Exploring Connections to Jesus Through Art Video 14

Welcome back to the course Seeking Jesus. My name is John Hilton. Let's start this video with a quiz. I'll ask you three true-false questions, and don't make this hard. Just go with your gut on each question. Question number one, true or false? Jesus was nailed to the cross, and the thieves next to him were tied with their respective crosses. Question number two, true or false? Christ on the cross was at least six feet higher than the onlookers at the cross. Last question, true or false? The Scriptures speak of Christ being crucified on a hill called Calvary. We'll come back to these questions in just a moment, but first I want to highlight that this is our second class where we focus on ways to draw closer to Jesus Christ and learn of Him. In the first class like this, which was the second class of the course, we talked about learning of Christ through living prophets, the Scriptures, modern scholarship, and personal experiences. Today we'll focus on coming closer to Christ through artwork, movies, and music. These artistic media can help us connect with Jesus Christ in powerful ways. There is, however, a danger when it comes to learning of Christ through artwork, and it's that art is not always intended to mirror reality. Latter-day Saint artist Walter Raine said, I don't feel like as an artist I have a responsibility to be historically accurate unless someone has commissioned me to do so. Art is self-expression. Art is communication. If I'm trying to express something that is important to me, I'll do whatever I want. if it means putting Christ in contemporary clothing, or whatever. If it's important to the message I'm trying to make, then I'll do it. In other words, if we base our understanding of historical details on art, we might wind up with mistaken ideas. Here's a simple illustration of art influencing how we picture scriptural scenes. Imagine Abinadi in your mind. How old is he? What kind of physical shape is King Noah in? What kind of pet does King Noah have? Whatever answers you're giving are probably based on a painting, because the Book of Mormon says nothing about Abinadi's age, King Noah's physique, or any of his pets. Let's return to the questions I asked you earlier. True or false? Jesus was nailed to the cross while the thieves were tied with ropes. A lot of people say true to this question, basing their answer on a Harry Anderson painting, which is not intended to portray crucifixion in a historically accurate manner. The Romans had many methods for crucifying people, including both nails and ropes. We know that Jesus was crucified with nails because the marks of the nails are still in the hands and feet of the resurrected Jesus. It's technically possible that the thieves were crucified with ropes, but it would seem strange that there would be a different method of crucifixion for them when all three individuals were being crucified at the same time. Our second question was about Christ being at least six feet higher than the onlookers at the cross. I remember watching a movie in which the crucifiers used a pulley system to hoist Christ up on the cross. Media like this influence us to think of Christ as high off the ground when he was crucified. But on some days the Romans crucified hundreds of people. Would they really build scaffolds and pulleys for all of them? Doubtful. The most ancient images we have of crucifixion depict the person being crucified as only a little bit shorter than the cross itself. In other words, if the average person in Galilee was five and a half feet tall, crosses would have been about six or seven feet tall. That can change the way we view the crucifixion. It's not that Jesus is way up high talking to people down below. They're at eye level. When Jesus talks to his mother at the cross, he's looking at her and she's looking at him, almost face to face. Our third question had to do with whether the scriptures speak of a hill called Calvary. You're probably noticing the trend. The answer to this question is also false. Although our beloved hymn says, we'll sing all hail to Jesus'name and praise and honor give. to him who bled on Calvary's hill and died that we might live. The scriptures don't say anything about Calvary being a hill. That's a later Christian tradition, not scriptural. What I've tried to show is that artwork, movies, and music can change the way we picture scriptural scenes. That's not to say they're bad, but just to remind us that they're influencing us, and we sometimes need to do some fact-checking for historical accuracy. Although this is a challenge, it doesn't need to detract from the many things we can learn and feel from artistic media. I also appreciate the variety media can bring to our focus on Christ. I love studying the Scriptures. At the same time, there's a limit to how much Scripture study a person can do on a given day. Studying the Savior through these other mediums provides additional avenues to focus on Christ. And ultimately, that's the goal. President Russell M. Nelson taught, Nothing invites the Spirit more than fixing your focus on Jesus Christ. My hope is that our discussion today will give you ideas of additional ways to focus on our Redeemer. Let's start with artwork. Sometimes art can help us learn more about a scriptural moment. For example, consider these images of Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. In Matthew 17, we learn that Jesus brought Peter, James, and John to a mountain. Jesus was transfigured before them. His face did shine as the sun and his raiment was white as the light. And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him. Joseph Smith taught that at the Mount of Transfiguration, priesthood keys were given to Peter, James, and John. Later, Peter, James, and John came to restore the priesthood in modern times. So what's being portrayed on the picture on the right is important to the theology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And the artwork invites us to learn more about it. Another benefit of art is that it gives us the opportunity to feel what is being portrayed. I love this image of Christ healing the son of the widow of Nain. As Jesus approached the village, he saw a funeral procession. A widow's only son had died. Something that's unique about this story is that the woman doesn't ask Jesus to help her. The Savior initiates contact. Luke records, When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. Can you see those words applying to you? Jesus sees you, has compassion on you. He doesn't want you to weep. Christ raises the woman's son from the dead, showing us how Christ reaches out. even in our most desperate circumstances. As you look at this image, what strikes you? What moves you or gives you an insight? This art helps us see the emotion that the widow and those who were with her must have felt. The scriptures don't go into detail about how all the people were affected by this miracle, but this painting helps us think about their varied reactions. When it comes to artwork portraying Jesus Christ, we have literally centuries worth of powerful examples. Consider this painting from the 15th century. Here the artist focuses on Christ's crucifixion, and in particular, on the wound from the Savior's side. While this is a moment that some of us might not want to carefully consider, the author of the Gospel of John felt it was of great importance. Notice these words, One of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came thereout blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true, and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. Note the repetition emphasizing that the blood and water really came forth from the Savior's side. Why did the author emphasize this? One reason could be that Christ's wounded side offers us the hope of becoming a new creation in Jesus Christ. The Greek word used for Jesus'side is also used to refer to Adam's rib in the Greek translation of the Old Testament. Just as Adam's side was a key symbolic part of creation, the wound in the Savior's side is a symbolic token of our rebirth in him. We find additional significance in Christ's side being pierced in the Savior's declaration,"...if any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."The blood and water pouring from Christ's side provide everlasting life to all who come unto him. Pondering an artistic scene such as this one can provide rich spiritual