That They Might Not Suffer: A Major Paradigm Shift
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”
While these words from Matthew and Luke are directed to the House of Israel, they really apply to all of mankind.
There are basically two kinds of believers in Christ as recounted in the scriptures – those who follow Christ, the Lord and avoid suffering and those who claim to follow Christ and to be good Christians but have no immunity from suffering. Here are just a few examples:
Following Christ and avoiding suffering | Claim to follow Christ but suffering unnecessarily |
Joseph warned by an angel to take Jesus and Mary to Egypt | Thousands of children are abducted, abused and murdered every year. Jesus was special, that is why He was protected. My children and I are average, we cannot expect such protection. |
Shadrack, Meshack and Abendigo | I am not like those 3 guys, they were special, I am not. If I am thrown into a fiery furnace like them, I will burn. |
Daniel in Lion’s Den David and the Lion and Bear | Many people have been mauled or killed by wild animals. Many good Christians were thrown to the lion’s in Rome. If I was thrown to a lion or confronted an angry bear, I would be mauled also. |
Master carest thou not that we perish? Peace be still. | Nature must follow its natural course, I must be tossed about, shipwrecked and made seasick. Millions have died or suffered in natural disasters, so must I. |
Lepers, Blind, Lame, other serious afflictions | Millions have died of disease or have had to learn to live with disabilities caused by accidental or natural causes, so must I. |
Jesus walking on water | Peter was able to walk for a short time until his faith failed him. But had Peter not been in the presence of Jesus, he would not have walked on water at all. Nobody can walk on water, it is only for someone like Jesus. |
Moses parting of the Red Sea | Millions of soldiers have laid down their lives in war or have been maimed and injured. Many innocent civilians are victims of war, if war comes my way, I must suffer a similar fate. There will not be any parting of the Red Sea to save me. |
Moses getting water from a rock | Many have been lost or stranded without water or food, if I am lost or without water for more than a few days, I will suffer and die. |
Jesus multiplying the loaves and fishes for over 5000 with lots of leftovers. Water into wine | Millions of people die of starvation every year, if I don’t have food, I will die. I would be happy with water, I can’t imagine changing the water to wine. |
Raising Lazarus from the dead | Millions of people die every year from many causes. Why aren’t they raised from the dead? Why should I be an exception? |
These are but a few of the miracles that have been chronicled in the scriptures. So fantastic and incredible are the miracles, that many people, even Christians, may consider them nice bedtime stories to read to children but nothing more. They create the same kind of wonder that fairy tales create. Fairy tales don’t relate to real life. For many, the miracles of Jesus, Moses, Joshua, Elijah, David, Peter, etc., do not apply in the modern day world and therefore, don’t apply to our lives.
I have been told that now we have technology to replace miracles. We have been blessed with medical and technological advances that make such miracles unnecessary. We have technology and conveniences that would appear to be miracles to Moses, David, Daniel and others. Yet, all of the suffering, atrocities, wars, diseases and natural disasters noted in the table continue as before, in some cases worse, than what the ancients experienced. Where has been the real advancement? Is suffering really that much different now than in ancient times?
I was watching the movie, X-Men with my son at a local theater. Towards the end of the movie, as these super heroes were showing off their super powers, the same kind of voice that I heard in Las Vegas, came to me. I was told that all of the powers that were shown in this Hollywood fantasy, were nothing in comparison to the power that I possessed as a follower of Christ. All things are possible unto him that believeth.
So, questions might be asked:
“Do you really expect me to believe that it is possible for us today to do what Jesus did? Calm the winds, control the elements, heal those with lifelong disabilities instantly, raise the dead? Surely you don’t think that it is possible to walk on water? There are miraculous healers in the world, but nobody ever walks on water.”
John 14 12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
This is very clear, the works that he does in this mortal life, can be replicated by he that believeth on Him in this mortal life, and even greater works than these in this mortal life!
What does the first and great commandment have to do with our being able to perform Jesus’ miracles or do even greater works? The key is “He that believeth on me”. We believe in Jesus but do we also believe on Jesus? We should both believe in and on Jesus.
Ether 1 Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have light, and that eternally, even they which shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters..
21 Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth.
Whatsoever (all) he shall ask shall be granted him? How many of us really believe this and if we believe it, how many of us apply it?
From the dictionary of etymology comes this startling revelation,
Believe comes from P.Gmc. *ga-laubjan "hold dear, love" (cf. O.S. gilobian, Du. geloven, O.H.G. gilouben, Ger. glauben), from PIE base *leubh- "to like, desire" (see love).
I was stunned! Believe is related to love? I thought believe meant to know something was true regardless of the proof. To believe in Santa Clause is to perceive him to be real. To believe is to have a certainty of things even if we have not seen it. Most people believe in God but have never seen Him. But wait a minute, aren’t we talking about faith? To know something is true or is real without a sure knowledge of its existence is faith. We often confuse faith with believe or belief. In our modern vocabulary, belief is interchangeable with faith, they are practically synonyms. But they are really two different things.
Notice how Peter uses love and believe as synonyms,
1 Peter 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
Believe is to love! But belief and faith go hand in hand. One is not without the other. "Now faith is the substance (assurance) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Joseph Smith. Belief is like mercy, based on love and charity, and faith is like justice, based on substance and evidence. They may not be seen, but they are every bit as real and substantial. Male and female, ying yang, complimentary but different, faith and belief are interdependent.
In the scriptures, the word believe is often associated with the word doubt. For example,
Mark 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed , and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass ; he shall have whatsoever he saith .
