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| ©Darrell Wyatt |
What an incredible thing, the Atonement. These chapters that I read today (Mosiah 14-16) are some of my favorite in all of the Book of Mormon when it comes to describing Christ and the Atonement.
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground; he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire him. (Mosiah 14:2)
If you think about it, it's not hard to imagine why people had a hard time accepting Jesus as their Savior when he walked the earth. Unless they had seen him perform a miracle, he was just a man. His appearance was very average. All these hundreds of years, they had been taught to expect the Messiah, and it would probably be very normal for them to have certain expectations as to what this Messiah would look like and act like.
"He", the Messiah,...grew up and lived as other men live, subject to the ills and troubles of mortality....There is no...dynamic appearance, no halo around his head, thunders do not roll and lightnings do not flash at his appearance. ...He is a man among men, appearing, speaking, dressing, seeming in all outward respects as they are. (Bruce R. McConkie, The Promised Messiah, 477-78)
And so they crucified him. But they didn't just crucify him. They mocked him. They scourged him. He was "cast out, and disowned by his people"(Mosiah 15:5). He went through excruciating pain. And still, at the end of it all, he was able to say "Father, Forgive them, for they know not what they do"(Luke 23:34). I cannot wrap my tiny little brain around that. Such forgiveness and love for those who hated Him. His mission upon this earth was to save us from our sins - to redeem us.
Having ascended into heaven, having the bowels of mercy; being filled with compassion towards the children of men; standing betwixt them and justice; having broken the bands of death, taken upon himself their iniquity and their transgressions, having redeemed them, and satisfied the demands of justice. (Mosiah 15:9)
Oh how I love that verse. "Standing bewixt them and justice." The Great Mediator. He gave everything He had, even his life, that I may someday be able to return to live with Him and my Father in Heaven. He loves me that much.
And how do I repay Him? Although I will always be indebted to Him, and never be able to fully repay Him, I am working towards that every day. I read my scriptures, and then I teach my children what I've learned. I try to be obedient to the commandments. I am not perfect, and He knew that none of us would be. Otherwise, there would be no need for the Atonement. I can take my sins and mistakes to Him, who has already shed drops of blood for those sins.
But remember that he that persists in his own carnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remaineth in his fallen state and the devil has all power over him. Therefore he is as though there was no redemption made...(Mosiah 16:5)
By continuing to sin, I would be basically saying that I don't need the Atonement. Everything Jesus Christ suffered for me would not matter. It's not important enough to me to change and to repent. I'd rather just keep on doing the things I'm doing because it's easier or more fun or whatever the reason may be. The best way for me to show that I'm grateful for all that He did for me is to repent. To give up my "carnal nature" and turn to Him. I don't want one drop of His blood to have fallen, one of His cries in agony to be in vain. I want to do all I can to show my eternal gratitude. His amazing grace is free for me to partake in. If only I will choose to do so.
"Standing bewixt them and justice." I have a new favorite scripture. Thanks. I love you and am proud. Have I said that before? Well it is true.
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