Chapter 17

Loving the Lord Our God to the Marrow of Our Bones

“God guard me from those thoughts men think
In the mind alone;
He that sings a lasting song
Thinks in a marrow-bone.” 

William Butler Yeats

A common expression is to say, “I feel it in my bones”.  This implies that one has an intuitive sense that something is going to happen or that something is true or not true.  This is similar to feeling something in one’s heart.  The bones are a significant part of the body and not only provide a frame work on which all the body hangs and moves, but the bones provide an amazing function that far surpasses their structural effect. The bones contain marrow, and it is in marrow that the platelets, red and white cells are created.  Approximately 500 billion blood cells are created daily.

This sacred incubator of blood cells is intimately related to the heart.  I propose that the heart communicates with the rest of the body not only through nerve endings but through these billions of messengers known as blood cells.  As these blood cells travel to all the ends of the body, it is similar to the disciples or missionaries traveling to the ends of the earth to bring the gospel message.  Christ admonishes us to be full of light that we may be children of the light.  As we become full of light, the oxygen and nutrients that our blood cells take to the “four corners” of our body will be light also.

Luke 12:34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. 35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. 36 If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.

When thine eye is single to what?  Single to the glory of the Lord our God.  How are we single to his glory?  Through compliance with the First and Second Great Commandments wherein we love him and believe on him with all of our being, to the marrow of the bone.

Bones are referred to frequently in the scriptures and often in relation to a spiritual event.  Jeremiah understood the importance of the bones in relation to the heart.

Jer 20 “But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones,”

This fire, that is shut up in the bones, was experienced by many within the last two centuries, at the dedication of the Kirtland temple in Kirtland, Ohio.  Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet, reported that, "many arose and spoke, testifying that they were filled with the Holy Ghost, which was like fire in their bones, so that they could not hold their peace, but were constrained to cry hosanna to God and the Lamb and glory in the highest." And Joseph Smith reported, "I beheld the temple was filled with angels, which fact I declared to the congregation."

In a later revelation, Joseph Smith stated,  D&C 85:6 “Yea, thus saith the still small voice, which whispereth through and pierceth all things, and often times it maketh my bones to quake while it maketh manifest”

This relationship of the Holy Ghost, or still small voice, to the bones and to all organs in the body, including the heart, was explained by a contemporary to Joseph Smith, Parley P. Pratt:

“The Gift of the Holy Ghost adapts itself to all these organs or attributes. It quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands and purifies all the natural passions and affections and adapts them by the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness and charity. It develops beauty of person, form and features. It tends to give health, vigor, animation and social feeling. It invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man. It strengthens and gives tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being.”

Marrow plays a significant role in our health, both physical and spiritual,

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Health comes from the same root as whole and holy.  These words in turn convey a sense of well being based on being integrated and united, as opposed to being fragmented and dysfunctional. 

A mysterious scripture related to bones and marrow appears several times in the scriptures.

Hebrew 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Taken literally, this a terrifying scripture in which the word of God will unleash a horrible fate on any sinner.  The imagery is of a skilled butcher with a sharp knife, dividing joints and extracting bone marrow.  However, like many scriptures, one must give the benefit of the doubt to the Lord. 

Here we learn that the “s-word” of Jesus is the word of God. It is quick as in quickened referring to life and activity. It is powerful in that all things are possible unto him who speaks the word of God. What does the word do? It pierces and it divides asunder soul (body) and spirit. We are commanded to let the spirit lead, to separate ourselves from the flesh and carnal commandments (law of Moses) and to not trust in the arm of flesh (mortal leaders and prophets) but to trust in his Spirit, even the Holy Ghost. What is the significance of the two edges? It cuts both ways. For the righteous, it cuts, divides, separates to their blessing and brings peace, rest and victory over their enemies. To the wicked, it cuts, divides and separates them from the righteous on whom they have been parasites. It does not bring peace to the earth because the word of God, the sword, causes contention in families by causing people to make a choice, to follow the higher law of the living Christ or to follow the God of the earth.

What do joints and marrow have to do with anything? The joints are the easiest part of the body to divide, butchers separate the portions of meat at the joint because of the ease of separation. The joints represent the body and the weakness of the flesh.  The marrow, on the other hand, is more difficult to divide, as it is found in the very core of the bone. The marrow represents the spirit and is more difficult to access.  It is similar to the strait gait and narrow way in that there be few that find it.  The two edged sword divides both asunder.  The dividing of the body and the spirit does not refer to physical death.  It refers to leaving the flesh and letting the spirit take the lead.  Most importantly, by exposing the marrow to the word of God, the two edged sword, he is able to discern our innermost thoughts and intents, for good or evil.  If we love the Lord our God to the marrow of our bones, his piercing sword will reveal that.  Not only is it revealed to God himself, but to others.  Equally important, we will be empowered to discern the thoughts and intents of others, especially those of our enemies, as we think with the “marrow-bone”.

One of the Jewish customs and prophesies that pointed to Christ and his mission, was the belief that no sacrificial lamb should have its bones broken.  For example,

Exodus 12:46  In one house shall it be eaten; you shall not carry forth any of the flesh outside of the house; neither shall you break a bone of it.The prophesy that states that a bone of him shall not be broken, is found in the Old Testament and later repeated in the New Testament, as follows:

John 19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was a high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

32 Then came the soldiers, and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who was crucified with him.

33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they broke not his legs:

34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and immediately came there out blood and water.

35 And he that saw it bares record, and his record is true: and he knows that he says the truth, that you might believe.

36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

Although Christ’s body was beaten and his flesh broken, his bones were not.  Not even the penetration of the nails in his hands and his feet broke any bones.  Pierced, yes, broken, no.  Why was this so significant?  Why did this prophecy endure across the ages?  Why did it have to be about bones?    One could speak about the importance of an unblemished lamb but that really doesn’t explain it as his body was a mess after the scourging and crucifixion.  What remained intact, were his bones, the framework of his temple.  Experts in the effects of the crucifixion on the human body claim that it was common for dislocation of the joints to happen, such as the shoulders, elbows and knees caused by the enormous pressure on them from hanging on the cross.  But dislocation is not the same as breaking the bones. 

Satan knew that the Christ would not have his bones broken and may have been the motive for his temptation to Christ in which he said,

“And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.”

Flesh, blood and bones are treated as being different.  “Flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone.” Flesh represents the law, the carnal commandments, all man-made and material things dealing with this corruptible existence. Blood represents a more spiritual element, the prophesies, the tongue of angels, miracles and mighty works but blood also must eventually be done away and replaced by a more eternal substance, even charity.  The bones represent the framework upon which the flesh, blood and everything hangs.  THE BONES REPRESENT THE TWO GREAT COMMANDMENTS WHICH, IF NOT BROKEN, HANG ALL THE LAWS AND PROPHESIES.

I propose that he was setting an example for his followers.  Although he voluntarily surrendered his body to the Jewish and Roman captors, and they would be allowed to break his flesh and spill his blood, they would not be allowed to break his bones.  The followers of Jesus are not expected to do as he did in the sense that they must always be subject unto their enemies.  He submitted to them so that we would not have to.    This promise is to all who keep and obey the two great commandments, the bones of Christ, all children of Jesus the Christ, all children of the light, all true followers will also be protected and “a bone of him (or her) will not be broken.”