It's Personal
This semester I took a religion class called Jesus Christ and the Everlasting Gospel. As you could probably guess, this class is centered around Jesus Christ and his life and ministry. Recently though, we focused specifically on the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
My teacher brought up the thought that we often think of the Savior's Atonement as one big glob of sins that was placed on his back. In reality though, it was personal. Our sins, pains, frustrations, inadequacies, and so much more were felt by Him. He knows each one of us and what we are going through personally, because of his Atonement and what he went through for us. Back in 1995 Elder Merrill J. Bateman said, "in the garden and on the cross, Jesus saw each of us and not only bore our sins, but also experienced our deepest feelings so the he would know how to comfort and strengthen us."
I remember being in Young Women's and talking about this very subject and realizing that Christ didn't just suffer for our sins, but that he felt so much more. I had one leader in particular who talked about how she came to know that Christ felt her physical pain of being sick, of anxiety, and other things. That was probably the first that I truly realized how much he did for us.
While talking about the Atonement of Jesus Christ in class, I was reminded of an experience that I had this past January. I was having a really tough and painful day with my wrists. I would even dare to say that it was the most painful day I have ever had with them. I was hanging out with some friends and was trying to have fun, but I got to the point where I could not handle it anymore. One of my roommates, who I have lived with before, knew about my situation and could tell that I was not having a good day. I eventually got to the point where I could not take the pain any more. I got up from my seat and immediately walked into my room and broke down crying in pain. I had never felt so much pain in my life and I was sure that there was no hope for relief at this point. That sweet roommate knew that I was not okay and a couple seconds later walked into my room. There I sat on my bed sobbing. I am sure that I looked like a complete wreck. She asked me if I wanted a blessing. I quickly responded yes, and felt half stupid for not thinking of that myself first. While I was trying to stop crying and kind of pull myself together, she went back out to the living room to ask some of the guys that were there if they could give me a blessing. She explained the situation to them and how she had never seen me in this much pain before. They quickly agreed. I, still looking like a total wreck and pretty much still balling, walked out into the living room where a chair was waiting for me. I don't remember everything that was said in that blessing, but one specific part has stuck with me. My friend that was giving the blessing told me that Jesus Christ knows what I am going through. He told me that he felt my pains in Gethsemane and that he knew what I was thinking and feeling now in this moment.
That made all the difference to me.
I was not immediately releaved of the pain. In fact, it stayed the same for a while, but I was better. I was calmer. I felt peace and reassurance from my Heavenly Father as well as my friends that night that everything would be okay.
I often have thought back on that experience, that blessing. It seems kind of strange to think that Christ felt my pains. My wrist pains. Pains that, to me, seemed so stupid and inconvient and embarrassing. Pains that scared me because I did not really know what was going on with me at the time. Yet, I was told that Christ knew. He had felt them. And I believe that. I believe that with every fiber of my being. Christ knows the pain that I have felt and he knows the worries and doubts that I have had because of it.
And that is the greatest comfort of all.
That made it real for me.
It made it personal.
His Atonement isn't just this giant blanket that covers everyones glob of sins in one shot, it was, and still is a very personal and intimate thing. Christ saw every single one of us that night in Gethsemane. He knows what each of us are going through. He knows our highest highs, our lowest lows, and everything in between. Christ knew what was going to happen to him. He knew what was going to happen in Gethsemane before it happened. He knew the way people were going to treat him and he knew that he would ultimately die on the cross for us. It was not something that was taken lightly, and we should not take it lightly today. He died for each and every one of us! He physically gave his life for us!
We were not around back then to see it all happen, but because of him, we can find relief and soliace from our pains and troubles. We can be made clean again, and we can return to live with him again someday.
So for anyone who is actually reading this, what do I really want you to know? What do I really hope you get out of this?
I want you to know that you are not alone. You are loved. You have Jesus Christ on your side! He knows exactly what you are feeling! He knows you personally. In fact, he knows you better than anyone else. He suffered for you, and for me, and for everyone else. He will not leave you, even when you may feel like you are going at it alone, please know that he is there for you, whenever you need him. A dear friend reminded me recently that there is nothing that you are going through that is not important to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. And I want you to know that I believe with every fiber of my being. You are so important to them, and they are here to help you through it all. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ there is so much hope for us. It is my prayer that you will come to know all of this for yourself if you have not already.
What about you? When did it become personal for you? Has it become personal for you?
If you feel comfortable, please share your story and/or any other comments that you have below.
