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(9/05/03)
"'A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:... Surely he hath borne our
griefs, and carried our sorrows.' (Isaiah
53:3-4) And here, at this moment, while
he prayed in this garden, was to be centered in him the agony and sorrow of the
whole world. Sorrow is the child of sin, and as he took upon himself the sins of
the world, he thereby bore the weight of the world's sorrows." -- Bruce R.
McConkie, "Doctrinal New Testament Commentary," [Salt Lake City, Utah:
Bookcraft, 1965-1973], 1:775
(9/06/03)
"It is merciful for all mortals that Jesus did not shrink nor flee, even amid
'the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God' (D&C 76:107;
88:106). As He took
upon Himself our sins, standing graciously in our stead, He thus felt severe,
divine reproach, which 'hath broken my heart' (Psalm 69:20). The Hebrew word for
Jesus’ being 'bruised' in the process of the Atonement means 'to be crushed'
(see Isaiah 53:5). The atoning 'man of sorrows' denotes both physical and
spiritual sorrow and pain. Being 'acquainted with grief' includes familiarity
with 'sickness' (Isaiah 53:3; see also
Alma 7:11, 12;
Matthew 8:17). Yet amid
the engulfing avalanche of anguish, Jesus did not shrink or flee." -- Neal A.
Maxwell, "Lord, Increase Our Faith," [Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, 1994] p.
12
(9/07/03)
"Moreover, Jesus’ pain was fully inclusive and comprehensive. Surely He was
thereby fully 'acquainted with grief' because 'he suffered the pain of all men,'
indeed, 'the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who
belong to the family of Adam' (Isaiah 53:3, 5;
D&C 18:11;
2 Nephi 9:21). It will
take faith to 'finish' our own assigned tasks amid whatever grief, pain, and
infirmities may be. No wonder that in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus began to be
'sore amazed,' meaning 'awestruck,' 'astounded,' and 'astonished.' Jesus was
also 'very heavy,' meaning 'depressed,' 'dejected,' and in 'anguish.' (Mark
14:33)" -- Neal A. Maxwell, "Lord, Increase Our Faith," [Salt Lake City, Utah:
Bookcraft, 1994], p. 13
(9/08/03)
"The cumulative weight of all mortal sins-past, present, and future-pressed upon
that perfect, sinless, and sensitive Soul! All our infirmities and sicknesses
were somehow, too, a part of the awful arithmetic of the Atonement. (See
Alma 7:11–12 ;
Isaiah 53:3–5 ;
Matthew 8:17)" — Neal A.
Maxwell, "Ensign," May 1985, p. 73
(9/09/03)
"Thus, in addition to bearing our sins—the required essence of the Atonement—the
"how" of which we surely do not understand, Jesus is further described as having
come to know our sicknesses, griefs, pains, and infirmities as well. Another
"how" we cannot now comprehend! (See
Isaiah 53:4;
Matthew 8:17;
Mosiah 14:4;
Alma 7:11-12) Jesus thus
not only satisfied the requirements of divine justice but also, particularly in
His Gethsemane and Calvary ordeals, demonstrated and perfected His capacity to
succor His people and his empathy for them. He came to know, personally and
perfectly, "according to the flesh" how to help us become more like His fully
comprehending Father: "Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding
is infinite" (Psalms 147:5)."
— Neal A. Maxwell, "Not My Will, But Thine," [Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft,
1988], p. 51
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