insight. There are literally tens of thousands of images we could learn from. If you'd like to see more examples of Christ-centered art, visit the course website. As I began to explore artwork related to the Savior, I started to wonder, how does the earliest artwork of Jesus depict him? What is, in fact, the earliest image we have of Jesus Christ? As far as scholars can determine, the earliest datable image we have of Jesus comes from about the year 230 AD. Although it's hard to make out the details, it's an image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. He's wearing a short tunic, and carrying a lamb. Other early images of Christ follow the same pattern. A painting dating to about 250 AD shows Jesus as the Good Shepherd. We see the same image in a statue that dates to around 280 AD. Jesus said that he was the Good Shepherd, and the earliest artwork of Jesus commemorates that. In John chapter 10 we read, I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand who is not the shepherd sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep. I can imagine someone living in about 250 AD seeing these images and thinking of Jesus as the Good Shepherd who laid down his life and feeling connected with him. Note that each of these early images portray a young Jesus wearing a short tunic, short hair, and no beard. That's different than our standard image of Jesus. The two images you see on the right are more modern, but notice this image on the left. Although it dates to about 400 AD, it's essentially the standard Jesus image we have today. Jesus is wearing long robes and has long hair and a full beard. We might ask ourselves, is this an accurate portrayal of the Savior? I remember when I was growing up, some of the older boys at church would grow their hair long, and their moms would say, hey, you've got to cut your hair. And the boys would say, no, well, Jesus had long hair. I'm trying to be like Jesus. And I always thought, oh, game over. That's the end of the discussion. Of course we should try to be like Jesus, and he had long hair. The painting shows it. But did the average Jewish male at the time of Christ really have long hair? Just two decades after Christ's death, the apostle Paul wrote,"...doth not even nature itself teach you that if a man have long hair it is a shame unto him?"To be clear, I'm not trying to make any statements about modern hairstyles. My point is, however we got to a long-haired Jesus, it might not be historically accurate. Styles can change, but if Paul is saying it's shameful for a man to have long hair two decades after Jesus, Jesus was probably not walking around with long hair. So, what did Jesus really look like? A scholar named Joan Taylor wrote a great book on this subject. She says, The average Galilean male was probably around five feet, five inches tall, somewhat slim, and reasonably muscular, with olive brown skin, dark brown to black hair, and brown eyes. He was likely bearded, but not heavily or with a long beard, with shortish hair. This is Anthony Sweat's rendition of a historically accurate Jesus, showing what a first-century Galilean probably would have looked like. It's worth asking ourselves the question, is trying to accurately portray Jesus'physical appearance in artwork important? Why or why not? Some have suggested that portraying Christ accurately from a historical perspective will help us better see the human side of Christ. Joan Taylor wrote that even picturing Christ's clothing correctly is helpful. because clothing is connected to what people value. Notice how in this picture Jesus is wearing long robes. But Jesus taught,"...beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and in the highest seats, in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts."This seems to indicate that Jesus did not wear long robes. He's criticizing those who do. Long robes suggest expensive clothing, and Jesus didn't have a lot of money. Joan Taylor writes,"...Jesus aligned himself with the poor, and this would have been obvious from how he looked. The appearance of Jesus matters because it cuts to the heart of his message. However he is depicted in film and art today, he needs to be shown as one of the have-nots. His teaching can only be truly understood from this perspective. Thus, in some circumstances, it is helpful to have a portrayal of Jesus as a first-century Galilean to accentuate his humanity and his teachings. On the other hand, art is more than historical accuracy. Consider the value of depicting Jesus in racially diverse ways. Artist Akili Anderson created a portrayal of a black Jesus at the Last Supper. Gathered around him are black apostles. Commenting on this artwork, which was placed in a church building, Anderson said, I think it's important for black children sitting in churches all over this country on Sunday morning to look up at the windows, look up at images, and see themselves, and believe that they can ascend to heaven too. One author wrote, To understand African portrayals of a black Christ, one should realize that there is no intention of suggesting that Jesus the Jew who lived in Palestine in the first century was actually a black African. What is being expressed is the connection, perceived in African Christian faith, between Jesus the universal Savior and black people. What is being portrayed is the loving solidarity of Christ, who identifies in love with all people, black people included. As another example of a racially diverse depiction of Christ, a Latter-day Saint woman from Cambodia painted an image of a Cambodian Jesus reaching out to and blessing Cambodian children who surround him. Jesus wasn't Cambodian, he wasn't black, and he wasn't a white European. Artists will portray Christ differently in ways that connect with them, their culture, or their background. In the year 2020, the leader of the Church of England addressed the issue of how his church portrays Jesus'race. He said that in many locations of the Anglican Church, Jesus is represented as other than a white man, saying, You go into their churches and you don't see a white Jesus. You see a black Jesus, or a Chinese Jesus, or a Middle Eastern Jesus, which is, of course, the most accurate. You see a Fijian Jesus. You see Jesus portrayed in as many ways as there are cultures, languages, and understandings. Regardless of whether an image is historically accurate, we can see beauty in diverse depictions of Jesus reaching out and connecting with each one of us, wherever and whoever we are. Take a moment to think about artwork and your life. Could exploring artwork centered on the Savior strengthen you spiritually? Could you have more Christ-centered artwork on your phone or your computer? Could your home include more Christ-centered artwork? How could you come closer to Christ through art? Well, we could have a whole semester course on Jesus in artwork, probably multiple courses. But let's shift now to movies, and we could also have an entire course just on Jesus in the movies, because Hollywood has had a lot to say about the Savior. My first memory of watching a movie about Jesus is as a 19-year-old in the missionary training center. A large group of missionaries gathered to watch the Lamb of God. As I saw the Savior nailed to the cross, the Spirit washed over me and testified to me that what I was seeing really happened. I'm a little embarrassed to say this, but for many years, the only movies about Jesus that I was aware of were those produced by the Church. The Church has made some great films about the Savior, but they're just the tip of the iceberg. Lately, I've been talking with more and more people who are familiar with The Chosen, and I love that show. In addition to The Chosen and movies produced by the Church, there are many more. On the screen, you can see some of my favorites, and if you go to the website for this course, you can link to many more movies about Christ. As we've already discussed, movies like art can significantly influence how we think about Jesus. My colleague Matt Gray shared how movies can be a catalyst for learning about the Savior. He wrote, For me, placing Jesus'films, the New Testament text, and historical sources into thoughtful conversation has prompted valuable questions that I might not otherwise have asked about a wide range of issues, including Jesus'appearance, personality, teachings, and ongoing social relevance. as well as the nature of scriptural writings. Often these questions come as I find myself wondering why film directors made certain decisions, how I might have presented things differently as a believing historian, and what the implications of those decisions might be for the spiritual experience of the viewers. I often find that asking those type of questions facilitates richer inspiration as a teacher, academic insights as a scholar, and spiritual insights as a believer. all of which have been a great blessing in my personal efforts to get to know Jesus better. This is a great approach to watching films about the Savior. Now, there's a limit to what we can do with movies in this video due to copyright restrictions, but I want to try a couple of activities. First, imagine that you're directing a movie about Jesus Christ, and one of the scenes contains John chapter 5, 37 through 47. I'll read these verses out loud to you from the King James Version, but I'm going to intentionally read them without expression, because I don't want to bias you as the director. As you're listening, think, how would you direct the actor playing Jesus to say these words? The Father himself which hath sent me hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you. For whom he hath sent him ye believe not. Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me that ye might have life. I receive not honor from men, but I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not. If another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, which receive honor, one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me, for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe? my words. Now that you've heard a flat narration and had the opportunity to think about how you would direct this scene, let's watch a two-minute clip from the movie The Gospel of John. This movie was released in theaters in 2003. It's a production of the Canadian company Visual Bible International and includes the entire text of the Gospel according to John using the Good News Bible. Note how the filmmakers depict Jesus in this scene. How does their conception agree with or differ from yours? And the father who sent me also testifies on my behalf. You have never heard his voice or seen his face. And you do not keep his message in your hearts, for you do not believe in the one whom he sent. You study the scriptures, because you... You think that in them you will find eternal life, and these very scriptures speak about me. Yet you are not willing to come to me in order to have life. I am not looking for human praise, but I know what kind of people you are. and I know that you have no love for God in your hearts. I have come with my father's authority, but you have not received me. When, however, someone comes with his own authority, you will receive him. You like to receive praise from one another, but you do not try to win praise from the one who alone is God. How then can you believe me? Do not think, however, that I am the one who will accuse you to my father. Moses, in whom you have put your hope, is the very one who will accuse you. If you had really believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how can you believe what I say? Alright movie critics, what did you think? I've talked to some people who hate this clip, and they say something like, that is totally inaccurate. Jesus would not talk or act like that. And they could be right. I'm not claiming that this movie is accurate. But it can give us a perspective to think about. After all, Jesus says some tough things in this passage, like you don't have God's love in you. How do you say that nicely? Again, I'm not suggesting that this clip accurately portrays how Jesus talks, but it can give us a perspective to think about. Often, film depictions of Jesus show him healing, loving a child, holding a butterfly, and we wonder, oh, how could anybody want to kill Jesus? A scene such as this one helps us understand the confrontations that occur between the Savior and Jewish authorities. The entire movie of the Gospel of John is available for free on YouTube, and I encourage you to watch it. Let's try a different film activity. We're going to watch three different portrayals of the same scene where Jesus is at a wedding feast and they run out of wine. Again, I'll read the verses from the King James Version. As I do, visualize how you would direct things if you were filming a scene that included these verses. In the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee. And the mother of Jesus was there. And both Jesus was called and his disciples to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come. The woman saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. Let's now watch a short snippet from three films that depict this scene. How do the different interpretations agree or disagree with how you pictured this scene? We have no more wine. You must see my son. Your mother is coming. They have no more wine. What wilt thou have me to do for thee that will I do? For mine hour is not yet come. Whatsoever he saith unto you, see that ye do it. Gather the water vessels and fill them. Fill them? With water. Jesus'mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine had given out, Jesus'mother said to him, They are out of wine. Madam. What do you have to do with this? My time has not yet come. Do whatever he tells you. The Jews have rules about ritual washing, and for this purpose six stone water jars were there, each one large enough to hold between 20 and 30 gallons. Fill these jars with water. Show them how it's done, huh? I don't think that's such a good idea. Why? Andrew has four left feet. Four? Why four? When he tries to dance he looks like a donkey walking on hot coals. Oh, Andrew, do you deny it? I've never seen a donkey walking on hot coals. Actually, that would be a terrible thing to behold. My son. Ah, Andrew, you see, even my own mother will join us in the Song of Miriam. They've run out of wine. But it's only the first day. Yes, and it's all gone. Not a drop left. Why are you telling me this? We can't let the celebration end like this. And Andrew's family humiliated. Boys, go join the others on the ride there. They must not yet come. If not now, Fill these jars with water. I'm not sure you heard her clearly, but we've run out of wine, not water. What did you notice? In the King James text, Jesus'response to his mother seems to be rude. How do the different directors handle this issue? In the first clip, which was produced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they used the Joseph Smith translation, in which Jesus speaks respectfully to his mother. The clip from the Chosen adds additional dialogue to the scriptural text. In fact, all of the clips, in one way or another, provide additional details that aren't in the scriptural text. One message I want to highlight was consistent in each video clip. It's what Mary says in verse 5. She tells the servants, do whatever he tells you. What a powerful message for us to think about when it comes to Jesus Christ. Do whatever he tells you. That was Mary's advice to the servants at the feast, and it's good advice for us as well. I hope these videos have given you a little taste for ways in which movies about Jesus Christ can be both enjoyable and increase our understanding of him. Think about how movies could help you connect with Christ. Could watching movies centered on the Savior strengthen you spiritually? We're all busy people. How could we carve out a little time in our schedules to watch some movies about Jesus? In addition, are there ways we could help others draw closer to the Savior by watching Christ-centered movies with them? Let's turn to music. Do you remember how, at the Last Supper, just before leaving to Gethsemane, Christ and his disciples sang a hymn? Music can strengthen us in difficult times. We don't know what hymn they sang that night, but scholar Eric Huntsman wrote, This was likely one of the so-called Hallel Psalms, which are traditionally sung at joyful holidays, especially Passover. The focus of these psalms in blessing the Lord, trusting in Him, and crying for salvation fit the occasion both of Passover generally and of Jesus'passion in particular. In fact, if we can combine movies and music for a moment, in the Church's video, The Lamb of God, the Last Supper scene ends with a hymn. My colleague Joshua Sears pointed out that the disciples are singing in Hebrew. and they're singing the first few verses of Psalm 113. On the screen, you can see the Hebrew with the English translation, and the grayed-out sections are omitted in the song. Let's take a listen. If we kept reading Psalm 113, we would find powerful verses that relate to Christ. Imagine if these words from Psalm 113 were part of the hymn that was sung at the Last Supper. Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust, lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes. What might the Savior have felt singing those words on that night? He literally had come from the heavens to raise the poor, to lift up each one of us. Music strengthened Christ before Gethsemane, and it can surely strengthen us as well. Recently, I've been thinking about the song, If the Savior Stood Beside Me. Some of the lyrics say, If the Savior stood beside me, would I do the things I do? If the Savior stood beside me, would I say the things I say? When I first heard that song, I thought of the lyrics saying, thinking about having Jesus next to you will help you avoid bad thoughts and choices. And that's true. But lately, I've been thinking about that song from a different perspective. Imagine you've just experienced a devastating loss. If the Savior were standing beside you in this difficult time, how might that change what you do, say, feel, and think? Because the Savior does stand beside us, we can have strength. Like Scripture, sacred music can touch our hearts and help us through difficult times. Music can also be a catalyst for feeling the Holy Ghost. The first time I can remember feeling the Spirit is when I was a young child and heard a woman sing the song, I Heard Him Come. My guess is that you have also had experiences in your life where music has helped you directly connect with heaven. There's a long history of worshiping Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through music. Although there weren't many movies about Jesus back in the days of Moses, in Exodus chapter 15, Moses says,"...I will sing unto the Lord."A few centuries later, Psalm 9 talks about singing praises to the Lord. And note this powerful passage from Colossians. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Or in the modern day, the Lord has said, My soul delighteth in the song of the heart, yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me. Let's listen to a few seconds of the earliest known Christian hymn that has both lyrics and music. This hymn was written more than 1,700 years ago. While that particular hymn might not move you in the same way it did early Christians, it illustrates a long history of Christ-centered music. The Christian theologian St. Augustine, writing in about 400 AD, commented on the Christian worship music of his day. He said, I realize that when they are sung, these sacred words stir my mind to greater religious fervor and kindle in me a more ardent flame of piety than they would if they were not sung. And I also know that there are particular modes in song and in the voice corresponding to my various emotions and able to stimulate them because of some mysterious relationship between the two. I don't know how that mysterious relationship works, but there is no doubt that there is power in Christ-centered music. In our day, President Russell M. Nelson has talked repeatedly about the importance of sacred music. Let's look at a brief clip from him speaking at the 2021 Youth Music Festival. I love that hymn. Hope of Israel, because, my dear young friends, you are the hope of Israel, the children of the promised day. I have always loved music. Good music has amazing power. It has had a profound influence on my life, and it can on yours, too. It has lifted my spirits during sad days, and it has helped me feel joy at other times. I have used music to praise our Heavenly Father and to worship our Savior. I have also found that listening to uplifting music is one of the best ways to feel the Spirit and hear the voice of the Lord. We've heard some wonderful music today. I hope it has strengthened your love of Jesus Christ and increased your desire to take part in His great work. I also hope it has helped you feel connected to hundreds of thousands of others like you. In context, President Nelson was speaking at an event where youth around the world had gathered together to hear sacred music. I love how he describes his hope that listening to this music together has connected them. This same idea is present if we think across the centuries of Christian music. For example, our hymn book contains the hymn, Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee. The lyrics are about a thousand years old. When we sing this hymn, we're not just singing with the people in our congregation. We are singing with millions and millions of people across the centuries and continents who have sung these same words. One word that's been used in song throughout the centuries is hallelujah, which you probably know means praise the Lord. For example, in Psalm 106 we read, Praise ye the Lord, O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endureth forever. The Hebrew phrase translated as praise ye the Lord is essentially hallelujah. This word appears in ancient music, traditional hymns, as well as contemporary Christian songs. Remember that the next time you sing the word hallelujah. Let's listen to how this one word has been used in different ways across the centuries. Copyright rules prevent me from playing lengthy music clips, but it's clear that for centuries music has been helping people draw closer to Christ. There are medieval chants about the Savior in classical works like those by Bach or Mozart or Handel. Many of us are familiar with traditional hymns, which are a powerful way to connect with Christ. The Sacred Music app, produced by the Church, has some great modern renditions of hymns, as well as other contemporary music produced by the Church. I also loved the broader genre of contemporary Christian music. In addition, recently I've been listening to modern Christian music in Spanish and Portuguese. Did you know that following the United States, Brazil and Mexico respectively have the second and third largest Christian populations in the world? I was recently listening to a contemporary Christian song in Spanish. It has more than 500 million YouTube views and tens of thousands of comments in Spanish praising Jesus Christ. Watching this video reminded me that I'm part of a global Christian community. If you speak a second language, you might consider exploring music in that language. It can not only help you personally, but it can also be a bridge as you share the gospel with others. If you'd like to explore both ancient and modern Christian music, I've placed a curated list of Christ-centered music on the course website. One young adult recently wrote me the following, To further focus my studies on Christ, I decided to work on being more intentional with my music. And I have seen the most incredible change in just the past few weeks. I feel like I'm always listening to music, and although it's never bad music, it's never particularly brought me closer to Christ. As I've been focusing on Christ-centered music, I've been able to see God's hand in my life more. I can recognize the promptings of the Spirit better, and I'm just overall more peaceful and genuinely happy. That's the power of Christ-centered music. Again, take a moment to think about application. I'm guessing you already have a good Sunday playlist. Is there a way to have a playlist that's specifically focused on Jesus Christ? Could exploring a variety of genres of Christ-centered music help you draw closer to the Savior? We talked about diversity in artwork, and the same principles can apply to music. Today we've talked about connecting with Christ through artwork, movies, and music. My hope is that there's something that's got you excited, that you're thinking, Ooh, I'd love to watch that movie, or I could really get into this kind of music, or I'd love to explore more artistic depictions of Jesus Christ. I personally have found myself drawing closer to Christ through artwork, movies, and music. And I hope that the same thing will continue to be true for each of us. Thanks for staying until the very end. I want to make sure that you know there are pre-class readings for each of these videos in the course, as well as additional resources like PowerPoints and quiz questions to explore. Click the link in the description to access these additional learning resources.

