Jesus which indicate that He foreknew the violent death which He was
destined to suffer. He assured James and John, when they sought places
of honor and power in His Kingdom, that they were not able to drink
the cup that He had to drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with
which He was to be baptized. And at the last supper, when He instituted
the ordinance we call now the sacrament. He said of the broken bread,
"Take, eat; this is my body;" and of the cup, "Drink ye all of it; for
this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the
remission of sins." From these statements, it is apparent that certain
facts were clearly understood by Jesus, and that He endeavored as
clearly to teach them to His disciples. These points are four, and you
should try to remember them. First, Jesus foreknew and {274} proclaimed
that the hatred of His enemies--the scribes and the Pharisees and the
rulers in general--would finally bring about His death. Then, He knew
equally well, and asserted with the same assurance, that His death
was divinely appointed. Again, He assured His disciples that if they
would gain places of honor in His kingdom, they too must be prepared
to practice self-denial, to humble themselves and render service, and
even, if necessary, to lay down their own lives for the Gospel's sake.
Finally, Jesus announced that, through His death, mankind would be
redeemed from sin, and that His death was therefore not a defeat but a
glorious victory.
[Sidenote: Worldly views of how Jesus's death can save.]
These teachings are certainly inspiring and hopeful. The last one is
particularly consoling. But, of course, it is only natural to ask,
From what does the death of Christ actually deliver us? How can His
death deliver us from sin? These questions have been asked by men ever
since the crucifixion. It is almost amusing what strange notions people
have held--and do still hold--in answer to these questions. Thus, some
people believe that the death of Jesus represented the price paid to
Satan to prevail upon him to release man from his power. Others believe
that when Jesus gave His life for many, it was to protect them, or
deliver them, from the fear of death. Still others hold that through
His death Jesus broke the bonds that held His disciples to the belief
and understanding that God's kingdom, was an earthly and temporal
kingdom, and that the salvation which Jesus taught was earthly. Of
course, no one of these theories--nor any one of several others not
here mentioned--satisfies the conditions of the sacrifice made by
Jesus. It does not really reveal from what {275} His death rescues us,
nor how it is possible for His death to rescue us at all.
[Sidenote: The real significance of the death of Jesus.]
It is strange that there should be so much confusion about the nature
and purpose of Jesus's atoning sacrifice. It is well known that through
the sin of Adam, death came into the world. That death was not only
physical but spiritual; for man was driven out from the presence of
God. Adam broke a divine law. Necessarily, punishment, came to him.
Now, in accordance with the law of justice, Adam and his children could
be redeemed from death, and restored to the presence of God, only by
satisfying in some way the broken law. How could that be done? We have
learned, you remember, that there was a council in heaven before the
earth was formed. There the whole plan of salvation was revealed. Jesus
was appointed to become the Christ. His mission was to teach men to
know God, that they might be prepared to return to Him, and through
His own death to satisfy the demands of justice and thus to break the
bands of physical death. This may, perhaps, be a little difficult to
understand, but it is certainly what Jesus taught; for the learned Paul
wrote, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all
men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become
the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by
man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die,
even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own
order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at
His coming." This, too, is the testimony of John the Baptizer, who
exclaimed when he saw Jesus approaching from the distance, "Behold
{276} the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world;" and
also of John the Beloved, who wrote in his Book of Revelation, "All
that dwell upon the earth shall worship Him, whose names are not
written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of
the world."
[Sidenote: The Nephite explanation.]
To the Nephites, the nature and purpose of the atoning sacrifice was
made particularly plain. We read thus: "Now, behold, if Adam had not
transgressed, he would not have fallen; but he would have remained
in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created, must have
remained in the same state which they were after they were created; and
they must have remained forever and had no end. And they would have
had no children; wherefore, they would have remained in a state of
innocence; having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for
they knew no sin. But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom
of Him who knoweth all things. Adam fell that men might be; and men are
that they might have joy.
"And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that He may redeem the
children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from
the fall, they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act
for themselves, and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment
of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments
which God hath given."
[Sidenote: Why Jesus submitted to His enemies.]
It was, then, in fulfillment of the divine plan that Jesus allowed
Himself to be taken prisoner in the garden of Gethsemane; that He
endured trial before His enemies; and that He suffered untold agony on
the cross. With His death, {277} the world itself became canvulsed. The
heavens became shrouded in darkness; and the earth was torn, and shaken
and distressed. But at that awful moment, the bands of death were
broken; the original sin was expiated; and the way was opened whereby
man might return to his Maker.