This would seem to confirm that believe means perceiving something as really existing. But Jesus has told us,
John 4:18 There is no fear(doubt) in love(belief); but perfect(complete) love(belief) casteth out fear(doubt): because fear(doubt) hath torment . He that feareth(doubteth) is not made perfect in love(belief).
If we substitute the word “belief” for love, then we see that belief casteth out fear (and doubt). Therefore, when believe and doubt are used in tandem, what is really being said is that if you believe, you cannot doubt or fear. Belief (love) and faith (knowledge and confidence) are a formidable duo and all things are possible unto them. Surely, even the X-Men are no match for the powers of belief and faith.
One of the most touching stories from the ministry of Jesus, is the story of the father and his afflicted son.
Mark 9:17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
18And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.
19He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
20And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
21And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
22And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
23Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
24And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
25When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
26And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.
27But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
“Help thou my unbelief!”. The father knew he had doubts and fears. Jesus instantly healed the father by healing his son. The gratitude and love that the father felt towards Jesus now made his love perfect (complete). He loved before, but now it was complete. Jesus did not require that the father have perfect love at that time. But he did require that he have a broken heart and a contrite spirit. The father’s heart was prepared to receive the word, to more completely love (believe) Jesus. Had the father’s unbelief (lack of love) been based on pride, arrogance or mockery, there would have been no healing.
Contrast this father’s experience with the story of Naaman in the Old Testament who was a captain with power and authority but was a leper. He was basically a good man but when told by a prophet to bathe in the River Jordan seven times, his pride and arrogance got in the way. His belief(love) was blocked by pride. Once he was sufficiently humble, the belief(love) took over and he was able to be healed and cleansed.
So, now we see the connection between believe and love. When we love the Lord our God with all of our beings, we also believe in and on Him. Then all things are possible to us, all things!
Matthew 19: 26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Does it not seem much easier to believe now? Rather than torture ourselves trying to force our minds to know with certainty that Jesus exists and that he has all power to perform miracles for us, we simply need to love him. This love comes from the heart, not the mind. We don’t have to have certain knowledge of his existence in order to love him. We can have some love if we listen to our hearts, not our minds. You cannot read the New Testament and the stories of his tender mercies without feeling some love for him, even if you do not have a perfect certainty of his existence. Let that love grow, like a seed. Ask him to bless you in your unbelief. He will. You will begin to feel His presence in your life, you will begin to see little miracles. As your belief(love) grows, more miracles will happen until all things are possible to you. The same process applies to faith. Your garden of belief(love) and faith(knowledge) will grow together. Success breeds success. Like begets like. You will see the belief and faith mature into the tree of life, bringing forth fruit of perfect joy and overcoming all things.
It is important to clarify that even Jesus, after his resurrection, did not escape all pain. He is still capable of feeling sorrow, compassion, disappointment and other emotions. His victory lies in overcoming his enemies, the workers of darkness. His fullness of joy comes from knowing that he has made it possible for his followers, his sheep, his sons and daughters, to enjoy the same victory, although it does not mean there won’t be some pain and sorrow for those who have overcome the world.
Now, the question that I have asked myself and I am sure that many who read this may be asking. If most suffering can be avoided , why didn’t Jesus avoid it? Why did He suffer so much? If we are to follow him and take up our crosses like him, are we not supposed to suffer intensely also? Is not that the purpose of this life to be tested, to be victims, to be impotent and at the mercy of our enemies and to the forces of nature?
Mark 15 34 And they who passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou who destroyest the temple and buildest it in three days, save thyself, and come down from the cross.
35 Likewise also, the chief priests mocking, said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.
37 And one of them who was crucified with him, reviled him also, saying, If thou art the Christ, save thyself and us.
Many have wondered why Jesus did not save Himself but saved others. But that is the whole point! He chose to suffer so we would not have to. He could have saved Himself but chose not to. Why?
Mark 14 38 And he taketh with him, Peter, and James, and John, and rebuked them, and said unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death; tarry ye here and watch.
39 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed, that if it were possible the hour might pass from him.
40 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.
Jesus was quoting himself, when He referred to “all things are possible”. Yes, it was possible to remove the bitter cup but He didn’t because He Himself was keeping the first and second great commandments. He loved His Father with all His being. His Father had sent Him to perform this great sacrifice unto the children of men. It was a higher way, it was much more difficult. And, He did it because it was His Father’s will.
Jesus’ voluntary suffering is akin to a mother in labor, a mother’s travail. In most cases, childbirth is a choice. In most cases, women choose to have their babies. It is usually accompanied by a lot of pain and sacrifice. But, the pain and sacrifice is a choice in this case and it is necessary for the bringing about a greater good. It is usually based on love.
The glad tidings of the Savior and Redeemer are that He has suffered for us, so we would not have to if we believe in and on Him.
D&C 19: 16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;
17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;
18 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—
19 Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.
There it is! “That they might not suffer”. Suffer refers to anything, not just from sin but from disease, from accident, from assaults, from natural disasters, from wars, from abductions…anything. But the offer to not suffer is conditional. Conditional on what? “if they would repent.” Repent of what? Of not believing on and in Him and in not loving Him with all of our beings.
This is a radical idea, many may reject this doctrine, because to accept it means that very good people who have gone through some kind of affliction and suffering could have avoided it, but didn’t. So, does that mean their suffering or trial or adversity was some kind of mistake or was in vain? Or, even worse, was it because they were really not as righteous or good as they thought?
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