Welcome back to the course Seeking Jesus. My name is John Hilton. Let's start this video with a quiz.

I'll ask you three true-false questions, and don't make this hard. Just go with your gut on each question. Question number one, true or false? Jesus was nailed to the cross, and the thieves next to him were tied with their respective crosses. Question number two, true or false?

Christ on the cross was at least six feet higher than the onlookers at the cross. Last question, true or false? The Scriptures speak of Christ being crucified on a hill called Calvary.

We'll come back to these questions in just a moment, but first I want to highlight that this is our second class where we focus on ways to draw closer to Jesus Christ and learn of Him. In the first class like this, which was the second class of the course, we talked about learning of Christ through living prophets, the Scriptures, modern scholarship, and personal experiences. Today we'll focus on coming closer to Christ through artwork, movies, and music.

These artistic media can help us connect with Jesus Christ in powerful ways. There is, however, a danger when it comes to learning of Christ through artwork, and it's that art is not always intended to mirror reality. Latter-day Saint artist Walter Raine said, I don't feel like as an artist I have a responsibility to be historically accurate unless someone has commissioned me to do so. Art is self-expression.

Art is communication. If I'm trying to express something that is important to me, I'll do whatever I want. if it means putting Christ in contemporary clothing, or whatever.

If it's important to the message I'm trying to make, then I'll do it. In other words, if we base our understanding of historical details on art, we might wind up with mistaken ideas. Here's a simple illustration of art influencing how we picture scriptural scenes.

Imagine Abinadi in your mind. How old is he? What kind of physical shape is King Noah in?

What kind of pet does King Noah have? Whatever answers you're giving are probably based on a painting, because the Book of Mormon says nothing about Abinadi's age, King Noah's physique, or any of his pets. Let's return to the questions I asked you earlier. True or false? Jesus was nailed to the cross while the thieves were tied with ropes.

A lot of people say true to this question, basing their answer on a Harry Anderson painting, which is not intended to portray crucifixion in a historically accurate manner. The Romans had many methods for crucifying people, including both nails and ropes. We know that Jesus was crucified with nails because the marks of the nails are still in the hands and feet of the resurrected Jesus. It's technically possible that the thieves were crucified with ropes, but it would seem strange that there would be a different method of crucifixion for them when all three individuals were being crucified at the same time.

Our second question was about Christ being at least six feet higher than the onlookers at the cross. I remember watching a movie in which the crucifiers used a pulley system to hoist Christ up on the cross. Media like this influence us to think of Christ as high off the ground when he was crucified.

But on some days the Romans crucified hundreds of people. Would they really build scaffolds and pulleys for all of them? Doubtful.

The most ancient images we have of crucifixion depict the person being crucified as only a little bit shorter than the cross itself. In other words, if the average person in Galilee was five and a half feet tall, crosses would have been about six or seven feet tall. That can change the way we view the crucifixion.

It's not that Jesus is way up high talking to people down below. They're at eye level. When Jesus talks to his mother at the cross, he's looking at her and she's looking at him, almost face to face.

Our third question had to do with whether the scriptures speak of a hill called Calvary. You're probably noticing the trend. The answer to this question is also false. Although our beloved hymn says, we'll sing all hail to Jesus'name and praise and honor give.

to him who bled on Calvary's hill and died that we might live. The scriptures don't say anything about Calvary being a hill. That's a later Christian tradition, not scriptural. What I've tried to show is that artwork, movies, and music can change the way we picture scriptural scenes. That's not to say they're bad, but just to remind us that they're influencing us, and we sometimes need to do some fact-checking for historical accuracy.

Although this is a challenge, it doesn't need to detract from the many things we can learn and feel from artistic media. I also appreciate the variety media can bring to our focus on Christ. I love studying the Scriptures.

At the same time, there's a limit to how much Scripture study a person can do on a given day. Studying the Savior through these other mediums provides additional avenues to focus on Christ. And ultimately, that's the goal. President Russell M. Nelson taught, Nothing invites the Spirit more than fixing your focus on Jesus Christ.

My hope is that our discussion today will give you ideas of additional ways to focus on our Redeemer. Let's start with artwork. Sometimes art can help us learn more about a scriptural moment.

For example, consider these images of Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. In Matthew 17, we learn that Jesus brought Peter, James, and John to a mountain. Jesus was transfigured before them. His face did shine as the sun and his raiment was white as the light. And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him.

Joseph Smith taught that at the Mount of Transfiguration, priesthood keys were given to Peter, James, and John. Later, Peter, James, and John came to restore the priesthood in modern times. So what's being portrayed on the picture on the right is important to the theology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And the artwork invites us to learn more about it.

Another benefit of art is that it gives us the opportunity to feel what is being portrayed. I love this image of Christ healing the son of the widow of Nain. As Jesus approached the village, he saw a funeral procession. A widow's only son had died. Something that's unique about this story is that the woman doesn't ask Jesus to help her.

The Savior initiates contact. Luke records, When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. Can you see those words applying to you?

Jesus sees you, has compassion on you. He doesn't want you to weep. Christ raises the woman's son from the dead, showing us how Christ reaches out. even in our most desperate circumstances.

As you look at this image, what strikes you? What moves you or gives you an insight? This art helps us see the emotion that the widow and those who were with her must have felt.

The scriptures don't go into detail about how all the people were affected by this miracle, but this painting helps us think about their varied reactions. When it comes to artwork portraying Jesus Christ, we have literally centuries worth of powerful examples. Consider this painting from the 15th century.

Here the artist focuses on Christ's crucifixion, and in particular, on the wound from the Savior's side. While this is a moment that some of us might not want to carefully consider, the author of the Gospel of John felt it was of great importance. Notice these words, One of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came thereout blood and water.

And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true, and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. Note the repetition emphasizing that the blood and water really came forth from the Savior's side. Why did the author emphasize this?

One reason could be that Christ's wounded side offers us the hope of becoming a new creation in Jesus Christ. The Greek word used for Jesus'side is also used to refer to Adam's rib in the Greek translation of the Old Testament. Just as Adam's side was a key symbolic part of creation, the wound in the Savior's side is a symbolic token of our rebirth in him. We find additional significance in Christ's side being pierced in the Savior's declaration,"...if any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."The blood and water pouring from Christ's side provide everlasting life to all who come unto him. Pondering an artistic scene such as this one can provide rich spiritual insight.

