John 18-21John 18-21

John 18:1-6John 18:1-6

““He said unto them, I am he, they went backward and He said unto them, I am he, they went backward and fell to the ground.”fell to the ground.”

They had no power to take himThey had no power to take him. . It would be under his It would be under his direction and authoritydirection and authority!!

John 19:5John 19:5 ““Behold the ManBehold the Man!”!”

Pilate seems to have counted on the pitiful sight of the Pilate seems to have counted on the pitiful sight of the scourged and bleeding Christ to soften the hearts of scourged and bleeding Christ to soften the hearts of the maddened Jews (the maddened Jews (JTCJTC, 639)., 639).

Pilate said of him, “Behold the man!” (John 19:5). One wonders Pilate said of him, “Behold the man!” (John 19:5). One wonders about his emerging godhood, as he grew from infancy to boyhood, about his emerging godhood, as he grew from infancy to boyhood, and boyhood to manhood. What were his feelings? What was it and boyhood to manhood. What were his feelings? What was it like to be a God among mortals? With whom did he discuss his like to be a God among mortals? With whom did he discuss his burdens? True, the bodies of other men walked by his side, but burdens? True, the bodies of other men walked by his side, but none was his intellectual and spiritual equal. None could see and none was his intellectual and spiritual equal. None could see and feel and understand as he saw and felt and understood. What feel and understand as he saw and felt and understood. What was it like for Christ to walk the dusty trails of his own creation, to was it like for Christ to walk the dusty trails of his own creation, to see his divine works through mortal eyes? When did he come to see his divine works through mortal eyes? When did he come to know that the birds that sang music to his ears, the flowers that know that the birds that sang music to his ears, the flowers that scented the air, the hills and valleys on which he loved to run and scented the air, the hills and valleys on which he loved to run and play, the sunsets and stars upon which he longed to gaze and play, the sunsets and stars upon which he longed to gaze and ponder were his creations? He was their designer, their architect, ponder were his creations? He was their designer, their architect, their framer --- yes, their very creator. their framer --- yes, their very creator.

We don not know with exactness when Christ became aware of We don not know with exactness when Christ became aware of his divine mission, but a consciousness of his godhood was his divine mission, but a consciousness of his godhood was emerging at an early age.emerging at an early age.

John 20:11-18John 20:11-18 ““Jesus first appearance to a mortalJesus first appearance to a mortal””

John 20:22John 20:22 ““He breathed on themHe breathed on them””

From the time of John to this hour when the resurrected Lord From the time of John to this hour when the resurrected Lord stood before his apostolic witnesses, the only legally performed stood before his apostolic witnesses, the only legally performed baptisms had been in water, with the promise in each instance baptisms had been in water, with the promise in each instance of a future baptism of fire. Now the time was at hand to perform of a future baptism of fire. Now the time was at hand to perform the ordinance which would entitle the saints to receive the the ordinance which would entitle the saints to receive the baptism of fire. And so Jesus “breathed on them,” baptism of fire. And so Jesus “breathed on them,” which which probably means that he laid his hands upon them as he uttered probably means that he laid his hands upon them as he uttered the decreethe decree: “: “Receive the Holy GhostReceive the Holy Ghost.”.”

They thus received, but did not at that moment actually enjoy, They thus received, but did not at that moment actually enjoy, the gift of the Holy Ghostthe gift of the Holy Ghost ( (DNTCDNTC, 857)., 857).

John 21:1-3John 21:1-3

““Jesus shewed himself to the disciples at the Sea of Jesus shewed himself to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias.”Tiberias.”

v. 3v. 3 “Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing.”“Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing.”

It’s almost as if he’s saying, okay, I guess it’s all over, It’s almost as if he’s saying, okay, I guess it’s all over, let’s go fishing!let’s go fishing!

v. 4v. 4 In His “perfect form”In His “perfect form”

v. 6v. 6 Sounds familiar!Sounds familiar!

