Seeing the Son of God: A Lesson in Seeing Past the Surface

Brothers and sisters, as we continue on this journey of discipleship—this beautiful, sometimes challenging work—we are constantly being asked to look deeper. We are called to see past the spectacle, past the noise, and past the immediate condemnation to see the divine truth at the core of things. It’s a skill that takes practice, practice, and the gentle nudging of the Spirit.

I was recently pondering the account of the Centurion, a hardened Roman soldier. Think about that man. He was a career soldier, skilled, intelligent, and accustomed to following orders—orders that, at one point, involved overseeing the crucifixion. It’s a stark image, isn't it? A man who has seen countless acts of violence, yet when he witnesses the final moments of Jesus, something shifts within him.

He doesn't just see a spectacle; he *sees*. He sees the Son of God. This realization is monumental because it forces a cognitive dissonance. How do you reconcile the orders you followed with the divine truth burning before your eyes? The Centurion's declaration—'Truly this was the Son of God'—isn't just a casual observation; it's a profound, Spirit-prompted conversion.

What strikes me most, as someone who has been through the crucible of missionary preparation and has since returned to the field, is that the Centurion’s change wasn't instantaneous; it was a process of *revelation*. He was confronted with the totality of Jesus’s life—the silent endurance before the mob, the dignified response to the mockery, and the ultimate act of forgiveness on the cross itself. That final plea, 'Father, forgive them,' is the ultimate proof of his divine nature.

The Disciple Challenge: Seeing the Christlike in the Ordinary

This is where we, as Rogue Disciples, can apply this lesson. We aren't always standing at the foot of Golgotha. More often, we are in the mundane—the weekly family discussion, the challenging conversation with a neighbor, or the quiet moments of study.

The Centurion was forced to reconcile his duty with his conscience. Where are *you* being asked to reconcile your current understanding or your comfort zone with what the Spirit is showing you? Are you seeing the Christlike attributes in the people who frustrate you the most? Are you finding the divine truth in the very places where the world demands you look away?

“Truly this was the Son of God.”

This isn't just theology; it's *seeing*. It’s the spiritual muscle we build through consistent scripture study. I encourage everyone to take some time this week to review the material in your LivingBook. If you’ve been wanting to dive deeper into the teachings of Christ, consider joining a Book Club or a Bible Study Group in HolyPlaces. These are perfect places to practice that deep, thoughtful examination of scripture together.

A Word for the Field

For those of you who are currently in the field, or preparing for it: Don't be afraid of the hard questions. Don't be afraid when an investigator pushes back, or when a conversation feels uncomfortable. Just like the Centurion, your testimony might need to be forged in the heat of unexpected confrontation. Remember that the arguments for Christ are always overwhelming, even when the world tries to distract us with noise and spectacle.

And for those of us who are lifelong disciples, remember that the work doesn't end when we leave the temple or the mission. We are always called to be internet missionaries, disciples anywhere, all the time. Keep inviting people to join you in studying the Book of Mormon, and keep inviting them to the weekly Disciple Challenge!