He quotes some of our favorite scriptures from Isaiah from chapter 53, many of the ones we sing during the Messiah. Then he says this in Mosiah 15:7-9
Yea, even so he shall be led, acrucified, and slain, the bflesh becoming subject even unto death, the cwill of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father.
8 And thus God breaketh the abands of death, having gained the bvictory over death; giving the Son power to make cintercession for the children of men—
9 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 ahimself their iniquity and their transgressions, having redeemed them, and bsatisfied the demands of justice.
The concept of our Savior offering Himself as a sacrifice for us is so powerful! He didn't just ALLOW the crucifixion to happen, he MADE it happen. And He walked into that garden, and voluntarily TOOK upon Himself our sins and sufferings and sorrows. Why? Because of his bowels of mercy. Because He was filled with compassion towards all of us. He knew we couldn't return to His presence on our own merit. Even the best of us, the most perfect, would be consigned to Hell forever, our bodies crumbling in the grave. And those of us who are so far less than perfect that we cringe at the mention of the word - well, we might as well give up before we begin.
But He loves us! Not as some entertaining plaything like many churches teach, but so much that He would endure unimaginable agony! He broke the bands of death and satisfied the demands of justice.
Who wouldn't want to worship such a Being? Who wouldn't want to fall at His feet? I stand all amazed. Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me.
I think that Abinadi knew of his impending death that would surely come as soon as he had delivered his message. I wonder, while he spoke of Christ's sacrifice, if he felt he was also giving himself as a sacrifice on a much smaller scale, but for a very worthy purpose.
ReplyDelete