JESUS CHRIST: THE MESSIAH

The Messiah-Savior of the World

Yea, even six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem, a prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jews—even a Messiah, or, in other words, a Savior of the world.

--I Nephi 10:4

Jesus was the Jehovah of the Old Testament. Prophets prophesied that He would come to the earth, and especially 600 years from the time Lehi and his family left Jerusalem to journey across the ocean to the Americas. Jesus was born. He was the Messiah as had been prophesied, even the Savior of the world. Beside Him, there is no other Savior. He brought about the infinite Atonement, the perfect Atonement, making Jesus the Great Atoner.

JESUS CHRIST: THE MESSIAH

II Nephi 2:6-7 (Book of Mormon)

6 Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.

7 Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.

Redemption, freedom from sin and guilt, is possible because of Jesus Christ, the Holy Messiah. He is grace and truth. Grace is His divine assistance, His infinite power and ability to forgive sins and to have total knowledge of us and our concerns. He even known our thoughts, intentions, desires, and motives. He desires us to come unto him and find relief and comfort in Him.

Jesus sacrificed himself for our sins, for our human errors and ways. He knew that we couldn’t make it by ourselves; therefore, our Father designed a plan that would send a Savior to the earth to compensate for what we couldn’t do after all we could do for ourselves. We can repent with Godly sorrow, but it takes a Savior, a Redeemer, even the Messiah to make repentance and forgiveness complete. So God the Father sent His Only Begotten Son, Jesus, to be the Great Atoner. We must offer up to God a broken (repentant) heart, and a contrite (obedient) spirit. God and Christ will do for us what it is impossible for us to do alone.

With His Stripes We Are Healed

Book of Mormon--Mosiah 14:5

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Jesus is the Great Atoner. He was foreordained in premortal life to come to this earth and be the Savior, Redeemer, and Atoner of the world for all. He was smitten, spit upon, smote, cursed at, scourged, and crucified-all for the atonement and reconciliation of humankind. While in gethsemane, Jesus suffered the pains and afflictions of everyone past, present, and those who will yet be born, and here is when he sweat great drops of blood from every pore so great was His pain and suffering. He even asked the Father to remove this cup from Him, but if it wasn’t the Father’s will, then Jesus would endure and suffer through it. This He did.

He suffered the Atonement so we could have peace, and as a result of His stripes, His seven special wounds, we are healed of our sins and shortcomings.

His seven special wounds included:

1. Print of the nail in His left hand
2. Print of the nail in His right hand
3. Print of the nail in His left foot
4. Print of the nail in His right foot
5. Print of the nail in His left wrist
6. Print of the nail in His right wrist
7. The spear wound in His right side

In addition to Jesus’ seven special wounds, He received body torture from the scourging, from the crown of plaited thorns pressed down upon His head, and whiskers of His beard were pulled out.

“I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting” (Isaiah 50:6).

He suffered for the pains and sicknesses of all mankind.

“And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people” (Book of Mormon, Alma 7:11).

Jesus is our Advocate with the Father. Without Him, we are as nothing. May we praise and thank Him humbly from the depths of our hearts forevermore. Above all, may we live so that our good lives demonstrate and reflect our abiding love for Him. Our lives show the depth of our love, commitment, and devotion to Him.