I am sure that a lot of you have seen this sweet little girls video before, but I just love it so much. If you listen to the lyrics, it sends a very powerful message.
Here is the link to the talk by Elder Merrill J. Bateman if you would like to go read that as well.
My teacher brought up the thought that we often think of the Savior's Atonement as one big glob of sins that was placed on his back. In reality though, it was personal. Our sins, pains, frustrations, inadequacies, and so much more were felt by Him. He knows each one of us and what we are going through personally, because of his Atonement and what he went through for us. Back in 1995 Elder Merrill J. Bateman said, "in the garden and on the cross, Jesus saw each of us and not only bore our sins, but also experienced our deepest feelings so the he would know how to comfort and strengthen us."I remember being in Young Women's and talking about this very subject and realizing that Christ didn't just suffer for our sins, but that he felt so much more. I had one leader in particular who talked about how she came to know that Christ felt her physical pain of being sick, of anxiety, and other things. That was probably the first that I truly realized how much he did for us.
While talking about the Atonement of Jesus Christ in class, I was reminded of an experience that I had this past January. I was having a really tough and painful day with my wrists. I would even dare to say that it was the most painful day I have ever had with them. I was hanging out with some friends and was trying to have fun, but I got to the point where I could not handle it anymore. One of my roommates, who I have lived with before, knew about my situation and could tell that I was not having a good day. I eventually got to the point where I could not take the pain any more. I got up from my seat and immediately walked into my room and broke down crying in pain. I had never felt so much pain in my life and I was sure that there was no hope for relief at this point. That sweet roommate knew that I was not okay and a couple seconds later walked into my room. There I sat on my bed sobbing. I am sure that I looked like a complete wreck. She asked me if I wanted a blessing. I quickly responded yes, and felt half stupid for not thinking of that myself first. While I was trying to stop crying and kind of pull myself together, she went back out to the living room to ask some of the guys that were there if they could give me a blessing. She explained the situation to them and how she had never seen me in this much pain before. They quickly agreed. I, still looking like a total wreck and pretty much still balling, walked out into the living room where a chair was waiting for me. I don't remember everything that was said in that blessing, but one specific part has stuck with me. My friend that was giving the blessing told me that Jesus Christ knows what I am going through. He told me that he felt my pains in Gethsemane and that he knew what I was thinking and feeling now in this moment.
That made all the difference to me.
I was not immediately releaved of the pain. In fact, it stayed the same for a while, but I was better. I was calmer. I felt peace and reassurance from my Heavenly Father as well as my friends that night that everything would be okay.
I often have thought back on that experience, that blessing. It seems kind of strange to think that Christ felt my pains. My wrist pains. Pains that, to me, seemed so stupid and inconvient and embarrassing. Pains that scared me because I did not really know what was going on with me at the time. Yet, I was told that Christ knew. He had felt them. And I believe that. I believe that with every fiber of my being. Christ knows the pain that I have felt and he knows the worries and doubts that I have had because of it.
And that is the greatest comfort of all.
That made it real for me.
It made it personal.
His Atonement isn't just this giant blanket that covers everyones glob of sins in one shot, it was, and still is a very personal and intimate thing. Christ saw every single one of us that night in Gethsemane. He knows what each of us are going through. He knows our highest highs, our lowest lows, and everything in between. Christ knew what was going to happen to him. He knew what was going to happen in Gethsemane before it happened. He knew the way people were going to treat him and he knew that he would ultimately die on the cross for us. It was not something that was taken lightly, and we should not take it lightly today. He died for each and every one of us! He physically gave his life for us!
We were not around back then to see it all happen, but because of him, we can find relief and soliace from our pains and troubles. We can be made clean again, and we can return to live with him again someday.
So for anyone who is actually reading this, what do I really want you to know? What do I really hope you get out of this?
I want you to know that you are not alone. You are loved. You have Jesus Christ on your side! He knows exactly what you are feeling! He knows you personally. In fact, he knows you better than anyone else. He suffered for you, and for me, and for everyone else. He will not leave you, even when you may feel like you are going at it alone, please know that he is there for you, whenever you need him. A dear friend reminded me recently that there is nothing that you are going through that is not important to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. And I want you to know that I believe with every fiber of my being. You are so important to them, and they are here to help you through it all. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ there is so much hope for us. It is my prayer that you will come to know all of this for yourself if you have not already.
What about you? When did it become personal for you? Has it become personal for you?
If you feel comfortable, please share your story and/or any other comments that you have below.
Here is the link to the talk by Elder Merrill J. Bateman if you would like to go read that as well.
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