It was really humbling to see such a desolate place and imagine our Savior in that environment, all alone, having just realized the full enormity of his calling and responsibility, and imagining what He must have been thinking and praying about during that time. Of course I don't know, but I kinda feel like my Savior was feeling something that I struggle with so often: inadequacy. As Elder Talmage comments, “His acknowledgment by the Father [at His baptism], and the continued companionship of the Holy Ghost, opened His soul to the glorious fact of His divinity. He had much to think about, much that demanded prayer and the communion with God that prayer alone could insure” (Jesus the Christ, 120). I imagine Him saying to Himself: I am the chosen Messiah? I am to preach a complete restoration of the Gospel to these people—to the entire world? Am I really to suffer the sins of all mankind—of the history and future of the world? How...How, Father, how is it possible? Though I know it is possible, can I really drink this cup? I imagine that, at the beginning of His fast, that He would “shrink” or even “feel sick” at the mere thought. This perspective, for me, gives a whole new dimension of meaning to Alma 7:11-12. Yet he went into the wilderness immediately (Mark 1:12-13) to grapple with the profundity of what lay before Him, until He could say that He felt right about the mission before Him and He was invested in it with all His heart, might, mind, and strength. What comfort this gives to me! Our Savior, the Greatest of all, needed words of confirmation and assurance, just like I do. Additionally, I really doubt that even after his fasting and prayer, that He was given the answer as to exactly how He would accomplish the task. He had to struggle with the “how” just as much as I do when faced with uncertainty. Yet I know that just as it happened for Him in His life, that everything will work out. He accomplished what He needed to, and so can I, if my heart is right and my faith and determination are true.
Today I went to the oldest known man-made structure in the history of the world (the tower dates back to 8000 BC!). It is located in Jericho, an oasis in the middle of the desert. There's a spring there that provides water, and it's very green (in complete contrast to the surrounding area). A lot of things happened with the prophets Elijah and Elisha in Jericho (the whole 'falling of the mantle' thing, as well as Elisha healing the oasis spring—the entire place would have died without that miracle, as well as the crumbling of the walls of Jericho). While in Jericho, (besides enduring the intense, oppressive, so-sticky-you-feel-like-you-are-swimming heat) I tried some of the local orange juice, hiked up to a Greek Orthodox monastery built into the side of a cliff which commemorated Jesus' fasting for 40 days in the wilderness as well as his resisting of the devil's three temptations (See Matthew 4:8-10).
It was really humbling to see such a desolate place and imagine our Savior in that environment, all alone, having just realized the full enormity of his calling and responsibility, and imagining what He must have been thinking and praying about during that time. Of course I don't know, but I kinda feel like my Savior was feeling something that I struggle with so often: inadequacy. As Elder Talmage comments, “His acknowledgment by the Father [at His baptism], and the continued companionship of the Holy Ghost, opened His soul to the glorious fact of His divinity. He had much to think about, much that demanded prayer and the communion with God that prayer alone could insure” (Jesus the Christ, 120). I imagine Him saying to Himself: I am the chosen Messiah? I am to preach a complete restoration of the Gospel to these people—to the entire world? Am I really to suffer the sins of all mankind—of the history and future of the world? How...How, Father, how is it possible? Though I know it is possible, can I really drink this cup? I imagine that, at the beginning of His fast, that He would “shrink” or even “feel sick” at the mere thought. This perspective, for me, gives a whole new dimension of meaning to Alma 7:11-12. Yet he went into the wilderness immediately (Mark 1:12-13) to grapple with the profundity of what lay before Him, until He could say that He felt right about the mission before Him and He was invested in it with all His heart, might, mind, and strength. What comfort this gives to me! Our Savior, the Greatest of all, needed words of confirmation and assurance, just like I do. Additionally, I really doubt that even after his fasting and prayer, that He was given the answer as to exactly how He would accomplish the task. He had to struggle with the “how” just as much as I do when faced with uncertainty. Yet I know that just as it happened for Him in His life, that everything will work out. He accomplished what He needed to, and so can I, if my heart is right and my faith and determination are true.
4 Comments
Daniel
5/18/2010 04:51:27 am
More! More!
Reply
Casey Gleave
5/21/2010 08:39:59 am
I'm so glad that I can live this experience vicariously through a cool person. These are great posts, Kendel, and I learn quite a bit from them--thanks.
Reply
Nicole
5/23/2010 12:53:06 pm
Kendel, this experience is amazing! How cool! So jealous..... i'm super glad you're having such a good time.
Reply
Donna
5/24/2010 02:33:25 am
It's been so long since the last post!! I love reading about your adventures--tell us more!
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Learn More About Me
Subscribe to blog updates via E-mail by Clicking here.
Categories
All
Kendel's Recently Read Books![]()
This was the perfect Sunday read and kept me enthralled for weeks. A must-read in my opinion. Brother Hafen has insights to life and marriage that are remarkably deep and complex... yet summarized and presented in very simple, natural way. ...
![]()
by Gary Chapman
This is a great read! Gary Chapman has a deep, experienced lens through which the reader can see relationships on an entirely different level. His recommendations are extremely practical and the framework he gives--that everyone has a "...
![]()
This book further cements my bias to rarely pick up a book without looking at reviews first. The table of contents looked promising--How to Deal with Conversation Predicaments, How to Keep Any Conversation Going, How to Graciously Stop A Co...
![]()
This book was SO insightful. I learned so much about communication. My favorite part was where he would analyze classic speeches from history and why they were effective. Highly recommended.
![]()
by L. Tom Perry
Great Read! There are a great many good thoughts in this book, (the life-changing parts, for me was in the intro and first chapter--I read that years ago and adopted his motto as my own).
"Every great and commanding moment in... ![]() Archives
November 2020
|