John 21:6John 21:6 Cast the net on the right Cast the net on the right side of the ship!side of the ship!

The Lord, who was able to say to his disciples, The Lord, who was able to say to his disciples, “Cast the net on the rights side of the ship,” knew “Cast the net on the rights side of the ship,” knew beforehand there was a multitude of fishes there. beforehand there was a multitude of fishes there. If he knew beforehand the movements and If he knew beforehand the movements and whereabouts of fishes in the little Sea of Tiberias, whereabouts of fishes in the little Sea of Tiberias, should it offend us that he knows beforehand should it offend us that he knows beforehand which mortals will come into the gospel net? which mortals will come into the gospel net? (Neal A. Maxwell, “(Neal A. Maxwell, “Meeting the Challenges of Meeting the Challenges of TodayToday,” 153).,” 153).

““Feed my SheepFeed my Sheep””

John 21:15-17John 21:15-17

v. 15v. 15 Feed my lambs Feed my lambs = = children children (primary)(primary)

v. 16-17v. 16-17 Feed my sheep Feed my sheep = = all all others others

(Gospel Doctrine, Relief Society, Priesthood)(Gospel Doctrine, Relief Society, Priesthood)

““Prophecy of Peter’s DeathProphecy of Peter’s Death””

John 21:19John 21:19

Tradition has it that Peter was crucified in Tradition has it that Peter was crucified in Rome, upside down at his own request Rome, upside down at his own request because he felt he was not worthy to die the because he felt he was not worthy to die the same way Jesus did (same way Jesus did (N.T. Seminary ManualN.T. Seminary Manual, , 232).232).

““That disciple Should Not DieThat disciple Should Not Die””

John 21:21-24John 21:21-24

It is possible that there were others as well as John It is possible that there were others as well as John who were given this great privilege (who were given this great privilege (ATGQATGQ, vol. , vol. 167-68).167-68).

(D&C 7 and 3 Nephi 28) (D&C 7 and 3 Nephi 28)

““The doctrine of translation is one of those The doctrine of translation is one of those mysteries that has eluded humankind. mysteries that has eluded humankind.

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that “the The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that “the doctrine of translation is a power which belongs doctrine of translation is a power which belongs to this (Melchizedek) Priesthood. There are to this (Melchizedek) Priesthood. There are many things which belong to the powers of the many things which belong to the powers of the Priesthood and the keys thereof, that have Priesthood and the keys thereof, that have been kept hid from before the foundation of the been kept hid from before the foundation of the world; they are hid from the wise and prudent to world; they are hid from the wise and prudent to be revealed in the last times” (be revealed in the last times” (TeachingsTeachings, 170)., 170).

Most protestant theologians make no specific Most protestant theologians make no specific reference to the doctrine of translated beings in reference to the doctrine of translated beings in their Bible Dictionaries.their Bible Dictionaries.

There place of habitation is that of the There place of habitation is that of the Terrestrial OrderTerrestrial Order, and a , and a place prepared for such characters He (God) held in reserve to place prepared for such characters He (God) held in reserve to be be ministering angelsministering angels” (” (TeachingsTeachings, 170)., 170).

With the exception of the account of Elijah (With the exception of the account of Elijah (2 Kings 2:112 Kings 2:11) and ) and Enoch (Enoch (Gen 5:24; also Heb 11:5Gen 5:24; also Heb 11:5), there are no biblical ), there are no biblical passages which are generally interpreted as describing those passages which are generally interpreted as describing those who have been translated or that explain their circumstances who have been translated or that explain their circumstances after being translated. after being translated. Some scholars acknowledge the Some scholars acknowledge the possibility that the phrase in John 21:22-23 has reference to possibility that the phrase in John 21:22-23 has reference to John being translatedJohn being translated. .

D&C 7D&C 7 was a result of this dilemma. was a result of this dilemma.