There are literally tens of thousands of images we could learn from. If you'd like to see more examples of Christ-centered art, visit the course website. As I began to explore artwork related to the Savior, I started to wonder, how does the earliest artwork of Jesus depict him? What is, in fact, the earliest image we have of Jesus Christ?

As far as scholars can determine, the earliest datable image we have of Jesus comes from about the year 230 AD. Although it's hard to make out the details, it's an image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. He's wearing a short tunic, and carrying a lamb.

Other early images of Christ follow the same pattern. A painting dating to about 250 AD shows Jesus as the Good Shepherd. We see the same image in a statue that dates to around 280 AD. Jesus said that he was the Good Shepherd, and the earliest artwork of Jesus commemorates that.

In John chapter 10 we read, I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand who is not the shepherd sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep.

I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep. I can imagine someone living in about 250 AD seeing these images and thinking of Jesus as the Good Shepherd who laid down his life and feeling connected with him.

Note that each of these early images portray a young Jesus wearing a short tunic, short hair, and no beard. That's different than our standard image of Jesus. The two images you see on the right are more modern, but notice this image on the left.

Although it dates to about 400 AD, it's essentially the standard Jesus image we have today. Jesus is wearing long robes and has long hair and a full beard. We might ask ourselves, is this an accurate portrayal of the Savior?

I remember when I was growing up, some of the older boys at church would grow their hair long, and their moms would say, hey, you've got to cut your hair. And the boys would say, no, well, Jesus had long hair. I'm trying to be like Jesus.

And I always thought, oh, game over. That's the end of the discussion. Of course we should try to be like Jesus, and he had long hair. The painting shows it. But did the average Jewish male at the time of Christ really have long hair?

Just two decades after Christ's death, the apostle Paul wrote,"...doth not even nature itself teach you that if a man have long hair it is a shame unto him?"To be clear, I'm not trying to make any statements about modern hairstyles. My point is, however we got to a long-haired Jesus, it might not be historically accurate. Styles can change, but if Paul is saying it's shameful for a man to have long hair two decades after Jesus, Jesus was probably not walking around with long hair. So, what did Jesus really look like? A scholar named Joan Taylor wrote a great book on this subject.

She says, The average Galilean male was probably around five feet, five inches tall, somewhat slim, and reasonably muscular, with olive brown skin, dark brown to black hair, and brown eyes. He was likely bearded, but not heavily or with a long beard, with shortish hair. This is Anthony Sweat's rendition of a historically accurate Jesus, showing what a first-century Galilean probably would have looked like.

It's worth asking ourselves the question, is trying to accurately portray Jesus'physical appearance in artwork important? Why or why not? Some have suggested that portraying Christ accurately from a historical perspective will help us better see the human side of Christ. Joan Taylor wrote that even picturing Christ's clothing correctly is helpful. because clothing is connected to what people value.

Notice how in this picture Jesus is wearing long robes. But Jesus taught,"...beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and in the highest seats, in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts."This seems to indicate that Jesus did not wear long robes. He's criticizing those who do.

