During his lifetime, Jesus was seen by and taught thousands. Many walked, talked, touched, ate with him, and were taught by him. Scribes, pharisees, Pilate, and the Jewish leadership were among them. And yet, they never gained a testimony of his divine mission. They did not have the witness that he was their Redeemer.
Does it matter that we have not seen, heard, or touched him?
The majority of the human race has not. For most of those who did have the privilege of living in the same place, at the same time that Christ did, it still made no difference. Even though he was right there among them, they never came to know who he really was. They totally missed that he truly was and is the Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Christ taught that there is a much more powerful and lasting means by which we gain knowledge of truth. A spiritual witness is always much more powerful than a physical witness:
He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 16:15-17
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: Romans 8:16
Every prophet that has ever lived, both modern and ancient, has borne testimony of Christ.
It's their job. And each one of them had to first seek and obtain their own personal witness in the very same way each one of us has to. At a general conference, President Harold B. Lee prefaced his witness by these words: "I know, with a testimony more powerful than sight...." (Oct 1972)
How do we receive this witness? Can we?
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Matthew 7:7-8
First, action is required on our part - ask, seek, knock
And then a promise: receive, find, it shall be opened
A promise made not just to the prophets, but to every single one of us...... Ye shall find!
David O. McKay shares his witness:
“Brethren and sisters, I have cherished from childhood the truth that God is a personal being and is, indeed, our Father whom we can approach in prayer and receive answers thereto. My testimony of the risen Lord is just as real as Thomas’, who said to the resurrected Christ when he appeared to his disciples: ‘My Lord and my God.’ (John 20:28.) I know that he lives. He is God made manifest in the flesh; and I know that ‘there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.’ (Acts 4:12.)
“I know that he will confer with his servants who seek him in humility and in righteousness. I know because I have heard his voice, and I have received his guidance in matters pertaining to his kingdom here on earth.
“I know that his Father, our Creator, lives. I know that they appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith and revealed to him the revelations which we now have recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants and in other Church works. This knowledge is as real to me as that which occurs in our daily lives. When we lay our bodies down at night, we know—we have an assurance—that the sun will rise in the morning and shed its glory over all the earth. So near to me is the knowledge of Christ’s existence and divinity of this restored Church.” (In CR, Apr. 1968, pp. 9–10.)
We have finished our study of the four gospels! I have loved studying the life and teachings of our Savior. Thank you to all who followed along or contributed to the posts. I have learned so much from all the insights and testimonies that have been shared. As happens at the end of every good book, I find myself wanting more and wishing that I had not turned the last page so soon. Fortunately, this is a story that never ends but continues on throughout eternity with each of us intertwined within it. Each of us is writing our own chapter at this very moment. I hope, someday as I look back on my own chapter, that in spite of the many mistakes which I am sure will be there, that it will reflect a life lived as one who has a great love of the Savior. What will your story tell?
Posted by Sister Montgomery
