These verses are most important. They point up the vital verity that our Lord’s suffering and atonement were more extensive and expansive than we are wont to suppose. His suffering and pain throughout his life (how he should “go forth”), as well as his supreme agony in Gethsemane-all of this was neccesary, not alone to pay the price for sin but also to allow our empathic exemplar to feel with and for his people. His passion helped to perfect his empathy and his ability to succor those of us who so desperately need understanding and affection and divine assistance.
Elder Neal A. Maxwell has taught this principle beautifully: “Can we, even in the depths of disease, tell Him anything at all about suffering? In ways we cannot comprehend, our sicknesses and infirmities were borne by Him even before they were borne by us. The very weight of our combined sins caused Him to descend below all. We have never been, nor will we be, in depths such as He has known. Thus His atonement made perfect His empathy and His mercy and His capacity to succor us, for which we can be everlastingly grateful as He tutors us in our trials.” (Even As I Am. p 116)