Long robes suggest expensive clothing, and Jesus didn't have a lot of money. Joan Taylor writes,"...Jesus aligned himself with the poor, and this would have been obvious from how he looked. The appearance of Jesus matters because it cuts to the heart of his message. However he is depicted in film and art today, he needs to be shown as one of the have-nots. His teaching can only be truly understood from this perspective. Thus, in some circumstances, it is helpful to have a portrayal of Jesus as a first-century Galilean to accentuate his humanity and his teachings. On the other hand, art is more than historical accuracy. Consider the value of depicting Jesus in racially diverse ways. Artist Akili Anderson created a portrayal of a black Jesus at the Last Supper. Gathered around him are black apostles. Commenting on this artwork, which was placed in a church building, Anderson said, I think it's important for black children sitting in churches all over this country on Sunday morning to look up at the windows, look up at images, and see themselves, and believe that they can ascend to heaven too. One author wrote, To understand African portrayals of a black Christ, one should realize that there is no intention of suggesting that Jesus the Jew who lived in Palestine in the first century was actually a black African. What is being expressed is the connection, perceived in African Christian faith, between Jesus the universal Savior and black people. What is being portrayed is the loving solidarity of Christ, who identifies in love with all people, black people included. As another example of a racially diverse depiction of Christ, a Latter-day Saint woman from Cambodia painted an image of a Cambodian Jesus reaching out to and blessing Cambodian children who surround him. Jesus wasn't Cambodian, he wasn't black, and he wasn't a white European. Artists will portray Christ differently in ways that connect with them, their culture, or their background. In the year 2020, the leader of the Church of England addressed the issue of how his church portrays Jesus'race. He said that in many locations of the Anglican Church, Jesus is represented as other than a white man, saying, You go into their churches and you don't see a white Jesus. You see a black Jesus, or a Chinese Jesus, or a Middle Eastern Jesus, which is, of course, the most accurate. You see a Fijian Jesus. You see Jesus portrayed in as many ways as there are cultures, languages, and understandings. Regardless of whether an image is historically accurate, we can see beauty in diverse depictions of Jesus reaching out and connecting with each one of us, wherever and whoever we are. Take a moment to think about artwork and your life. Could exploring artwork centered on the Savior strengthen you spiritually? Could you have more Christ-centered artwork on your phone or your computer? Could your home include more Christ-centered artwork? How could you come closer to Christ through art? Well, we could have a whole semester course on Jesus in artwork, probably multiple courses. But let's shift now to movies, and we could also have an entire course just on Jesus in the movies, because Hollywood has had a lot to say about the Savior. My first memory of watching a movie about Jesus is as a 19-year-old in the missionary training center. A large group of missionaries gathered to watch the Lamb of God. As I saw the Savior nailed to the cross, the Spirit washed over me and testified to me that what I was seeing really happened. I'm a little embarrassed to say this, but for many years, the only movies about Jesus that I was aware of were those produced by the Church. The Church has made some great films about the Savior, but they're just the tip of the iceberg. Lately, I've been talking with more and more people who are familiar with The Chosen, and I love that show. In addition to The Chosen and movies produced by the Church, there are many more. On the screen, you can see some of my favorites, and if you go to the website for this course, you can link to many more movies about Christ. As we've already discussed, movies like art can significantly influence how we think about Jesus. My colleague Matt Gray shared how movies can be a catalyst for learning about the Savior. He wrote, For me, placing Jesus'films, the New Testament text, and historical sources into thoughtful conversation has prompted valuable questions that I might not otherwise have asked about a wide range of issues, including Jesus'appearance, personality, teachings, and ongoing social relevance. as well as the nature of scriptural writings. Often these questions come as I find myself wondering why film directors made certain decisions, how I might have presented things differently as a believing historian, and what the implications of those decisions might be for the spiritual experience of the viewers. I often find that asking those type of questions facilitates richer inspiration as a teacher, academic insights as a scholar, and spiritual insights as a believer. all of which have been a great blessing in my personal efforts to get to know Jesus better. This is a great approach to watching films about the Savior. Now, there's a limit to what we can do with movies in this video due to copyright restrictions, but I want to try a couple of activities. First, imagine that you're directing a movie about Jesus Christ, and one of the scenes contains John chapter 5, 37 through 47. I'll read these verses out loud to you from the King James Version, but I'm going to intentionally read them without expression, because I don't want to bias you as the director. As you're listening, think, how would you direct the actor playing Jesus to say these words? The Father himself which hath sent me hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you. For whom he hath sent him ye believe not. Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me that ye might have life. I receive not honor from men, but I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not. If another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, which receive honor, one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me, for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe? my words. Now that you've heard a flat narration and had the opportunity to think about how you would direct this scene, let's watch a two-minute clip from the movie The Gospel of John. This movie was released in theaters in 2003. It's a production of the Canadian company Visual Bible International and includes the entire text of the Gospel according to John using the Good News Bible. Note how the filmmakers depict Jesus in this scene. How does their conception agree with or differ from yours? And the father who sent me also testifies on my behalf. You have never heard his voice or seen his face. And you do not keep his message in your hearts, for you do not believe in the one whom he sent. You study the scriptures, because you... You think that in them you will find eternal life, and these very scriptures speak about me. Yet you are not willing to come to me in order to have life. I am not looking for human praise, but I know what kind of people you are. and I know that you have no love for God in your hearts. I have come with my father's authority, but you have not received me. When, however, someone comes with his own authority, you will receive him. You like to receive praise from one another, but you do not try to win praise from the one who alone is God. How then can you believe me? Do not think, however, that I am the one who will accuse you to my father. Moses, in whom you have put your hope, is the very one who will accuse you. If you had really believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how can you believe what I say? Alright movie critics, what did you think? I've talked to some people who hate this clip, and they say something like, that is totally inaccurate. Jesus would not talk or act like that. And they could be right. I'm not claiming that this movie is accurate. But it can give us a perspective to think about. After all, Jesus says some tough things in this passage, like you don't have God's love in you. How do you say that nicely? Again, I'm not suggesting that this clip accurately portrays how Jesus talks, but it can give us a perspective to think about. Often, film depictions of Jesus show him healing, loving a child, holding a butterfly, and we wonder, oh, how could anybody want to kill Jesus? A scene such as this one helps us understand the confrontations that occur between the Savior and Jewish authorities. The entire movie of the Gospel of John is available for free on YouTube, and I encourage you to watch it. Let's try a different film activity. We're going to watch three different portrayals of the same scene where Jesus is at a wedding feast and they run out of wine. Again, I'll read the verses from the King James Version. As I do, visualize how you would direct things if you were filming a scene that included these verses. In the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee. And the mother of Jesus was there. And both Jesus was called and his disciples to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come. The woman saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. Let's now watch a short snippet from three films that depict this scene. How do the different interpretations agree or disagree with how you pictured this scene? We have no more wine. You must see my son. Your mother is coming. They have no more wine. What wilt thou have me to do for thee that will I do? For mine hour is not yet come. Whatsoever he saith unto you, see that ye do it. Gather the water vessels and fill them. Fill them? With water. Jesus'mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine had given out, Jesus'mother said to him, They are out of wine. Madam. What do you have to do with this? My time has not yet come. Do whatever he tells you. The Jews have rules about ritual washing, and for this purpose six stone water jars were there, each one large enough to hold between 20 and 30 gallons. Fill these jars with water. Show them how it's done, huh? I don't think that's such a good idea. Why? Andrew has four left feet. Four? Why four? When he tries to dance he looks like a donkey walking on hot coals. Oh, Andrew, do you deny it? I've never seen a donkey walking on hot coals. Actually, that would be a terrible thing to behold. My son. Ah, Andrew, you see, even my own mother will join us in the Song of Miriam. They've run out of wine. But it's only the first day. Yes, and it's all gone. Not a drop left. Why are you telling me this? We can't let the celebration end like this. And Andrew's family humiliated. Boys, go join the others on the ride there. They must not yet come. If not now, Fill these jars with water. I'm not sure you