[Sidenote: The new testimony of Jesus.]
"Behold," said Jesus to our own Prophet, "I, God, have suffered these
things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent,
but if they would not repent, they must suffer even as I, which
suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble
because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both
body and spirit: and would that I might not drink the bitter cup
and shrink--Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and
finished my preparations unto the children of men."
Truly, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his
life for his friends."
THE REFERENCES
Mark 2:20. 1 Cor. 15:19-23.
Luke 12:49-53. John 1:29.
Mark 8:31-35. Rev. 13:8.
Mark 10:38-41. 2 Nephi 2:22-26.
Matt. 16:28. Doc. and Cov. 19:16-19.
{278} THE QUESTIONS
1. Why could not the disciples think that Jesus would be killed?
2. Show how Jesus foreknew His death.
3. How was Jesus's death necessary to satisfy the law of sacrifice?
4. What was the real significance of the death of Jesus?
5. From what does the death of Jesus save the world?
6. How does the death of Jesus save?
7. Discuss the explanation given in 2nd Nephi.
8. Explain the attitude of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane and after.
9. How did Jesus describe His sufferings to the Prophet Joseph Smith?
10. What do we owe to Jesus?
{279}
{280} PICTURE: TOUCH ME NOT, Plockhorst
{281}
XXXVI
THE PLACE CALLED PARADISE
[Sidenote: A well-established fact.]
Of all the many well-attested incidents in the life of Jesus, there
is none more firmly established than the fact that Jesus rose from
death to a newness of life. His resurrection was an actual uprising
of the physical body which He had laid down, and a renewal of all the
life forces. Jesus had plainly foretold that He would rise from the
tomb on the third day after His death; but such a performance was so
foreign to the experience of His disciples, that they failed to grasp
the full significance of His sayings. You can appreciate yourselves how
difficult it would be for you, even with your present knowledge, to get
the full meaning of such a saying as this: "Destroy this temple, and in
three days I will raise it up." But it is never safe to question a fact
merely because we have not experienced it ourselves. We walk by faith,
and by faith is accomplished all the world's work. Our faith in the
resurrection of Jesus is doubly assured by our faith in the testimonies
of those who knew Him and saw Him.
[Sidenote: The first five appearances of the risen Christ.]
Ten separate and distinct appearances of the risen Redeemer are
recorded in the New Testament. First, on the morning of the
resurrection, He appeared to Mary Magdalene, who had come early in the
morning with Mary, the mother of Jesus, Salome and Joanna to anoint
the body of Jesus with spices. When Mary recognized Him, she said to
Him in Hebrew, {282} "Rabboni." Jesus answered, "Touch me not, for I
am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto
them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God and your
God." Soon thereafter, Jesus appeared to the other three women and
called to them, "All hail. And they came and took hold of His feet,
and worshipped Him." Then, in the afternoon of the resurrection day,
Jesus appeared to Cleopas and another of the disciples as they were
journeying to Emmaus, and interpreted to them the scriptures concerning
Himself. The fourth appearance of the risen Christ was to Peter; but
when or where we do not know. At the fifth appearance, Jesus appeared
suddenly to ten of His disciples, and said, "Peace be unto you. But
they were terrified and affrighted and supposed that they had seen a
spirit. And He said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts
arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself;
handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see
me have. And when He had thus spoken. He shewed them His hands and
His feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, He
said unto them. Have ye here any meat? And they gave Him a piece of a
broiled fish, and of a honeycomb. And He took it, and did eat before
them."
[Sidenote: Five more appearances of the Christ and the ascension.]
