LDS New Testament Images - Page 7

Jesus the Christ

(John 14:16-18, John 14:26-27)
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. (John 14:27)

The gospel of Jesus Christ can bring us peace. As we follow the example of the Savior and do the things He has taught us to do, we are blessed with the influence of His Spirit. During times of trouble or when we feel afraid, the Holy Ghost will be with us, and we can feel this peace in our hearts.

Near the close of His earthly mission, Jesus made this promise to His disciples: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).

Jesus knew His time on earth was short. He promised His disciples that when He left, Heavenly Father would send another Comforter to remain with them forever (John 14:16-18). This Comforter is the Holy Ghost, also referred to as the Spirit of truth. He was sent to teach the truth of all things and to help people remember the words of the Savior. (John 14:26)

Summary

The gospel of Jesus Christ can bring us peace. As we follow the example of Jesus and do what He has taught us to do, we are blessed with the influence of the Holy Spirit. During times of trouble or when we feel afraid, the Holy Ghost will be with us, and we can feel this peace in our hearts. The Holy Ghost helps us remember Jesus and obey His teachings.

Artist, Del Parson

The Annunciation: The Angel Gabriel Appears to Mary

(Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:26-38; Mosiah 3:8; Alma 7:10)
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. (Luke 1:30-31)

Long before Jesus' birth, prophets had foretold that the Only Begotten Son of the Father would be born to a virgin named Mary (Isaiah 7:14; Mosiah 3:8; Alma 7:10). Mary was chosen and foreordained for this important mission before she came to earth. As the Savior's mother, Mary would provide the Son of God with a body of flesh and blood, and she and her husband, Joseph, would raise Him, teach Him, and help Him prepare for His great mission.

Heavenly Father appointed the angel Gabriel to appear to Mary in Nazareth with the message of what He was asking her to do (Luke 1:26). "And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women" (Luke 1:28).

Gabriel's greeting left Mary troubled and uncertain as to the meaning of the heavenly visitation. Gabriel, understanding her feelings, told Mary to "fear not" and continued to explain the miraculous event that would take place. (Luke 1:29-33)

Mary still had questions and uncertainty about her mission. "How shall this be?" she asked when she heard that she would give birth to the "Son of the Highest." (Luke 1:31-34) Gabriel told her that she would be overshadowed by the power of God, and the child would be the Son of Heavenly Father, "for with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:35, Luke 1:37). Her questions answered, Mary recognized the great blessing the Lord was giving her and replied in faithfulness and obedience, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word" (Luke 1:38).

Summary

One day the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, a righteous young woman who lived in Nazareth. He told Mary that she had been chosen by Heavenly Father to be the mother of Jesus, who would be the only earthly son of Heavenly Father. Mary knew that no other daughter of God had ever been so blessed. She told the angel she was happy to obey Heavenly Father and be the mother of Jesus.

Artist, John Scott

Jesus and His Mother

(Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 2:13); Joseph Smith Translation, (John 2:4; John 19:26-27; 1 Nephi 11:18-20; Mosiah 3:8; Alma 7:10)
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. (Luke 2:40)

Mary was foreordained to be the mother of our Savior long before she came to earth. Many prophets before the meridian of time foretold that the Only Begotten Son of the Father would be born to the virgin Mary, a precious and chosen vessel of the Lord (Isaiah 7:14; 1 Nephi 11:18-20; Mosiah 3:8; Alma 7:10).

In the biblical accounts of Jesus' interaction with His mother, He demonstrates His obedience to her and the love that He feels for her. The account of Jesus' first miracle recorded in the scriptures, when He turned the water into wine at the marriage in Cana, shows the relationship Mary and Jesus had. When Mary saw that there was no more wine, she turned to her son for help. And when Mary asked for help, Jesus responded, "Woman, what wilt thou have me to do for thee? that will I do" (Joseph Smith Translation, (John 2:4).

Jesus displayed this same devotion to His mother in the last few moments of His life. When He saw Mary and His Apostle John standing by the cross, He said: "Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother!" (John 19:26-27). Even in the midst of great pain and suffering, He thought of His mother and her needs.

