Always Remember

This semester I took a religion class focusing on the Synoptic Gospels of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John).  I have learned more in this study of the text than I have ever before.   I truly believe that I have a greater appreciation for my Savior and what He did for me as well as a better relationship with Him.  Here are several things that I learned about Him and His character:

He had a step-parent.  Yes, I knew that Joseph was not Jesus’ real father, but I don’t know why it took me so long to put that fact into these terms.  People who did not believe on Christ also ridiculed and mocked Him because of his alleged “illegitimacy”.  However, Joseph was given the special mission of caring for Jesus during the time when He would be most vulnerable, and Jesus never regarded him as any less than an earthly father.

He had family members who were not necessarily believers.  On several occasions, His own brothers teased him about who He claimed to be.  He was even rejected two times by the people of Jerusalem for professing His Messiahship.  These are the people he grew up with, the people he really loved from the time He was born.

His disciples were not perfect – they made mistakes too.  Christ chose them in part of their faithfulness, but by no means were their choices and actions ideal. Jesus chose them not because of what they were right then, but of what He knew they had the potential to become.

Christ’s memory was also hidden by the veil of forgetfulness upon his mortal birth, just like the rest of us.  He did not always have a perfect knowledge of His pre-mortal life, and I am sure He had to work at gaining it back. 

I had always heard these truths but I had never really thought about them in depth.  I know that the because of the Atonement Christ has felt every pain or sorrow anyone on this earth has ever felt and more.  I know that He knows what we are going through, and that He can heal our pains, whether they be mental, emotional, spiritual, or physical.  I know that His suffering will not be in vain.  I know these things are and have always been true.  What I didn’t know was that Christ’s mortal life circumstances were similar to the ones that I have.  He knows EXACTLY what it is like to be in my situation, because not only did he feel it during the Atonement, but he experienced it in His own life.  In this respect, I have a greater appreciation for Jesus’ mortal life as well.  I think about the common experiences we share, and I cannot even begin to imagine the degree of pain and hurt He felt every single day of His life aside from the Atonement.  But I know His suffering was not in vain. 

I cannot stress to you how much Christ loves each and every one of us.  I know that the Atonement was made especially for us individually and not just collectively.  He knows exactly what it is like to be in your situation, not just one pain that many people may feel.  He knows that it feels differently if your black and white spotted dog dies than if the kid down the street’s brown dog dies.  There is no categorizing and generalizing when it comes to the effects of the Atonement.  I love the scriptures and the peace, joy, and knowledge they bring to my life.  They are the way by which God answers prayers and gives comfort to those in need.  There is no better source of happiness than the message and accounts of the Savior’s life and teachings found in the scriptures.  Christmas is approaching, so take the time to reflect on the Savior’s divine birth, and especially all that He has done for each and every one of us.  If He didn’t love you and know you, then why else would He give His life for you?