Sabbathought: "All things bear record of me"

The first World War---"the Great War", the war to end wars, as it was called---ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. We rightly commemorate it still each year, and those who gave their lives in all wars. Next year it will be the 11th hour of 11/11/11.

Is there symbolism at work here? There is certainly an obvious symmetry.

Does the repeated use of numbers in scripture hold symbolic and instructive meaning for us? It appears so from this exchange in Mark chapter 8:

"Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.

"And he [Jesus] charged them . . . [to] beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of . . . Herod.

"And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.

"And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?"

He is chastizing them for not understanding. Clearly, all of this means something; they don't get it, and Jesus is going to show them that they should. . . . He has just fed the four thousand (after telling them to sit down on the ground), with seven loaves and a few small fishes. . . .

Some days earlier (see Mark 6) He had fed the five thousand, after having them sit down in an orderly manner upon the green grass, in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. This time the miraculous meal came through five loaves and two fishes.

Why the differences? What does it all mean? It means something to Jesus, as we can plainly see from His comments, and He wants His disciples---including us---to understand the meaning. He continues:

"When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments [crumbs] took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.

"And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up [did you gather]? And they said, Seven.

"And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?"

Clearly something of significance is going on here. Something that is self-evident and that the Lord expects His followers to catch. What is it? As Philip said to the Ethiopian servant in Acts chapter 8 as the servant studied Isaiah, "Understandest thou what thou readest?"

The servant's reply is our reply, "How can I, except some man should guide me?"

Like our Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, we are all teachers; we are all expected to guide those who do not understand---in Sunday School classes, in priesthood meeting, in auxiliary meetings, in missionary work, in our families---in every circumstance, we are to imitate the Master Teacher and help to bring others to understanding. Do you accept and believe this? If it is important to the Savior it should be important to us.

To a Jewish elder, one who was a ruler in the Sanhedrin no less, Jesus said, in the middle of a vital discussion on how natural, fallen man can be born again, "Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?" He expects His followers to come to know what He knows. He wants us to be one with Him and the Father in all things.

So, what do you think? Is it worth pursuing the number symbolism in the feeding of the two separate congregations? Is there great meaning there for us, do you suppose?

Please let me know if you have interest in understanding this wonderful illustration of the way our Lord thinks. If you do, let's pursue it. It is a marvelous insight. All of this with a view to our upcoming study of the New Testament in 2011.

I don't yet know all things, in fact I really only know one thing, but I try to know it superbly well, for "one thing is needful" (see Luke 10:42). Let's ignite the fires of learning in the things of God and explore this rich legacy of knowledge we have been given. "For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift" (D&C 88:33).

Warm regards,

Steve