Weekly E-mail Reminder

	HIDDEN LDS/JEWISH INSIGHTS Lesson #15 New Testament Gospel Doctrine supplement by Daniel Rona Weekly E-mail Reminder << I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD >> John 7–8 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (1.) THE GREAT "I AM" IS THE "LIGHT:" - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Every bit of light is a reflection of Him. The teachings and traditions of light may be ways of better recognizing Him. ". . . he is . . . the light of the sun . . . the light of the moon . . . the light of the stars . . . the light which shineth . . . the same light that quickeneth your understandings; Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space . . ." (D. & C. 88:7-12) "Jehovah," means "I Am" in Hebrew. "I Am' is not spoken in Hebrew. That light has gone out! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (2.) SUKKOTH, JEWISH TEMPLE HOLIDAY OF LIGHT: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Along with Passover, it is one of the holy (and happy) times that the Children of Israel were given to remind them of being delivered from bondage. Because the "Deliverer" is "Light," Sukkoth with its lights is also the time to remember Solomon's dedication of the temple, the Lord's house. The temple was an "Ensign," a "light" to the world in its day and again in latter-days. ". . . Prophets who have contemplated and described the . . . reunion of the tribes of Israel . . . have also predicted that . . . a new dispensation should be manifested . . . "An Ensign" for the people. In short . . . a new organization . . . and government of a renovated world." (Parley P. Pratt, Key to Theology, Ch.9, Pg.76 - Pg.77) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (3.) LIGHT SPREADS FROM JERUSALEM: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - It was the practice to light fires on mountain tops every Sukkoth holiday. Seen by a distant village, they would light fires on their mountain tops, and in that way the lights spread throughout the diaspora of Jewish communities, mountain to mountain. When the temple was destroyed, a mourning holiday, Tish'ah Be-av, was instituted and on that holiday lights are diminished. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (4.) DESECRATING THE TEMPLE, A CAPITAL CRIME, DEATH PENALTY: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Capital crimes included adultery, murder, blasphemy, and rebellion of children against their parents. ". . . if a son is extremely rebellious and incorrigible and refuses to mend his ways . . . his parents may agree to bring him to the town elders for judgment and punishment, which could be death by stoning. However, there is no record of such punishment ever having been carried out." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (5.) BIBLICAL STONING, CASTING DOWN - WOMAN BROUGHT TO JESUS: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The stoning procedure included causing death by precipitating the convicted person over a cliff including the participation of one of the witnesses. The second witness threw the "first stone" on the body in a process of burying the convicted. The stoning was burying without a "mourning chamber." Now, consider the woman brought to Jesus. Wisely and compassionately, the Judge of Israel, our Advocate with the Father, the Atoner for our sins reminded the Pharisees that they had a legal system. In effect, was He saying, "Where are your witnesses? What would cause you to come to me when you have a procedure for the witnesses to do their legal duty?" Yet, at the same time, He had them examine their own lives (and lusts?). "Where is the witness - without sin, let him cast the first stone?" When they all left, Jesus, the ultimate Judge and Advocate, said, "Neither do I accuse thee, go thy way and sin no more." Hopelessness and darkness were turned to lighted hope. She was saved. "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:9-12)
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