#sunday sharing

[the-sky-queen]

Hey all, the Sunday morning session of Conference is starting now! You should come watch!

[the-sky-queen]

15 new temples!!!

[the-sky-queen]

Wanted to share something interesting I've come across recently while studying the New Testament.

Haven't gotten to John yet, but during the crucifixion narratives of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, there's this neat little detail I noticed. Once Jesus dies, there's this Centurion that gets brought up. In Mark and Matthew, he cries out with: "Truly this was the Son of God!"

"Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God." - Matt 27:54

"And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God." - Mark 15:39

This is significant because, if I'm remembering correctly, during those two Gospels, pretty much no one acknowledges Jesus as the Son of God. So to have a centurion be the one to acknowledge it at the very end and not a Jew is like. A massive gut punch. It's a really cool effect!

However, when we get to Luke, the centurion says something different:

"Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man." - Luke 23:47

Huh. He says Jesus was a righteous man instead of the Son of God. That's . . . really bizarre, right? This really puzzled me and I couldn't figure out why Luke would've changed the wording here, the phrase that is so important in Matthew and Mark. So, I ended up asking someone who knows a lot about the New Testament about it. Here was his explanation.

Since Luke had spent the entire book addressing and emphasizing Jesus' nature as the Son of God, there was no real need or reason to include the same literary gut punch here. Instead, Luke changed the Centurion's declaration to say Jesus was righteous, which fun fact, when you look at the original word, can also be translated as innocent. It keeps the effect of the gut punch, but changes the context! Jesus was the Son of God and he was completely innocent, yet he was crucified and paid for the sins of the world.

Anyway, just a little something I found cool. :)

[the-sky-queen]

Final session starting now!!

[the-sky-queen]

It's Christmas Eve!

"1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."

- Luke 2:1–7

Heavenly messengers herald the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem—He is circumcised, and Simeon and Anna prophesy of His mission—At twelve years of

Go watch the Christ Child. :)

[the-sky-queen]

My baby sister is going to be in her first Primary Program today!! I'm so excited!!

Songs I hope they'll sing: Army of Helaman, Child's Prayer, Gethsemane. Those are really good ones.

[the-sky-queen]

End of the Sunday Morning Session!

I didn't really take notes this time, but Dieter F. Uchtdorf spoke, which made me happy. He's one of my favorite apostles. His talk was very good! I also really enjoyed Henry B. Eyring's talk as well.

One session left! Don't miss it!

[the-sky-queen]

I went to the YSA Ward today! It was different but cool. I'm gonna be going for the next few weeks to see how I like it.