for what he needed - Lord, that I may receive my sight.
ix) Verse 42 – The answer to prayer - Receive thy sight:
x) Verse 42 – the reason the prayer was answered - thy faith hath saved thee
xi) Verse 43 – Expressing thanks for the miracle – the formerly blind man followed him, glorifying God
b) Elder Bednar’s elements of faith
i) assurance of things hoped for that are true – faith that Christ could perform a miracle and heal him
ii) the evidence of things not seen – the blind man literally could not see Christ
iii) the principle of action in all intelligent beings – blind man petitioned Christ and would not stop petitioning him even when others tried to make him stop
4. Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead
a) Reading 5 - Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote: "Now Lazarus lived in the town of Bethany some two miles east of Jerusalem, but hidden from the Holy City by a spur of the mount of Olives. There also dwelt in this Judean village of blessed memory the beloved sisters Mary and Martha, in whose family circle the Lord Jesus so often found surcease from toil and rest from his labors. They and their brother Lazarus were three of the most intimate friends Jesus had on earth." (Mortal Messiah, 3:270)
b) We spoke a few weeks ago about the Gospel of John
i) Written to the early members of the Church
ii) Includes accounts of events not recorded in the other three Gospels
c) Reading 6 – John 11:1-7
1Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
2(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
3Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
4When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
5Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
7Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judæa again.
i) Lazarus is sick and his sisters send word to Jesus of the illness
ii) Verse 4 – This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby
(1) Christ knows what will happen and what He will do, but the death of Lazarus is to serve a greater purpose
(2) ASK – Do we ever think that the difficulties, even terrible difficulties in our lives serve a greater purpose?
(a) ASK – If all our prayers were immediately answered in exactly the way we thought they should be, would we learn faith?
iii) Verse 5 – John is careful to explain Jesus is not being careless or negligent - Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus
(1) ASK – Do we ever wonder whether God loves us when we are in the midst of a great trial?
iv) Verse 6 – After learning of the illness of Lazarus, Christ remains away from his home
v) In verse 14, Christ tells His disciples that Lazarus is dead
d) Reading 7: John 11:17, 20-29
20Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
21Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
22But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
28And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.
29As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.
i) Martha hears that Jesus is coming and meets Him before He reaches the house
ii) Verse 21 – Martha speaks to Jesus - Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
(1) Expression of faith in Christ’s powers, not recrimination
iii) Verse 22 – Martha continues - I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
(1) Martha’s faith in Christ is undiminished because He did not come in time to save Lazarus
(2) Perhaps a hint that even now, four days after Lazarus has died, Martha has faith that Christ can raise him from the dead.
(a) ASK: Did the Holy Ghost comfort Martha with this knowledge?
iv) Verse 23 - Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again
v) Verse 24 – Martha knows that her brother’s future well-being is in good hands - I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day
(1) Martha knows of the doctrine of the resurrection
vi) Verse 25-26 – Christ teaches the source of all resurrections - I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die
(1) Christ says He is the one who brings about two things
(a) Resurrection
(b) Life
(c) Reading 8 - Elder Bruce R. McConkie: "Thus saith the Lord. He has spoken and so it is. He is the resurrection; it comes by him; without him there would be no immortality; he is the personification of that power which molds the dust of the grave into an immortal man....
"He also is the life; eternal life comes by him. Without him there would be no salvation in the highest heaven, no exaltation no continuation of the family unit in eternity, no fulness of joy in the realms ahead. He is the personification of that power which gives eternal life to all those who are born again who are alive in Christ. Those who believe and obey, though they die the natural death, yet shall they gain eternal life in the resurrection. Yea, those who believe in Christ shall never die spiritually: they shall be alive to the things of the Spirit in this life, and they shall have eternal life in the world to come. Death, as men view it, is nothing to sorrow about where the faithful saints are concerned; what if they, as do all men lose their lives here -- they shall yet gain the far more glorious reward of eternal life hereafter." (Mortal Messiah, 3:275-276)
vii) Verse 25 – The necessity of faith – he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live
viii) Verse 26 - And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die
ix) Verse 26 – After making this statement, Christ asks Martha a simple question: Believest thou this?
(1) Do you have faith in Me?
x) Verse 27 – Martha’s faith-filled response - Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world
(1) Martha has just had a trial of her faith as she watched her brother die knowing that Jesus had the power to heal him if He had come sooner.