When Jesus appeared thus suddenly and partook of the broiled fish,
Thomas was not present. Eight days later, when the disciples were
again behind closed doors, Jesus stood again suddenly amongst them
and said, "Peace be unto you." This time Thomas was present. Jesus
said to him, "Reach hither thy finger, and {283} behold my hands;
and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not
faithless, but believing." When next Jesus appeared, there were only
seven of the apostles present. They were at the sea of Tiberias, and
had gone fishing. Jesus appeared before them, and directed them where
to cast their nets. Then the apostles recognized Him. It was at this
appearance that Jesus charged Peter as the leader of His apostles to
feed His sheep. At the next appearance, Jesus showed Himself to the
eleven apostles and probably more than five hundred brethren, who
had assembled on a mount in Galilee appointed by Jesus. Here Jesus
commissioned His apostles to preach the Gospel to all the nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Ghost. The ninth appearance was to James, the Lord's brother. Of this
we know only the recorded fact. At the last appearance, Jesus came to
the eleven apostles somewhere in Jerusalem. After He had instructed
them at some length, He led them out of Jerusalem toward Bethany. Then,
"He lifted up His hands and blessed them. And it came to pass, while He
blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven."
[Sidenote: The value of the testimonies.]
These testimonies, you see, are of such a nature that they cannot be
doubted. Altogether more than five hundred persons saw Jesus after His
resurrection. And His appearance in many instances was accompanied by
such evidence that there can be no doubt that the resurrected body
of Jesus was an actual body of flesh and bones, as material and as
tangible as was the body before death. {284} And with this material
body Jesus ascended into heaven before the adoring eyes of His devoted
followers.
[Sidenote: Where had Jesus been?]
But there remains a statement made by Jesus during the first recorded
appearance after His resurrection, which needs to be explained. When
Mary Magdalene would have touched Him, you recall, Jesus prevented her,
saying, "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father." Now,
the common belief of the world is, that, at death, the spirit of the
righteous departed ascends immediately to heaven, into the kingdom of
God. Jesus had been nearly three days dead; still, at His resurrection.
He had not yet been in the presence of His Father. Where had He been?
What had He been doing? Do the scriptures give us any information in
answer to these questions?
[Sidenote: Today in Paradise.]
Evidently, Jesus had been in a place called Paradise. When Jesus was
put to death, two thieves were crucified with Him. "And one of the
malefactors which were hanged railed on Him, it is recorded, "saying,
If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering
rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the
same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward
of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto
Jesus, Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom. And Jesus
said unto him, Verily I say unto thee. Today shalt thou be with me in
paradise." Can there be any doubt that Jesus went at His death to the
place called Paradise and abode there? But where is Paradise, or what
kind of place is Paradise?
{285} [Sidenote: The Gospel to the dead.]
Where Paradise is we may not be able to determine; but what kind of
place it is, it should not be difficult to discover. Teaching at
Jerusalem one day, Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The
hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the
Son of God: and they that hear shall live." But how could the dead hear
the voice of the Son of God, unless He should minister also in the
place of the dead? This undoubtedly is what Jesus meant; this, too,
must be what He meant when He said to the malefactor, "Today shalt thou
be with me in Paradise." And this is what the apostles learned to know
to be the meaning of these sayings of Jesus. Peter, writing to the
scattered churches, declared the truth in these words: "For Christ also
hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might
bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the
Spirit: by which also He went and preached to the spirits in prison;
which sometime were disobedient, when once the long suffering of God
waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few,
that is, eight souls, were saved by water." And again, in the same
epistle, Peter said, "For, for this reason was the Gospel preached
also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men
in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit." This makes it
clear to us, then, that Jesus's promise to the malefactor, meant that
Jesus would meet him that day in the abode of spirits. For thither
did Jesus go that the dead also might hear His voice. His mission to
the living was accomplished; He had yet to minister to the dead. Only
{286} when that ministry was finished could He return to His Father and
report His labor accomplished. We may not know where Paradise is; but
we know that the place called Paradise is the abode of the spirits of
those who have lived in the flesh and have not yet been resurrected.
[Sidenote: A plain explanation.]
As usual, modern revelation makes plain to us things that are somewhat
obscure in the Jewish Scriptures. The great Nephite prophet and
philosopher, Alma, writing under the direction of an angel and the
inspiration of Jesus Christ, explains very clearly the state of the
spirit during the time between death and the resurrection. Says he,
"Now there must needs be a space betwixt the time of death, and the
time of the resurrection. And now I would inquire what becometh of the
souls of men from this time of death, to the time appointed for the
resurrection? Now concerning the state of the soul between death and
the resurrection. Behold, it has been made known unto me, by an angel,
that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this
mortal body; yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil,
are taken home to that God who gave them life. And then shall it come
to pass that the spirits of those who are righteous, are received into
a state of happiness, which is called 'Paradise'; a state of rest; a
state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from
all care, and sorrow, etc. And then shall it come to pass, that the
spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil; for behold, they have no part
nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold, they chose evil
works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did {287}
enter into them, and take possession of their house; and these shall be
cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and
gnashing of teeth; and this because of their own iniquity; being led
captive by the will of the devil. Now this is the state of the souls of
the wicked; yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful, looking
for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they
remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the
time of their resurrection."
