Lessons on the Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ and His Apostles
Lesson No. Three

Witnesses of and Opposition to the Birth of the Son of God

Witnesses to the birth of the Son of God – In eternally important events there must be witnesses. When God is to be born in the flesh the witnesses are many, varied, and began in the premortal life:

  • Spirit children of God – “The occasion in the premortal life when the Father presented His plan to His Spirit children who would come to the earth the sons (and daughters) of God shouted for joy” (Guide to the Scriptures, Council in Heaven). Central to the Father’s plan was that Jehovah, the First Born of His spirit children, was chosen to come to the earth as the Lord Jesus Christ.

  • Old Testament prophets – Beginning with Adam, all Old Testament prophets testified of the coming of God in the flesh. The Pearl of Great Price greatly increases our knowledge of this.

  • Book of Mormon prophets – From the beginning to end of the Book of Mormon prophets testified of His coming. One of the greatest was the night before His birth. (See 3 Nephi 1:13)

  • Signs in the heavens – The greatest signs took place in the western hemisphere where, like in the old world, a new star arose. There was also a day, and a night, and a day without darkness.

  • Mary and Joseph; Elizabeth, Zacharias and John – Each knew by revelation and bore testimony by word and deed of its reality. John gave his testimony while in the womb. (See Luke 1:41)

  • The shepherds – These were humble, righteous and knowledgeable men who “when they had seen they made know abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child….And the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things which hey had heard and seen, as they were manifested unto them” (JST Luke 2:17,20).

  • Simeon and Anna – They were preserved to old age so they could witness and then testify that the Son of God had come to the earth. And that He come to bring to pass the resurrection of all mankind and to offer salvation to all who would believe and obey. (See Luke 2:25-38)

  • Wise Men – They were righteous men who were prepared to witness the coming of the Messiah, and to take back that witness to the lands and people from whence they came. (See Bible Dictionary, Magi, and Wise Men of the East). The JST shows they understood their mission. In the account of the wise men, the King James Version refers to the Babe of Bethlehem as a “King” and a “Governor” who will “reign”. The JST changes it to a “Messiah” who will “save” – “Behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is the child that is born the Messiah of the Jews.” When Herod inquired where Christ would be born, the chief priests and scribes quoted the scripture that said: “And thou Bethlehem…out of thee shall come the Messiah who shall save my people Israel” (JST Matthew 2:2, 6, emphasis added).

Opposition to the birth of the Son of God – “There must needs be opposition in all things” (2 Nephi 2:11). This includes opposition to the coming of Son of God to mortality.

  • Lucifer and his followers – In the premortal life they rebelled against the Father and His choice of Jehovah to come to earth as our Savior. They were cast down to the earth and they continue to provide the same opposition to the Son of God. (See Moses 4:1-4)

  • The Nephites – Many actively opposed the coming of Christ. (See 3 Nephi 1:4-9)

  • The Jews – Many, especially their leaders, continually rejected and opposed Jesus.

  • Herod – In an effort to destroy Him, Herod ordered the murder of many innocent children.

  • The JST clarifies the extent of opposition that took place at His birth – “And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was none to give room for them in the inns” (JST Luke 2:7). The King James records this verse: “because there was no room for them in the inns” (Luke 2:7). Elder McConkie explained the difference: “It was the traveling hosts of Judah generally, not just an innkeeper or an isolated few persons, who withheld shelter from Joseph and Mary. Though her state was apparent, the other travelers – lacking courtesy, compassion, and refinement – would not give way so she could be cared for more conveniently and commodiously. This rude rejection was but a prelude to the coming day when these same people and their children after them would reject to their eternal sorrow the Lord who that night began mortality under the most lowly circumstances” (DNTC 1, p. 91-92).

Opposition to the Lord will continue – Until He comes again, we know that there will continue to be opposition to the Lord, to His work, and to His disciples. As the Lord concluded His ministry He comforted His apostles: “These thing I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

This promise is also given to His latter day disciples. It is in Him that we can find peace and be of good cheer because we know that He has overcome the world, and that through Him we can also.

We can be individual witnesses of Jesus Christ – Some of us have memorized the words of The Living Christ – The Testimony of the Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the same way as do His latter day Apostles, we can make these words our own through the witness and by power of the Holy Ghost:

“I bear testimony, as one of His latter day disciples, that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world.His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.”