heard her clearly, but we've run out of wine, not water. What did you notice? In the King James text, Jesus'response to his mother seems to be rude. How do the different directors handle this issue? In the first clip, which was produced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they used the Joseph Smith translation, in which Jesus speaks respectfully to his mother. The clip from the Chosen adds additional dialogue to the scriptural text. In fact, all of the clips, in one way or another, provide additional details that aren't in the scriptural text. One message I want to highlight was consistent in each video clip. It's what Mary says in verse 5. She tells the servants, do whatever he tells you. What a powerful message for us to think about when it comes to Jesus Christ. Do whatever he tells you. That was Mary's advice to the servants at the feast, and it's good advice for us as well. I hope these videos have given you a little taste for ways in which movies about Jesus Christ can be both enjoyable and increase our understanding of him. Think about how movies could help you connect with Christ. Could watching movies centered on the Savior strengthen you spiritually? We're all busy people. How could we carve out a little time in our schedules to watch some movies about Jesus? In addition, are there ways we could help others draw closer to the Savior by watching Christ-centered movies with them? Let's turn to music. Do you remember how, at the Last Supper, just before leaving to Gethsemane, Christ and his disciples sang a hymn? Music can strengthen us in difficult times. We don't know what hymn they sang that night, but scholar Eric Huntsman wrote, This was likely one of the so-called Hallel Psalms, which are traditionally sung at joyful holidays, especially Passover. The focus of these psalms in blessing the Lord, trusting in Him, and crying for salvation fit the occasion both of Passover generally and of Jesus'passion in particular. In fact, if we can combine movies and music for a moment, in the Church's video, The Lamb of God, the Last Supper scene ends with a hymn. My colleague Joshua Sears pointed out that the disciples are singing in Hebrew. and they're singing the first few verses of Psalm 113. On the screen, you can see the Hebrew with the English translation, and the grayed-out sections are omitted in the song. Let's take a listen. If we kept reading Psalm 113, we would find powerful verses that relate to Christ. Imagine if these words from Psalm 113 were part of the hymn that was sung at the Last Supper. Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust, lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes. What might the Savior have felt singing those words on that night? He literally had come from the heavens to raise the poor, to lift up each one of us. Music strengthened Christ before Gethsemane, and it can surely strengthen us as well. Recently, I've been thinking about the song, If the Savior Stood Beside Me. Some of the lyrics say, If the Savior stood beside me, would I do the things I do? If the Savior stood beside me, would I say the things I say? When I first heard that song, I thought of the lyrics saying, thinking about having Jesus next to you will help you avoid bad thoughts and choices. And that's true. But lately, I've been thinking about that song from a different perspective. Imagine you've just experienced a devastating loss. If the Savior were standing beside you in this difficult time, how might that change what you do, say, feel, and think? Because the Savior does stand beside us, we can have strength. Like Scripture, sacred music can touch our hearts and help us through difficult times. Music can also be a catalyst for feeling the Holy Ghost. The first time I can remember feeling the Spirit is when I was a young child and heard a woman sing the song, I Heard Him Come. My guess is that you have also had experiences in your life where music has helped you directly connect with heaven. There's a long history of worshiping Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through music. Although there weren't many movies about Jesus back in the days of Moses, in Exodus chapter 15, Moses says,"...I will sing unto the Lord."A few centuries later, Psalm 9 talks about singing praises to the Lord. And note this powerful passage from Colossians. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Or in the modern day, the Lord has said, My soul delighteth in the song of the heart, yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me. Let's listen to a few seconds of the earliest known Christian hymn that has both lyrics and music. This hymn was written more than 1,700 years ago. While that particular hymn might not move you in the same way it did early Christians, it illustrates a long history of Christ-centered music. The Christian theologian St. Augustine, writing in about 400 AD, commented on the Christian worship music of his day. He said, I realize that when they are sung, these sacred words stir my mind to greater religious fervor and kindle in me a more ardent flame of piety than they would if they were not sung. And I also know that there are particular modes in song and in the voice corresponding to my various emotions and able to stimulate them because of some mysterious relationship between the two. I don't know how that mysterious relationship works, but there is no doubt that there is power in Christ-centered music. In our day, President Russell M. Nelson has talked repeatedly about the importance of sacred music. Let's look at a brief clip from him speaking at the 2021 Youth Music Festival. I love that hymn. Hope of Israel, because, my dear young friends, you are the hope of Israel, the children of the promised day. I have always loved music. Good music has amazing power. It has had a profound influence on my life, and it can on yours, too. It has lifted my spirits during sad days, and it has helped me feel joy at other times. I have used music to praise our Heavenly Father and to worship our Savior. I have also found that listening to uplifting music is one of the best ways to feel the Spirit and hear the voice of the Lord. We've heard some wonderful music today. I hope it has strengthened your love of Jesus Christ and increased your desire to take part in His great work. I also hope it has helped you feel connected to hundreds of thousands of others like you. In context, President Nelson was speaking at an event where youth around the world had gathered together to hear sacred music. I love how he describes his hope that listening to this music together has connected them. This same idea is present if we think across the centuries of Christian music. For example, our hymn book contains the hymn, Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee. The lyrics are about a thousand years old. When we sing this hymn, we're not just singing with the people in our congregation. We are singing with millions and millions of people across the centuries and continents who have sung these same words. One word that's been used in song throughout the centuries is hallelujah, which you probably know means praise the Lord. For example, in Psalm 106 we read, Praise ye the Lord, O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endureth forever. The Hebrew phrase translated as praise ye the Lord is essentially hallelujah. This word appears in ancient music, traditional hymns, as well as contemporary Christian songs. Remember that the next time you sing the word hallelujah. Let's listen to how this one word has been used in different ways across the centuries. Copyright rules prevent me from playing lengthy music clips, but it's clear that for centuries music has been helping people draw closer to Christ. There are medieval chants about the Savior in classical works like those by Bach or Mozart or Handel. Many of us are familiar with traditional hymns, which are a powerful way to connect with Christ. The Sacred Music app, produced by the Church, has some great modern renditions of hymns, as well as other contemporary music produced by the Church. I also loved the broader genre of contemporary Christian music. In addition, recently I've been listening to modern Christian music in Spanish and Portuguese. Did you know that following the United States, Brazil and Mexico respectively have the second and third largest Christian populations in the world? I was recently listening to a contemporary Christian song in Spanish. It has more than 500 million YouTube views and tens of thousands of comments in Spanish praising Jesus Christ. Watching this video reminded me that I'm part of a global Christian community. If you speak a second language, you might consider exploring music in that language. It can not only help you personally, but it can also be a bridge as you share the gospel with others. If you'd like to explore both ancient and modern Christian music, I've placed a curated list of Christ-centered music on the course website. One young adult recently wrote me the following, To further focus my studies on Christ, I decided to work on being more intentional with my music. And I have seen the most incredible change in just the past few weeks. I feel like I'm always listening to music, and although it's never bad music, it's never particularly brought me closer to Christ. As I've been focusing on Christ-centered music, I've been able to see God's hand in my life more. I can recognize the promptings of the Spirit better, and I'm just overall more peaceful and genuinely happy. That's the power of Christ-centered music. Again, take a moment to think about application. I'm guessing you already have a good Sunday playlist. Is there a way to have a playlist that's specifically focused on Jesus Christ? Could exploring a variety of genres of Christ-centered music help you draw closer to the Savior? We talked about diversity in artwork, and the same principles can apply to music. Today we've talked about connecting with Christ through artwork, movies, and music. My hope is that there's something that's got you excited, that you're thinking, Ooh, I'd love to watch that movie, or I could really get into this kind of music, or I'd love to explore more artistic depictions of Jesus Christ. I personally have found myself drawing closer to Christ through artwork, movies, and music. And I hope that the same thing will continue to be true for each of us. Thanks for staying until the very end. I want to make sure that you know there are pre-class readings for each of these videos in the course, as well as additional resources like PowerPoints and quiz questions to explore. Click the link in the description to access these additional learning resources.

Transcript for:Exploring Connections to Jesus Through Art Video 14

Transcript for:
Exploring Connections to Jesus Through Art Video 14