1 Nephi 11:28

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

            -and here we find the sad disconnect that reflects the battle going on in this estate:  those who minister, serve and profess a faith in eternal truth/realities will come into conflict with those whose faith is in earthly and temporal conditions.  The telestial does not accord well with the celestial.  It is incompatible and wants to expel that which does not fit the natue of its existence.   

1 Nephi 11:27

27  And I looked and ^abeheld the Redeemer of the world, of whom my father had spoken; and I also beheld the ^bprophet who should prepare the way before him.  And the Lamb of God went forth and was ^cbaptized of him; and after he was baptized, I beheld the heavens open, and the Holy Ghost come down out of heaven and abide upon him in the form of a ^ddove.

            -Condescension #2:  a perfect being submitting to baptism which is a representation of washing away sins and the actions which previously have been contrary to the nature of God.  It is a rebirth to a new life that is free of sin.  The irony is that Christ had  no sins to wash away.  He did not need to begin a new life of better living.  He was always spotless, guileless, and clean.  The purpose of this ordinance was literally, beneath him.  He submitted or stooped down for a higher law of example and obedience.  Nephi explains this point more specifically later (2 Nephi 31).

 

    "the Holy Ghost come down out of heaven and abide upon him"

        -the bestowal of the Holy Ghost is part of the baptismal ordinance.  Without the granting of the Holy Ghost the ordinance is not complete.  Did Jesus have need of the Holy Ghost for the same reason we do (as a teacher, a comforter, a constant companion)?  Assuming he did not due to his station as a member of the Godhead, why was the Holy Ghost sent?

Verse rewrite (replacing pronouns with names):
And I looked and beheld the Redeemer of the world, of whom my father had spoken; and I also beheld John the Baptist.  And the Messiah/Jesus went forth and was baptized of John; and after Jesus was baptized, I beheld the heavens open, and the Holy Ghost come down out of heaven and abide upon Jesus in the form of a dove.

1 Nephi 11:26

26  And the angel said unto me again: Look and behold the ^acondescension of God!

            -Scene 3: John the Baptist, the baptism of the Savior and his ministry

     “behold the condescension of God!”

            -the angel first asked Nephi if he understood the “condescension of God” back in verse sixteen.  Nephi admitted that he did not know the meaning of all things and the conversation continued to this point  -where it appears the angel will provide the answer to his previous question.  It is as if the angel is saying:  here is the answer, look and learn!

1 Nephi 11:25

25  And it came to pass that I beheld that the ^arod of iron, which my father had seen, was the ^bword of God, which ^cled to the fountain of ^dliving waters, or to the ^etree of life; which waters are a representation of the love of God; and I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God.

            -Nephi is learning about the meaning of his father’s vision (particularly of the various symbols) simultaneous to a panoramic view of the Savior’s earthly life.  Especially with regard to the theme of the condescension of God.  What is the connection?

     “the rod of iron… was the word of God”

            -the word of God is not only the content that is spoken by God which we commonly associate as the commandments, the scriptures, instruction given to man and such BUT the “word of God” also references Christ hiself.  He is the word of God.  He is the exact expression of God.  When the Savior speaks we not only hear the Father’s voice/will but he IS the expression of the Father.

            -the word of God leads to the love of God. More specifically, by following the word of God we arrive at a place where we will find, experience and partake of the love of God.

1 Nephi 11:24

24  And after he had said these words, he said unto me: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Son of God ^agoing forth among the children of men; and I saw many fall down at his feet and worship him.

            -scene 2: the ministry of Jesus Christ.

           -this scene of Christ's life was viewed several hundred years BEFORE it happened.  All things are in a type of perpetual present state to God.  The concept of time, as we comprehend it, does not exist to God.  His knowledge of things is perfect, even before they happen.

1 Nephi 11:23

23  And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most ^ajoyous to the soul.
     “Yea, and the most joyous”

-what does this added description (most joyous to the soul) of the angel contribute or emphasize?

-not only is this love –the love of God- the thing we desire (or should desire) the most but it is also the thing that will bring our souls the most joy.  There is a subtle but very important distinction between most desirable and most joyous.  We are looking for ultimate in joy not ultimate in desire.  Unfulfilled desire leads to frustration.  There are many people who have become so addicted to some physical sensation or appetitie that they are consumed with desire for those things, BUT they can never be satisfied or find joy in them.  They are extremely transitory and fleeting.  So to desire something is very different than to find joy in something.  With the love of God, we can find ultimate, undiminished, unqualified joy!  In fact, there is nothing else that can deliver this to us.  All other sources are an imitation and a lesser substitute for the love of God.  Satan uses them, for sure to keep us just one step from the source of joy.

1 Nephi 11:22

22  And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the ^alove of God, which ^bsheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the ^cmost desirable above all things.
            -this is a FUNDAMENTAL question that each of us must come to know, not only intellectually but deep in the core of our soul.  Do we know the meaning of the tree?  Do we understand what is meant by “the love of God”?

      "...it is the love of God..."

-How does God show his love to us?

                        giving us the Savior/Atonement

                        giving us the Holy Ghost

            -what is “the love of God”?  Can we express it, explain the breath and depth of its reach, describe how it has effected and changed us, describe what it means to mortal man –to our interactions, our relationship, our future?