[Sidenote: Every knee and every tongue.]
Not only in His life, but in the spirit ministry and in His
resurrection, Jesus taught truths of vital importance to man in his
search after God and eternal life. Resurrection is an actual uprising
of a tangible physical body. In the resurrection we shall be as Jesus
was. And the privileges of the divine plan of salvation are extended to
the dead as well as to the living. That is why we perform the saving
ordinances for the dead in the House of the Lord. "At the name of Jesus
every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and
things under earth; and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ
is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
THE REFERENCES
Matt. 28:1-20. 1 Cor. 15:5-7.
Mark 16:1-20. John 5:25.
Luke 23:56-24:53. 1 Peter 3:18-20.
John 20:1-21:25. 1 Peter 4:6.
Philip 2:9-11. Alma 40:6-14.
{288} THE QUESTIONS
1. What was the nature of Christ's resurrection?
2. What evidence can you adduce to prove that Jesus was actually
resurrected?
3. How can you prove that the resurrected body of Jesus was a tangible
body of flesh and bones?
4. Where was the Spirit of Jesus while His body lay in the tomb?
5. What kind of place is paradise?
6. What Gospel privileges are extended to the dead?
7. What does the resurrection of Jesus mean to us?
{289}
{290} PICTURE: THE GOOD SHEPHERD, Plockhorst
{291}
XXXVII
OTHER SHEEP
[Sidenote: The first commission to the twelve.]
When Jesus called the twelve apostles and sent them out to preach
His word, He gave them these instructions, "Go not in the way of the
Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go
rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go preach,
saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand." Evidently, then, the
apostles were not to trouble to deliver the glad message of the Gospel
to any who were not purely of the house of Israel. They were to "heal
the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils;" but
none of these good works were they to do amongst the Gentiles, nor in
the land of the Samaritans. It seemed almost that Jesus did not want
those not of Israel to enjoy the privileges and blessings of His great
redemption.
[Sidenote: The leaven of the Gospel.]
But such an intention was only apparent; it was not real. All men, of
whatever race or color, are the children of God; and the great atoning
sacrifice was made for the Gentiles as well as for the Jews. Said Jesus
once in a parable, "The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which
a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was
leavened." The whole world is to be leavened with the Gospel of Jesus
Christ; indeed, the Savior's last charge to His apostles was that they
should go into all the world, and preach the word of God. Only when the
Gospel has been heard by every nation, tongue, and people, will the end
come.
{292} [Sidenote: The kingdom to the Gentiles.]
The apostles were slow, however, to understand this truth, though
Jesus taught it to them plainly. It was right, of course, that they
should minister first to the children of Israel. Israel constituted
the chosen people. From them, and through them, had come to the world
the knowledge of the one great God--the God of Abraham, of Isaac,
and of Jacob. From them, too, had come now the Messiah, by whom was
to be wrought the salvation of the world. What the apostles did not
appreciate, however, was that the Jews would prove themselves unworthy
of their Savior. Yet, Jesus taught this, too; and in teaching this
truth, He declared further that the Gospel would be given to others.
To the woman of Samaria, Jesus declared, "Woman, believe me, the hour
cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem,
worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we
worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now
is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and
in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him." No longer,
after the ministry of Jesus, should Jerusalem be the center of divine
worship. The world over, men should learn to worship God in spirit and
in truth. Not only so; but Jesus asserted also that because of the
unbelief of the Jews, the privileges of His Church should be taken away
from them and given to others. "Did ye never read in the scriptures,"
Jesus asked of the Jews, "The stone which the builders rejected, the
same has become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes? {293} Therefore say I unto you, The
kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing
forth the fruits thereof." And, indeed, such a transfer of privilege
and responsibility was almost necessary to fulfill the ancient
prophecy, "Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom
my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon Him, and He shall
shew judgment to the Gentiles. . . . And in His name shall the Gentiles
trust."
[Sidenote: The case of Cornelius.]