The Prophet Joseph Smith said that “The Prophet Joseph Smith said that “translated beings cannot translated beings cannot enter in to rest until they have undergone a change equivalent enter in to rest until they have undergone a change equivalent to deathto death” (” (HCHC, 4:425)., 4:425).

Eleven Characteristics of Translated Eleven Characteristics of Translated BeingsBeings::

1. 1. 3 Nephi 28:73 Nephi 28:7 “Never taste of death.”“Never taste of death.”

2. 2. 3 Nephi 28:83 Nephi 28:8 “twinkling of an eye from “twinkling of an eye from mortality to immortality.”mortality to immortality.”

3. 3. 3 Nephi 28:93 Nephi 28:9 “shall not have pain while in “shall not have pain while in the flesh.”the flesh.”

4. 4. 3 Nephi 28:93 Nephi 28:9 “neither sorrow save it be for “neither sorrow save it be for the sins of the world.”the sins of the world.”

5. 5. 3 Nephi 28:103 Nephi 28:10 “fullness of joy.”“fullness of joy.”

““Calling and Election Made SureCalling and Election Made Sure””

6. 6. 3 Nephi 28:133 Nephi 28:13 “Caught up to heaven “Caught up to heaven and saw and heard and saw and heard unspeakable things.”unspeakable things.”

Additional knowledge regular members have Additional knowledge regular members have not yet received.not yet received.

7. 7. 3 Nephi 28:183 Nephi 28:18 “preaching and baptizing.”“preaching and baptizing.”

8. 8. 3 Nephi 28:193 Nephi 28:19 “power over evil men.”“power over evil men.”

9. 9. 3 Nephi 28:303 Nephi 28:30 “they are as angels.”“they are as angels.”

10. 10. 3 Nephi 28:393 Nephi 28:39 “Satan could have no “Satan could have no power over them.”power over them.”

11. 11. 3 Nephi 28:403 Nephi 28:40 “they remain in that state “they remain in that state until the judgment day of until the judgment day of Christ.”Christ.”

The Ministry of the Three NephitesThe Ministry of the Three Nephites::

““There are no angels who minister to this earth There are no angels who minister to this earth but those who do but those who do belong or have belonged to belong or have belonged to it” (D&C 130:5). “Translated bodies are it” (D&C 130:5). “Translated bodies are designed for future missions” (designed for future missions” (TeachingsTeachings, 191)., 191).

They have been here on the face of the earth - They have been here on the face of the earth - advocates of righteousness and contending advocates of righteousness and contending against Satan and his adversariesagainst Satan and his adversaries ( (Seek Ye Seek Ye EarnestlyEarnestly, 419-20, Joseph Fielding Smith). , 419-20, Joseph Fielding Smith).

We can say as Elder John W. Taylor did: We can say as Elder John W. Taylor did:

You will find that many districts where the Elders of You will find that many districts where the Elders of Israel cannot reach will be penetrated by these men Israel cannot reach will be penetrated by these men who have power over death;… who have power over death;… My testimony is that My testimony is that these men are going abroad in the nations of the earth these men are going abroad in the nations of the earth before the face of your sons, and they are preparing before the face of your sons, and they are preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive the the hearts of the children of men to receive the GospelGospel. They are administering to those who are . They are administering to those who are heirs of salvation, and preparing their hearts to receive heirs of salvation, and preparing their hearts to receive the truth, just as a farmer prepares the soil to receive the truth, just as a farmer prepares the soil to receive the seed. The Lord has promised that He would send the seed. The Lord has promised that He would send His angels before the face of His servants, and He His angels before the face of His servants, and He does so (John W. Taylor, C.R., October 1902, 75).does so (John W. Taylor, C.R., October 1902, 75).

The Lord ceased translating The Lord ceased translating faithful peoplefaithful people. Rather, they were . Rather, they were permitted to die and go into the permitted to die and go into the spirit world, there to perform the spirit world, there to perform the ever-increasing work needed in ever-increasing work needed in that sphere (that sphere (Millennial MessiahMillennial Messiah, , 285).285).