“Yea, Even So He Shall Be Led, Crucified, and Slain”

George Reynolds, Janne M. Sjodahl

After all the wondrous works performed by the Son, and the mighty miracles wrought by Him, going forth among men and doing good continually, He shall be led, crucified, and slain.

The Mighty Jehovah, who created all things both in heaven and on earth, was taken by wicked men and slain. Not only did He suffer pain and sorrow as do all mortals, but, He, like they, was subject "even unto death." He "took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Philip. 2:7-8)

Wicked and subversive men took the Lord Jesus and put Him to an ignominious death, not because of what He did, but in spite of it.

We may understand the latter part of this verse better by reading the words of the Savior when He was criticized by the Jews for curing a crippled man in Bethesda on the Sabbath. He replied to their censure: "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." (Luke 22:42)

In humble submission to the will of God, but with mighty power and strength, Jesus, the Holy One of Israel, bowed before The Majesty On High and paid the price of man's Redemption, thereby breaking the bands of death. Christ's spiritual triumph over the demands of the flesh reminds one of Isaiah's words: "Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength." (Isa. 26:4)

Death, having come into the world by transgression, held fast in its clutches the inevitable decree: "Thou shalt surely die." (Mosiah 16:3) said Abinadi. Evil, in no form, can dwell with God. A way must be found, a plan prepared, whereby His children can regain the place they once had-a home with Him in the Celestial Abode. Unless and until that is done, all of God's promises to them will go unfulfilled.

But the Way has been found, a Plan prepared; that Plan is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His great Sacrifice on Calvary paved the way for man's return to glory. The Resurrection of Christ from the dead broke the shackles that held man in its inexorable grasp. Through His Atonement we shall live again, and because of His resurrection we will be raised to Immortality and Eternal Life, never to die again. "He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death." (Mosiah 16:9)

Thanks be to God, "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself." (John 5:26)

Wherefore, beloved brethren, be reconciled unto him through the antonement of Christ, his Only Begotten Son, and ye may obtain a resurrection, according to the power of the resurrection which is in Christ, and be presented as the first-fruits of Christ unto God, having faith, and obtained a good hope of glory in him before he manifesteth himself in the flesh. (Jacob 4: 11)

The word reconcile means, (1) To cause to be friendly again. (2) to adjust; settle; as, to settle or reconcile differences. (3) To make consistent or congruous. (4) To bring back to harmony. (Webster's Collegiate Dictionary)

Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 2

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