No other mortal woman will ever have the experiences Mary had of bearing Heavenly Father's physical Son and raising the Messiah. But Mary did not have to face these tasks alone. Her husband, Joseph, raised Jesus as his son, teaching and guiding Him and preserving His life so he could perform His great mission (Matthew 2:13).

Summary

Mary, a righteous and pure woman, was chosen to be the mother of Jesus Christ while she still lived with Heavenly Father. Jesus loved His mother and cared for her His entire life. Mary helped Jesus prepare to do the important work that Heavenly Father had called Him to do during His life. Mary's husband, Joseph, was a good man who loved Jesus and helped teach and raise Him.

Artist, Del Parson

Christ Walking on the Water

(Matthew 14:13-33; Mark 6:45-51)
But when [Peter] saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? (Matthew 14:30-31)

When Jesus Christ heard the news that Herod had beheaded John the Baptist, "he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart" (Matthew 14:13). But thousands of people followed Him from their cities, bringing their sick with them. So Jesus spent the day healing the sick, and that evening He fed the multitude with five loaves of bread and two fishes. (Matthew 14:14-21)

After having spent the day with His followers, Jesus once again sought an opportunity to be alone. He asked His disciples to go ahead on a ship while He sent the multitude home. Then "he went up into a mountain apart to pray" (Matthew 14:23; Mark 6:45-46). But while He was praying, a storm came up on the sea. The ship the disciples were on was in the middle of the sea being blown about by the winds and tossed by the waves. Jesus went out to them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw Him coming toward them, they thought it was a spirit and were frightened. (Matthew 14:24-26; Mark 6:48-49) Jesus immediately calmed their fears, saying, "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid" (Matthew 14:27; Mark 6:50).

The Apostle Peter answered, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water" (Matthew 14:28). Jesus told Peter to come, so Peter got out of the boat and began walking on the water toward Jesus. But when Peter saw the fierce winds and waves, he became afraid. He started to sink and cried out for Jesus to save him. (Matthew 14:30) Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught Peter, saying, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" (Matthew 14:31).

When Peter and Jesus were back on the ship, the winds ceased and the sea was calm once again. The disciples had seen all that had happened and worshiped Jesus, saying, "Of a truth thou art the Son of God" (Matthew 14:33).

Summary

One night Jesus' disciples put out to sea in a boat while Jesus stayed behind to pray to Heavenly Father. A storm came up and tossed the boat in the waves. When Jesus saw His disciples struggling with their ship in the storm, He started walking on the water toward the ship. The disciples were frightened when they saw a man walking toward them on the water. Then they heard Jesus call to them and tell them not to fear. Peter asked Jesus if he could come to Him, and Jesus told Peter to come. But as Peter did so he became afraid and started to sink. Jesus took hold of Peter's hand and helped him back to the boat. The sea became calm again, and the disciples testified that Jesus was the Son of God.

Artist, Robert T. Barrett

Christ and the Rich Young Ruler

(Matthew 19:16-24; Mark 10:17-25; Luke 18:18-25)
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. (Mark 10:21-22)

A rich young ruler came to Jesus asking, "Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" (Luke 18:18). Jesus told him to keep the commandments (Luke 18:19-20; Matthew 19:16-19; Mark 10:17-19).

The young man said that he had obeyed the commandments since he was a child, but Jesus looked upon him with love and told him of one more commandment he needed to keep (Matthew 19:20; Mark 10:20; Luke 18:21). "Go and sell that thou hast," Jesus said, "and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me" (Matthew 19:21; Mark 10:21; Luke 18:22).

When the young man heard this, he went away sorrowful because he was very rich and did not want to give away all his costly possessions (Matthew 19:22; Mark 10:22; Luke 18:23). Then Jesus said, "How hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!" (Mark 10:24; Matthew 19:23-24; Mark 10:23, Mark 10:25; Luke 18:24-25).

Summary

A rich young ruler came to Jesus and asked what he should do to have eternal life. Jesus told the man that he must obey the commandments. When the rich young man said that he had been obedient to the laws of God, Jesus said the man needed to do one more thing. He needed to sell all he had, give to the poor, and follow Jesus. The rich young man was very sad. He did not want to do what Jesus told him to do. He loved his riches more than he loved God.

Artist, Heinrich Hofmann