(2) She believes and she knows who and what she believes in
(3) Sometimes, when people read the account of Mary and Martha in Luke 10 where Mary is listening to Jesus and Martha is trying to take care of the mechanics of welcoming the Savior, they look down on Martha.
(4) In this account, Martha manifests incredible, unshakable faith after the death of her brother
(a) We can think of a few times when Peter’s faith was more wobbly than Martha’s faith
e) Reading 9 – John 11:32-35
32Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
35 Jesus wept.
i) Verse 32 - Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died
ii) Verse 33 - Jesus sees Mary weeping and sees others weeping
iii) Verse 35 - Jesus wept
(1) This is perfect love
(2) Perfect sympathy with Mary’s feelings
(3) Christ knows what He will do in just a little while
(a) raise Lazarus from the dead
(b) Change Mary’s tears from tears of sorrow to tears of joy
(4) But Christ understands Mary’s sorrow at this moment over the loss of her beloved brother
(5) Christ shares Mary’s sorrow, feels what Mary feels and He weeps
(6) Here is important information about the nature of Christ’s Atoning sacrifice
(a) He atones for our sorrows and disappointments
(b) Part of that Atonement is feeling those sorrows and disappointments deeply
(c) When the time is not yet right for a miracle to come into our lives to save us from a situation of sorrow, worry or disappointment, even if the miracle is only hours or minutes away, our Savior weeps with us
(d) When, in God’s wisdom, our prayers are not answered and we weep, our Savior weeps with us
(e) He never leaves us to weep alone
(f) There is no sorrow we feel that He does not share fully and completely
f) Reading 10 – John 11:38-44
38Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
41Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
43And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
i) Verse 39 - Jesus said, Take ye away the stone
ii) Verse 39 – Martha says Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days
(1) ASK – Is Martha’s faith wavering or is she thinking of an offensive smell coming to Jesus?
(2) If it is a momentary waver in her faith, it is evidence that our faith needs to be strong, but it is not required to be perfect
iii) Verse 40 – Christ’s response to Martha - Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
(1) Christ reminds Martha of the importance of her faith - if thou wouldest believe
(2) Even with the limitless power Christ possesses, Martha’s faith is vital and the blind man’s faith was vital
(a) Our faith may seem small compared with the power of God, but our faith is important. It is not a token or a formality, it is important.
iv) Verses 41-42 – Christ says a prayer and acknowledges that He is a servant of His Father - Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42 And I knew that thou hearest me always
(1) We see an example of perfect faith here
(2) Verse 42 - I knew that thou hearest me always
(3) No doubt here
v) Verse 43 - he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
vi) Verse 44 - And he that was dead came forth
vii) Verse 44 - Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go
g) ASK – What kind of resurrection from the dead did Lazarus receive? Did he die again?
h) READ - Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote: "And there the inspired account ends. A reverent curtain of silence drops over the sayings and doings of Lazarus -- from his youth to the day he fell asleep in the arms of death; during the four days his spirit visited with friends in paradise, as he awaited the call to come back to the turmoils of life; and from the time he again breathed the breath of life until he laid down again his mortal tabernacle, this time to await that glorious day of resurrection of which Martha spoke. Lazarus lived and Lazarus died and Lazarus rose -- again that he might continue his mortal probation; that he might die again; that he might be, for his day and for all days, a living witness of the power of him who ministered in Bethany as the Son of God. We cannot doubt that he bore many fervent testimonies to many Jewish brethren relative to the life and death and life that was his." (Mortal Messiah, 3:280)
i) Reading 11 - Elder James E. Talmage wrote: "The raising of Lazarus stands as the third recorded instance of restoration to life by Jesus. In each the miracle resulted in a resumption of mortal existence, and was in no sense a resurrection from death to immortality. In the raising of the daughter of Jairus, the spirit was recalled to its tenement within the hour of its quitting; the raising of the widow's son is an instance of restoration when the corpse was ready for the grave; the crowning miracle of the three was the calling of a spirit to reenter its body days after death, and when, by natural processes the corpse would be already in the early stages of decomposition. Lazarus was raised from the dead, not simply to assuage the grief of mourning relatives; myriads have had to mourn over death, and so myriads more shall have to do. One of the Lord's purposes was that of demonstrating the actuality of the power of God as shown forth in the works of Jesus the Christ, and Lazarus was the accepted subject of the manifestation, just as the man afflicted with congenital blindness had been chosen to be the one through whom the Works of God should be made manifest." (Jesus The Christ, p461)
5. Conclusion
