​THIS MATTER OF CHRIST

Jesus was the master of asking powerful and meaningful questions.  Some were focused on one individual, such as to the man at the pool of Bethesda who had suffered his infirmity for thirty-eight years, “Wilt thou be made whole?”  Some were asked of a small group such as those gathered around a man afflicted with palsy and confined to a bed.  After telling the man to be of good cheer, that his sins were forgiven, and in response to those who interpreted His words as blasphemy, He asked, “Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?  For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?” (Matthew 9:4,5)  Other questions, though asked of a few, had universal implications.  “Whom do men say that I the son of man am?”  For Jesus to have asked such a question He must have felt it was of essential importance.  He certainly wasn’t looking for public approval.  He knew exactly who He was.  His apostles responded, “Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some Elias; and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets.”  It was an informational response.  Then Jesus asked them a more pointed, personal, and for them, a far more important question, “But whom say ye that I am?”  Is not this a question each of God’s children will have to consider and ultimately answer?  Peter was quick to answer, “Thou art the Christ, the son of the living God.”  Jesus responded, “Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:13-17)  If such a question was important enough for the Father to answer, it must be critically important.  Why is this such an important question?  What difference does it make who we think Jesus is?  Why was Peter’s response pleasing to Jesus?  Was He the Son of the living God or not, and why does that matter?  Trying to answer this question without some doctrinal context could prove challenging.  God the Father’s love for all of His children includes a marvelous plan to provide the opportunity and means for them to ultimately become like Him and enjoy the blessings of  exaltation.  This includes providing a place where they can exercise their own will freely, away from God’s presence, which is one reason why a mortal experience is essential.  However, the nature of mortality, including the effects of evil and its consequences, leaves all mortals in a precarious position.  Sin estranges one from God permanently.  Abinadi explains, “that old serpent [devil] . . . did beguile our first parents, which was the cause of their fall; which was the cause of all mankind becoming carnal, sensual, devilish, knowing evil from good, subjecting themselves to the devil.  Thus all mankind were lost; and behold, they would have been endlessly lost were it not that God redeemed his people from their lost and fallen state.  But remember that he that persists in his own carnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remaineth in his fallen state and the devil hath all power over him. Therefore he is as though there was no redemption made, being an enemy to God; and also is the devil an enemy to God.  And now if Christ had not come into the world, speaking of things to come as though they had already come, there could have been no redemption.  And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection.  But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.  He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death.  Even this mortal shall put on immortality, and this corruption shall put on incorruption, and shall be brought to stand before the bar of God, to be judged of him according to their works whether they be good or whether they be evil—If they be good, to the resurrection of endless life and happiness; and if they be evil, to the resurrection of endless damnation, being delivered up to the devil, who hath subjected them, which is damnation—Having gone according to their own carnal wills and desires; having never called upon the Lord while the arms of mercy were extended towards them; for the arms of mercy were extended towards them, and they would not; they being warned of their iniquities and yet they would not depart from them; and they were commanded to repent and yet they would not repent.” (Mosiah 16:3-12)  Lehi elaborates, “Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth. 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.  Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah.”  (2 Nephi 2:6-8)  These testimonies of Jesus Christ are but a taste of the testimonies offered throughout the Book of Mormon, both in precept and in the lives and experiences of real people.  This sacred and marvelous doctrine of salvation and redemption is incomparably illuminated in this sacred book.  It invites all to answer the question Jesus asked His disciples, “But whom say ye that I am?”  Jesus Himself, addressing those in the new world who had survived massive destruction near the time of His death, asked this question, “O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?” (3 Nephi 9:13)  For what more could one ask?