1 Nephi 11:28 - 11:32

1 Nephi 11:28 And I beheld that he went forth ministering unto the people, in power and great glory; and the multitudes were gathered together to hear him; and I beheld that they cast him out from among them.

Nephi next sees Jesus going forth to teach the gospel and attended to the needs of the people whether spiritual or physical. He will have great influence among most of the people but will anger a few who will try to get rid of him.

Its always interesting to me that one that does good is always a threat to those who are in power. They are in power because they enjoy running things and having prestige. The have worked hard to get where they are and do not want to lose their hard won places. It’s like the devil saying that he reigns over all the earth and no one dares make afraid.

Well, here comes Jesus doing nothing but doing good for his people and not even seeking for power or influence and getting it as a natural result of being righteous. He does not have to build up a power base or trying to line up supporters with the promise of favors if He is chosen as a leader among the people. He does none of that. This is a threat to the ones in power now. They did not want to lose their hard won places.

It funny to think that when you are seeking power by trying to promise favors to others for their support, that it is only temporary if it comes at all. But when you just go about serving without trying for power that it comes anyway. Wickedness never was happiness as Alma tells us. True happiness can only come through a certain path which is called service. No other way will bring happiness. In fact only those who are serve minded in God’s eyes are fit for being in power.

1 Nephi 11:29 And I also beheld twelve others following him. And it came to pass that they were carried away in the Spirit from before my face, and I saw them not.

Nephi also sees the twelve disciples or apostles as they will later be called. They are following the Savior which is to assume that they will carry on what he started until their deaths. After this bit of information about them, they are removed from the vision.

1 Nephi 11:30 And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the heavens open again, and I saw angels descending upon the children of men; and they did minister unto them.

The subject of angels has always been a fascinating subject to me. This verse tell us of angels coming down and ministering to men. All through the Book of Mormon, we read about angels being sent to teach the people as for example in Moroni 7:25. They play a major roll in teaching us the Gospel. I really think that we do not understand just how important their roll is in spreading the Gospel.

They whisper in our minds and hearts constantly. They point out what we need to do and who we need to talk too. They suggest people who need Temple work done and where to find out the information about them. In fact they maybe the people who need it done so they can progress since they may have excepted the Gospel in the Spirit World.

Who are they? Could be ancestors, or descendants, even friends of our ancestors. Could be just an unrelated person assigned to us to watch over and try to keep us on the strait and narrow.

In addition I think there are great multitudes of them about. Considering that all of satan’s forces are here on earth and must number in the millions, there has to be a lot of angels to counter act all their evil influence. I can just see a scene of very large numbers of spirits of both persuasions going about trying to influence us. There could be 20, 30 or more on our case all the time. What a relief it will be when they are sent somewhere where they can’t bother us anymore.

Anyway it is notable that this verse is inserted here among the verses on the Savior and His apostles and what their mission was. It shows me that the angels are the ones who really carry the message of the Gospel to the world. We mortals are the month pieces for them from time to time as we go about trying to teach the Gospel ourselves. This teaching is practice for where the real work will take place in the Spirit World. I think that is where the major action is because so few have heard the Gospel or had a chance to except it here on earth.

1 Nephi 11:31 And he spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Lamb of God going forth among the children of men. And I beheld multitudes of people who were sick, and who were afflicted with all manner of diseases, and with devils and unclean spirits; and the angel spake and showed all these things unto me. And they were healed by the power of the Lamb of God; and the devils and the unclean spirits were cast out.

The next verse tell us the some of the things Jesus will do during his mortal ministry such as healing the sick, casting out devils, etc. He will go about basically trying to be of help to the people. Not trying to gain power or political influence, just showing compassion on his brothers and sisters who he knew in the spirit world and are now on earth dealing with all sorts of problems and troubles.

Nephi is not only shown in vision what Jesus will do but told him what was happening. Nephi’s experience with healings and casting out of devils was probably very limited if not non existent. I’m sure the he had to have a few things explained which he was wondering about.

1 Nephi 11:32 And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people; yea, the Son of the everlasting God was judged of the world; and I saw and bear record.

The angel shows Nephi Jesus’ trial and condemnation by the Jews. He witness the Son of God being judged and sentenced to death. In spite of his great miracles of healing and the casting out of devils and all the good He did, he suffered a cruel and undignified death at the hands of the Jews.