    “which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men”

            -this is the influence that, without consciously recognizing it, provides an underlying spirit of life, peace, happiness, goodness and optimism in the souls of mankind.  It is the invisible contextual backdrop of humanity.  It is the balance to the devilish impulses of the flesh (pessimism, hopelessness, selfishness, aggression, etc.).  The opposite of a general sense of love that permeates the world and exists in the hearts of mankind would be a gnawing despair.  Such does exist at times within individuals and societies.  The generator of such a spirit is usually wickedness, individual or collective.  Despair can, just as realistically as love, sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men.

     “it is the most desirable above all things”

            -what is it that the human soul yearns for?  In this thing there is a great battle between the natural man –the desires of the body/our “animal” or carnal natures- and the spiritual/eternal man –the desires of our spirits/our divine natures.  The carnal man yearns for the things of the physical world:  wealth, fame, comfort, ease, fulfillment of physical appetites.  The spiritual man yearns for this one thing above all else:  to receive and then to spread the love of God.  This hunger rests at the core  -deep within- of men and women.  We want love.  We want to go  back home to the place where we once felt that love.  Unfortunately so many of the carnal desires are contrary to and when indulged, become obstacles to obtaining that love.  Not because God ceases to extend that love but because our spirits cannot access it being so consumed with the baser, less refined physical substitutes.  It is like becoming so engorged on hyper flavored junk food that we have no room for the delicately seasoned main course.  Or having listened to bombastic band (leaving our ears ringing) we cannot hear the subtle brilliance of a stirring quartet or unamped vocal ballad.  In both cases, previous choices or behaviors have made us incompatible for a higher order.

            -this is not just a statement of subjective judgement.  This is a statement of eternal truth.  There is something that is most desirable above all.  This is a superlative statement and has effects similar to any physical law: e = mc2 or gravity or the laws of motion.  Regardless if we recognize or refute the truth, it is yet effectual.  No less than the more recognized statement found later in the Book of Mormon: wickedness never was happiness which has been modernized by recent prophets, you cannot do bad and feel good, so also with this truth.  Our souls hunger for this thing above all: the love of God.

1 Nephi 11:19-21

19  And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the ^aSpirit for the space of a time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look!

20  And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a ^achild in her arms.

21  And the angel said unto me: Behold the ^aLamb of God, yea, even the ^bSon of the Eternal ^cFather!  Knowest thou the meaning of the ^dtree which thy father saw?

            -the advent, the mission and the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God is the literal personification and representation of the tree of life.  The mission and person of the Savior –God made flesh- is the love of God.  It is the thing that is most pure, most desireable, most sweet and most brilliant.  We do not really comprehend the majesty of the Savior.  He is the center, the absolute meaning and facilitator of mortal and eternal life.

      “Knowest thou the meaning of the tree”

            -finally after showing Nephi the individuals involved and the circumstances around the birth of the Savior into the world, the angel asks the question as if following up to make sure Nephi did not miss the point:  so, is it now evident what the meaning of the tree is?

            -what would my answer be?  What do I understand to be the meaning of the tree particularly after the prompts –the particulars of the vision- that the angel just gave…

1 Nephi 11:18

18  And he said unto me: Behold, the ^avirgin whom thou seest is the ^bmother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh.

            -Scene 1: conception and advent of the baby Jesus.

            -Nephi was not expected to know… The Spirit clearly and forthrightly gave him an answer to his question.

            -Condescension #1:  the creator of the world, who rightly could claim ownership and priveledge to all things entered this existence in the most humble of circumstances.

1 Nephi 11:17

17  And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.

            -here is a glimpse of the Nephi under construction.  He is developing and growing just as we are.  To admit that we do not have all the answers is not a character flaw.  Instead  it is a key that unlocks learning.

    “I know that he loveth his children”

            -how did Nephi come to know this truth?  If we really know this deep in our souls, it is a motivation and provides the parameters by which we live our lives.  It does not mean that we know everything but it is a fundamental building block upon which we can construct our value system, our life’s objective, our self-concept, our faith, our relationship to (and how we treat) others.  Do we have an abiding belief or knowledge that God loves His children?

    “I do not know the meaning of all things.”

            -who does?  God is the only one with this quantity of knowledge.  So where should we go to learn?  To the source of meaning and knowledge.  God’s school is called mortality and its primary teaching tools are the scriptures, prayer, inspiration and experience.

 

1 Nephi 11:16

16  And he said unto me: Knowest thou the ^acondescension of God?

            -here is an angel teaching Nephi.  Angels are not “handicap” with the limitations of the veil.  Hence they have a step up on those engaged in the mortal experience even when those mortals are some of the great ones.  There must be great empathy by those who spirits who have experienced mortality who are now working with those presently engaged in the rigors of this estate.

     “Knowest thou the condescension of God?”

            -should Nephi (should we) have known about the condescension of God –what it is, what it means?  Is it something that ever crossed Nephi’s mind prior to the angel framing the question?  What other things should we know that we don’t, much less even considered. 

     “condescension”

            - definition: “voluntary descent from one's rank or dignity in relations with an inferior.”

            -what are we to gather or understand about God’s condescension?  This is one of those concepts where there is a great divide between knowing about it  -yes, I am aware that Jesus Christ took a huge step down and came to earth to submit himself to man, to mortality, to the terrestrial sphere- and really having a deep understanding of what it means.

1 Nephi 11:15

15  And I said unto him: A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins.

            -who was Mary in the pre-mortal existence?  What great acts qualified her to be the mother of Jesus?  Along with Eve she is the most prominent woman to pass from the first estate to the second.