Lessons on the Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ and His Apostles
Lesson No. Twenty-Three
His Suffering in Gethsemane and Our Need to Repent
The infinite and eternal atonement of Jesus Christ took place primarily in Gethsemane – “Where and under what circumstances was the atoning sacrifice of the Son of God made? Was it on the Cross of Calvary or in the Garden of Gethsemane? It is to the Cross of Christ that most Christians look when centering their attention upon the infinite and eternal atonement. And certainly the sacrifice of our Lord was completed when he was lifted up by men. But in reality the pain and suffering, the triumph and grandeur, of the atonement took place primarily in Gethsemane.
“It was there Jesus took upon himself the sins of the world on the conditions of repentance” (Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary 1:774).
An infinite and eternal atonement could only be made by the Son of Mary and the Son of God – Jesus said: “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father” (John 10:17-18). As with all of us, Jesus inherited physical death when he was born in mortality as the Son of Mary who was a mortal woman.
In the pre-mortal existence Jesus was chosen to come to the earth as the Only Begotten Son of God. (See Abraham 3:27) In this way he inherited power over death from his Father.
As the Son of God and the Son of Mary He had a duel nature and genealogy. He was both man and God, human and divine, mortal and immortal. Because He was infinite and eternal no one could take His life, but He could choose to give his life in an infinite and eternal sacrifice. Only this would suffice for the sins of the world. (See Alma 34:10-12)
With His suffering in Gethsemane Jesus let His humanity take precedence over His divinity – “For those few moments in the eternal spectrum called morality the Savior yielded to the mortal plight; he submitted to the inhumanity of man; his body longed for sleep; he hungered; he felt the pains of sickness. He was in all respects subjected to every mortal failing experienced by the human family. Not once did he raise the shield of Godhood in order to soften the blows. Not once did he don the bullet proof vest of divinity. That he had Godly power did not make his suffering any less excruciating, any less poignant, or any less real. To the contrary, it is for this very reason that his suffering was more, not less, than his mortal counterparts could experience. He took upon him infinite suffering, but chose to defend with only mortal faculties, with but one exception – his Godhood was summoned to hold off unconsciousness and death (i.e., the twin relief mechanisms of man) that would otherwise overpower a mere mortal when he reaches this threshold of pain. For the Savior, however, there would be no such relief. His divinity would be called upon, not to immunize him from pain, but to enlarge the receptacle that would hold it. He simply brought a larger cup to hold the bitter drink” (Tad R. Callister, The Infinite Atonement, p. 119).
If we repent will not suffer as Jesus did – “Therefore I command you to repent – repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore – how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not. “For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;
“Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit – and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink. Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men” (D&C 19:15-19).
Jesus invites us to repent and come unto Him – After calling us to repentance, the Lord invites us to: “Pray always, and I will pour out my Spirit upon you, and great shall be your blessing – yea, even more than if you should obtain treasures of earth and corruptibleness to the extent thereof. Behold, canst thou read this without rejoicing and lifting up thy heart for gladness? Or canst thou run about longer as a blind guide? Or canst thou be humble and meek, and conduct thyself wisely before me? Yea, come unto me thy Savior. Amen” (D&C 19:38-41).