week 13: he lived for me

In class this week, we finished the Savior's mortal ministry, and if there is one thing I have taken away from our discussion it is this: I am so grateful that Jesus Christ died for me; but even more importantly, I am grateful that He lived for me. He endured unimaginable agony from the garden to the cross, all while his mortal half was probably pleading with him to let himself leave mortality.

At any point, throughout the Atonement, the scourges, the torturing, the taunting, the Crucifixion, He could have given up. After all, He was not a victim, being put through this anguish with no way to escape--He was an agent who had complete control over what he was experiencing.

He could have chosen to "give up the ghost" at any time from Gethsemane to the end, when every mortal part of his soul would have been screaming at Him to die. But He didn't. He chose to live, until finally, He could utter, "It is finished" (John 19:30).

I am so grateful for Jesus Christ. I am in awe of His life, humbled by His death, and joyful because of His glorious Resurrection, which I cannot wait to talk about next week. I love the Lord, and I know that He loves me. Never forget that He loves you!

If you want to learn more, lds.org is the official website for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For more about Jesus Christ, go here. Thank you so much for visiting!

Artwork: "Grey Day Golgotha" by J. Kirk Richards
All insights inspired / catalyzed by Prof. Griffin's 04/05/18 lecture, REL A 250, Brigham Young University.