It occurred to me recently that some who were Christians, some who are currently, agnostic, and some who have only ‘seen’ Christianity from the outside might be wondering this. In short, He has done everything that is essential for our journey through life on earth toward the destiny we can achieve in our Heavenly Father’s plan. I will do my best to speak of four of the features of that plan, and show how Jesus Christ is central in each.
The Resurrection
Let’s start with perhaps the greatest miracle in the history of the world: the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because Christians believe in his literal Resurrection, we accept scriptural teaching that we will also be resurrected. As Jesus taught, “Because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:19). His Apostle Paul similarly taught that “the dead shall be raised incorruptible” and “this mortal shall have put on immortality” (1 Cor 15:52, 54).
This can change the way we view life. The Resurrection gives us the perspective and strength to endure challenges faced by us and those we love. Because each of us has an assured resurrection, we know mortal deficiencies and oppositions are only temporary.
The Resurrection also incentivizes keeping God’s commandments. When we rise from the dead and proceed to our Final Judgment, we want to have qualified for the choices blessings available. What are those ‘choicest blessings’? I’ve already discussed this in a previous post, feel free to review it if you like.
Additionally, the promise that the Resurrection can include the opportunity to be with our family members is a powerful encouragement to fulfill our family responsibilities while on earth. We know that mortal separations are temporary, and we can anticipate future joyful reunions. The Resurrection provides hope and the strength to be patient as we wait. If also prepares us with the courage to face our own death.
Repentance
For most, the opportunity to be forgiven of our sins is the major meaning of Jesus Christ’s Atonement. The word Atonement here refers to his suffering in the garden of Gethsemane and the Cross, his death and subsequent resurrection. He endured incomprehensible suffering to become a sacrifice for the sins of all mortals who would repent. This opens the door for each of us to be cleansed of our personal sins so we can be readmitted to the presence of God, our Eternal Father.
The Plan of Salvation
Through the teaching of His prophets as well as His personal ministry Jesus taught us the plan of salvation. This plans includes the Creation, the purpose of life, the necessity of opposition, and the gift of agency. He also taught us the commandments and covenants we must obey and the ordinances we must experience to take us back to our heavenly parents. Let us the recall the purpose of commandments is to lead us to happiness.
We read “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). If we follow His teachings, He lights our path in this life and assures our destiny in the next. Because He loves us, He challenges us to focus on Him instead of the things of this mortal world He taught in His great sermon on the bread of life (John 6:58).
He suffered every kind of suffering and pain we suffer
His suffering for us also means that He perfectly understands all of the suffering we have had or will in life, because He endured this also, on our behalf. We learn from Isaiah that “Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses” (Matt 8:17), and that “surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows” (Isa 53:4). The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ teaches that “He will take upon Him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor [give relief or aid to] his people according to their infirmities” (Alma 7:12).
We all ought to remember that our Savior experienced everything we have, and that through His Atonement He offers each of us the strength to bear it.
These are not all of the things Jesus Christ has done for us. He also created the heavens and the earth (Eph 3:9), which was no mean feat! He is our advocate with the Father, pleading our cause (1 Jn 2:1, D&C 45:3-5). He did all of this because He loves all the children of God. Love is the motivation for it all, and it was so from the very beginning. I testify of the truthfulness of all these things, and pray that we will all remember what our Savior has done for each of us and that we all will love and serve Him.