Christ Painting In The Desert

without sounding like a religious nut I hope,I will say that Jesus has always been the biggest inspiration in my life.There are a lot of paintings of Jesus but nothing caught my eye like this painting.There is Jesus so Human and frail and alone.He's Probably thinking of the trials that lie ahead before him or probably something much further but there is that frailty in those hollow eyes and face that is so human.Probably he's praying a desperate prayer for everyone and knows somehow it won't work.There is this landscape all around him of a desert that is in complete agreement with him.The Human suffering and weakness so apparent in a being worshipped as a Messiah always inspired me to realize how he has been through it before me for me and that everything will be alright.Only one who goes through pain can know and understand others pain and suffering and one look at that picture even in my lowest of the lows tells me that he understands and cares..

UFOs, Aliens, and Religious Art painting

The Another Testament of Jesus Christ

You have seen from the writings of the Prophet Alma above that he was saved from exceeding anguish after he recalled and believed in the prophetic words of his own father, Alma, regarding the future coming to earth of Jesus Christ to atone for the sins of mankind.

It should become obvious to each of us that the gift of Prophecy and Revelation is heart and soul of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Why then is it not a part of the Christian churches of today's world? I must also ask, why don't those churches accept the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ? After all its prophets often testify in their writings of their using the gifts of Prophecy and Revelation.

I will answer my own question (with your permission): They do not accept that sacred book, because as the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians prophesied, (the gift of knowledge and other spiritual gifts)

The Resurrected Lord Jesus Painting

The Resurrected Lord Jesus

Painting: Simon Dewey

Why Weepest Thou?

Painting: Harry Anderson

Jesus Shows His Wounds

Painting: Harry Anderson

Go Ye Therefore Into All the World

Painting: Harry Anderson

The Ascension of Jesus Into Heaven

Painting: Harry Anderson

The (Future) Second Coming of Our Savior, Jesus Christ

Much of the Nephite Nation had been destroyed by a great cataclysm of nature that occured just before the resurrected Jesus visited them. The more righteous of that nation had been saved from that tremendous destruction, which had come by earthquakes, whirlwinds, floods and fire.

After having become aware of all the destruction which killed many relatives of theirs, these Israelites were emotionally and spiritually ready (without fully realizing it) for the great spiritual experiences they were soon to have with their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The righteous prophets among this Israelitish people had kept good records which eventually were edited to provide what is in the Book of Mormon, which stands right alongside the New Testament as Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

There is an entire, large sub-book in the Book of Mormon entitled Third Nephi which describes the experiences of these Nephites at the time of His several visits to them. I have chosen just four pictures of events that took place then to help you understand something of what Jesus Christ did there in ancient Central America not long after His resurrection. Jesus told the people there, after He began visiting with them, that they had much more faith than the people He grew up and taught among (in Palestine).

Painting Gary Kapp

Mosiah 3:1 AND again my brethren, I would call your attention, for I have somewhat more to speak unto you; for behold, I have things to tell you concerning that which is to come.
2 And the things which I shall tell you are made known unto me by an angel from God. And he said unto me: Awake; and I awoke, and behold he stood before me.
3 And he said unto me: Awake, and hear the words which I shall tell thee; for behold, I am come to declare unto you the glad tidings of great joy.
4 For the Lord hath heard thy prayers, and hath judged of thy righteousness, and hath sent me to declare unto thee that thou mayest rejoice; and that thou mayest declare unto thy people, that they may also be filled with joy.
5 For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases. (Emphasis added)

Painting: Carl Heinrich Bloch

6 And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of men.
7 And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.

Painting: Harry Anderson

Jesus Suffers in the Garden of Gethsemane

8 And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.

9 And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name; and even after all this they shall consider him a man, and say that he hath a devil, and shall scourge him, and shall crucify him.

10 And he shall rise the third day from the dead; and behold, he standeth to judge the world; and behold, all these things are done that a righteous judgment might come upon the children of men.
11 For behold, and also his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of Adam, who have died not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned.

Painting: Harry Anderson

12 But wo, wo unto him who knoweth that he rebelleth against God! For salvation cometh to none such except it be through repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.
13 And the Lord God hath sent his holy prophets among all the children of men, to declare these things to every kindred, nation, and tongue, that thereby whosoever should believe that Christ should come, the same might receive remission of their sins, and rejoice with exceedingly great joy, even as though he had already come among them.

