my heart sings

Noli Me Tangere; Fresco at Convent of San Marco, Florence, by Fra Angelico - 1425-30

I've established facts. We need Jesus. He suffered the ultimate sacrifice for us. Conquering Satan, the forces of sin, and atoning for sin, He faced another challenge to overcome physical death. "Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost." Matthew 27:50 At any moment, He could have changed His mind. With the power of a God, He could have removed Himself from the situation. But He gave up His life in that moment.

"And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name; and even after all this they shall consider him a man, and say that he hath a devil, and shall scourge him, and shall crucify him. And he shall rise the third day from the dead; and behold, he standeth to judge the world; and behold, he standeth to judge the world; and behold all these things are done that a righteous judgment might come upon the children of men." Mosiah 3:9-10

"Yea, behold, this death bringeth to pass the resurrection, and redeemeth all mankind from the first death--that spiritual death; for all mankind, by the fall of Adam being cut off from the presence of the Lord, are considered as dead, both as things temporal and to things spiritual. But, behold, the resurrection of Christ redeemeth mankind, yea, even all mankind and bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord" Helaman 14:16-17

No, we will never understand the pain and suffering of the atonement of Christ. Additionally, we cannot know how the resurrection works until we go through it. However, everyone ever born to the earth whether righteous or not will be resurrected through the power and love of Jesus. He was the first, and we will all receive this gift.

No mere mortal could have accomplished this task. A member of the Godhead with a mortal body of necessity could be the only possibility. I'm so grateful to know these truths. I'm even more grateful that Jesus was will to pay the price for my poor choices. I'm grateful that Mary submitted to the will of God and became the Earthly mother of Jesus, making it possible for Him to perform His mission.  This parental combination of mortal mother and immortal father was necessary so Jesus could feel pain, overcome temptation, suffer more deeply than a mortal, and experience the death of the mortal body. Also, His perfect divinity allowed Him to suffer for our sins, satisfy the demands of justice, and make resurrection possible.

It's been an interesting study, the divine birth and mission of Jesus. It makes so clear that the death and resurrection of Jesus redeems all men from physical death and the Fall of Adam. The atonement makes it possible for us to repent, embrace the way of Christ, and be saved from a second spiritual death or permanent separation from God. This knowledge makes my heart sing.