“And now it came to pass that when Jesus had ended these sayings he cast his eyes round about on the multitude, and said unto them: Behold, ye have heard the things which I taught before I ascended to my Father; therefore, whoso remembereth these sayings of mine and doeth them, him will I raise up at the last day.”
Christ affirms that the sermon He just delivered was His sermon and teachings “before [He] ascended to [His] Father.” This sermon was likely delivered at many gatherings by Him during His mortal life. For example, when, Mark mentions Him teaching without any discussion of the content (Mark 2: 13), this sermon was likely being repeated by Him. There are other occasions when His message was not preserved, but where He was clearly teaching. The remark here suggests the sermon was not a one-time event. Rather it constituted His mortal ministry’s primary message.
Why do you suppose He “cast His eyes round about on the multitude?” Was that mentioned because it was important to your understanding? What should you understand by this act?
Why does He mention “ascending to the Father?” Why is it important for these people to know of that event? What does that event tell you about Him?
What is the difference between “remembering these sayings,” and “remembering and doing these sayings?” Do you both remember and do them?
What does the promise to be “raised up at the last day” mean? Unto what would the Lord raise one up? Can you rise from the dead and be “raised up at the last day?” Would there be more to His “raising up at the last day” for someone who had done as He taught?
The way Christ lived His life gives Him the right to teach us all what we need to do in order to be saved. He understood because He lived these principles.
He “looks upon” each of us because we can all live these teachings. Adding a little at a time, bit by bit, precept by precept, we can all live them. Not in a rush, but deliberately and with appropriately measuring each of life’s events against His teachings as they come to us.
We are capable of much more than we think.
In fact, we are capable doing and being everything He has been teaching us. He hasn’t given this talk to govern the lives of some special, small group of distant icons. They were meant to be the means for healthy living. They are how we are supposed to deal with one another.
Remember them. Then live them. He will “raise you up” not only in the last day, but each day as you have His Spirit to be with you.