Painting: Jerry Harston

14 Yet the Lord God saw that his people were a stiffnecked people, and he appointed unto them a law, even the law of Moses.
15 And many signs, and wonders, and types, and shadows showed he unto them, concerning his coming; and also holy prophets spake unto them concerning his coming; and yet they hardened their hearts, and understood not that the law of Moses availeth nothing except it were through the atonement of his blood.

Painting: Judith Mehr

16 And even if it were possible that little children could sin they could not be saved; but I say unto you they are blessed; for behold, as in Adam, or by nature, they fall, even so the blood of Christ atoneth for their sins.
17 And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.

Painting: Del Parson

Jesus The Christ

18 For behold he judgeth, and his judgment is just; and the infant perisheth not that dieth in his infancy; but men drink damnation to their own souls except they humble themselves and become as little children, and believe that salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.
19 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.

Painting: Del Parson

20 And moreover, I say unto you, that the time shall come when the knowledge of a Savior shall spread throughout every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.

Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them.

25 Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase.
26 But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.

Painting: Ron DiCianni

Jesus Praying in the Wilderness

27 Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you.
28 And now behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, do not suppose that this is all; for after ye have done all these things, if ye turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need—I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and ye are as hypocrites who do deny the faith.
29 Therefore, if ye do not remember to be charitable, ye are as dross, which the refiners do cast out, (it being of no worth) and is trodden under foot of men. (Highlighted Italics added for emphasis)

I Kings 17: 10 So he (Elijah) arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.
12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
14 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.
15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. (Emphasis Added)

Painting: Elspeth Young Charity Never Faileth

30 And now, my brethren, I would that, after ye have received so many witnesses, seeing that the holy scriptures testify of these things, ye come forth and bring fruit unto repentance.
31 Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.
32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.
33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.

Painting: Heinrich Hofmann

Mark 10:
21 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.
22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

Amulek, reactivated to faithfulness to God through the visit of an angel and missionary companionship with the prophet Alma, showed such rapid growth in his ability to serve the Lord. What a powerful, effective sermon did he deliver in the Land Antionum. Because he changed his life so completely and endured much tribulation, Amulek has to be one of my most favorite Book of Mormon prophets. He testified so surely of Christ and proved his newfound faithfulness through his service! Here is the appropriate ending to his sermon:

34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.
35 For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.
36 And this I know, because the Lord hath said he dwelleth not in unholy temples, but in the hearts of the righteous doth he dwell; yea, and he has also said that the righteous shall sit down in his kingdom, to go no more out; but their garments should be made white through the blood of the Lamb.
37 And now, my beloved brethren, I desire that ye should remember these things, and that ye should work out your salvation with fear before God, and that ye should no more deny the coming of Christ;
38 That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you.
39 Yea, and I also exhort you, my brethren, that ye be watchful unto prayer continually, that ye may not be led away by the temptations of the devil, that he may not overpower you, that ye may not become his subjects at the last day; for behold, he rewardeth you no good thing.
40 And now my beloved brethren, I would exhort you to have patience, and that ye bear with all manner of afflictions; that ye do not revile against those who do cast you out because of your exceeding poverty, lest ye become sinners like unto them;
41 But that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions.

Painting: Greg K. Olsen

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem!

The Savior Bore His Aflictions Perfectly

TO ACCESS NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This Blog Post, (Or An Item Which Refers To Any Other Blog Post You May Desire To Access): After Reading All of This Paragraph Please Click on the Following: Amulek, Called of God To Be a Missionary Companion to Alma the Younger . . . Strongly Testified of Jesus Christ. - Post 35r. When You See the Picture of Our Savior Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy, Please, Scroll Down To Your Target Item Or Use The Alphabetical Scrolling Device (When It Has Been Installed.)

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In Memorian Christ Painting

14 And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal.
15 And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.
16 And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption.

Painting: Rembrandt

Begin to call Upon His Holy Name

17 Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you;
18 Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save. 19 Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him.

Painting: Anton Mauve

"Return of the Sheepflock"

20 Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks.
21 Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening.
22 Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies.
23 Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness.

Painting: Carl Heinrich Bloch

Jesus Casts Out Satan

TODAY'S THEME

In this post the long awaited events prophesied for ages regarding the mission of the Holy Messiah are described. Jesus Christ fulfilled His crucial, all important mission. He opened the door to forgiveness, resurrection and to Eternal Life to all of us.

In recent posts I have quoted prophecies from the Book of Mormon regarding these sacred events: Nephi (between 600 and 592 B.C.), Enos (between 544 and 421 B.C, Omni (between 279 and 130 B.C.), Abinadi (148 B.C.), Benjamin (about 124 B.C.). I also have referred to the testimonies of Father Lehi, Nephi's father, and Nephi's brother, Jacob, and Alma who was converted through the bold teachings of the martyr, Abinadi, and Alma the younger and the four sons of Mosiah. Mosiah testified of Him too. There were others.

The events described in this post show that the above listed, were all true prophets! The Book of Mormon is indeed, Another Testament of Jesus Christ!

TODAY'S THEME

Once again, before we check on the state of affairs of the Nephite faithful who are waiting for the visit of their Resurrected Redeemer, Jesus Christ, we will review the progress He is making in his Palestine ministry. Again I'll use paintings from lds.org and link you to matching New Testament scriptures which these paintings illustrate.

This post will cover Jesus' ministry up to near the time of His atonement and crucifixion. Reporting on all of these very important matters is very challenging to me. I do not want to treat it lightly nor do I want to guess about unclear details when dealing with such sacred matters.

We may never fully know all of the things that our Savior was involved in during His earthly ministry in Palestine. I mention such a possible matter which is reported on in a Book of Mormon scriptural passage in the paragraph of this post that comes just before my typical ending which is headed by a straight line that runs about half way across the published post's column.

It is my hope that the paintings, along with the scriptures that explain what is depicted in the paintings, will help you renew your understanding of our Savior's very crucial ministry in His home nation, Israel, and the role the specifics of His ministry played in His sacred development as the Savior and Redeemer of mankind. I hope this post will adequately prepare our minds and hearts for the next post in which we will discuss our Savior's atonement, crucifixion and resurrection.










































With your having just read of Jesus' celebrated entry into Jerusalem the time is very close when that which He knew would and should happen did happen. We will review these events in the next post.

Now it is our opportunity to shift to events in another continent to the descendants of Father Lehi, in Central America. Those who were faithful and looking forward to Jesus' visit to them in the not so distant future had many difficulties to deal with.

TODAY'S THEME

TODAY'S THEME

Jesus, after having called twelve disciples (apostles) in Palestine to serve with Him, went about teaching people and doing much good. His power as the actual Son of God was evident by the miracles he performed along the way. He was doing His Father's will as He fully prepared Himself as the Savior of mankind. Here is a brief overview of His earlier labors.

Background picture of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ second coming from the clouds

Christ second coming from heaven in the clouds - Beautiful drawing art wallpaper

Jesus Christ coming in the air of clouds from heaven - religious picture

Second coming of Jesus Christ from heaven in the air of clouds drawing art image

Photo of Christ coming from heaven in the clouds and angels singing around him

Angels praying and singing to Jesus while his second coming to earth in the clouds from heaven - Christian image

Jesus second coming picture angels singing around him while his second coming from heaven to Earth

Jesus Christ with angels singing around him while his second coming to Earth from heaven

Angels singing around the throne of Jesus while his second coming to Earth from heaven of clouds - religious image

Jesus Christ second coming in the throne and angels praying around him beautiful art photo

Mother Mary background picture in the sky

Virgin Mary in the sky of clouds background photo

lights background picture of Mother Mary, the mother of Jesus

Virgin Mary color art picture with blue background

Art photo of Mother Mary

Blessed virgin Mary picture decorated with flowers

Virgin Mary caring child Jesus drawing art image

Mother Mary caring child Jesus in her lap - Beautiful Christian photo

Virgin Mary holds child Jesus in her hands drawing art picture

Child Jesus sleeping in the hands of Mother Mary - religious art image

Praying of Jesus to God in the Gethsemane garden - Drawing art photo

Christ praying at the rock in the Gethsemane garden drawing art wallpaper

Picture of Jesus praying in Gethsemane garden

old art drawing of Jesus praying by placing his hands on the rock in the Garden of Gethsemane

Gethsemane garden praying photo of Jesus Christ

Bright drawing picture of Jesus praying to God in the Gethsemane garden

Praying of Jesus Christ to God in the garden of Gethsemane - religious picture

Drawing art image of Jesus praying to God in the garden of Gethsemane

Drawing art photo frame of Jesus praying to God in the garden of Gethsemane

Photo frame of Jesus praying in the Gethsemane garden by putting his hands on the rock

Jesus Crhist Painting

Jesus Crhist Painting