Be reconciled unto Him through the atonement of Christ – Jacob 4:11 – Come, Follow Me Ponderize
Wherefore, beloved brethren, be reconciled unto him through the atonement of Christ, his Only Begotten Son, and ye may obtain a resurrection, according to the power of the resurrection which is in Christ, and be presented as the first-fruits of Christ unto God, having faith, and obtained a good hope of glory in him before he manifesteth himself in the flesh.
Oxford defines the conjunction wherefore, as meaning: “as a result of which.” This is exciting, because this means that it is the result of previous righteousness. Brant Gardner in “Book of Mormon Minute” explained it this way:
One of the literary structures we see throughout the Book of Mormon is an argument that is set up as a thesis, followed by the concluding instruction. In the early part of the Book of Mormon, the conclusion is typically introduced with “wherefore.” Thus, these two verses beginning with “wherefore” serve as the conclusion to the thesis that Jacob established in the preceding verses. That thesis was the power of Jehovah. The conclusion is that the powerful Jehovah who rules over nature has, in wisdom, justice, and great mercy, also taken care of humankind.
The first “wherefore” conclusion is that we “seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand.”
…The second “wherefore” speaks of how we put ourselves in a position to receive that divine counsel. That occurs through the atoning mission of the Messiah.
This is so exciting. This probationary state is about learning to submit our will to the will of the Father, and put ourselves into a position to receive divine counsel. And we accomplish this through the atonement, but let’s look at the actual wording that Jacob used, because it is so powerful.
“Wherefore, beloved brethren, be reconciled unto him through the atonement of Christ.”
Reconcile is defined as:
- restore friendly relations between.
- cause to coexist in harmony; make or show to be compatible.
We are to become Christ’s friend, coexist with Him in harmony, and be made compatible with Him. The only way we are to coexist with Christ is if we are like Him, and live the law of the celestial kingdom. The only way that we can be made compatible with Him and become like Him is through His loving atonement, which literally means at-one-ment. As we repent of all our sins and submit our will to His will, He makes us at-one with Him and we are then reconciled unto Him.
Russell M. Nelson in his talk, “The Atonement,” gave us this insight:
Rich meaning is found in study of the word atonement in the Semitic languages of Old Testament times. In Hebrew, the basic word for atonement is kaphar, a verb that means “to cover” or “to forgive.” Closely related is the Aramaic and Arabic word kafat, meaning “a close embrace”—no doubt related to the Egyptian ritual embrace. References to that embrace are evident in the Book of Mormon. One states that “the Lord hath redeemed my soul … ; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love.” Another proffers the glorious hope of our being “clasped in the arms of Jesus.”
I weep for joy when I contemplate the significance of it all. To be redeemed is to be atoned—received in the close embrace of God with an expression not only of His forgiveness, but of our oneness of heart and mind. What a privilege!
Some years ago, President Gordon B. Hinckley told “something of a parable” about “a one room school house in the mountains of Virginia where the boys were so rough no teacher had been able to handle them.
“Then one day an inexperienced young teacher applied. He was told that every teacher had received an awful beating, but the teacher accepted the risk. The first day of school the teacher asked the boys to establish their own rules and the penalty for breaking the rules. The class came up with 10 rules, which were written on the blackboard. Then the teacher asked, ‘What shall we do with one who breaks the rules?’
“‘Beat him across the back ten times without his coat on,’ came the response.
“A day or so later, … the lunch of a big student, named Tom, was stolen. ‘The thief was located—a little hungry fellow, about ten years old.’
“As Little Jim came up to take his licking, he pleaded to keep his coat on. ‘Take your coat off,’ the teacher said. ‘You helped make the rules!’
“The boy took off the coat. He had no shirt and revealed a bony little crippled body. As the teacher hesitated with the rod, Big Tom jumped to his feet and volunteered to take the boy’s licking.
“‘Very well, there is a certain law that one can become a substitute for another. Are you all agreed?’ the teacher asked.
“After five strokes across Tom’s back, the rod broke. The class was sobbing. ‘Little Jim had reached up and caught Tom with both arms around his neck. “Tom, I’m sorry that I stole your lunch, but I was awful hungry. Tom, I will love you till I die for taking my licking for me! Yes, I will love you forever!”’”
President Hinckley then quoted Isaiah:
“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. …
“… He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
Can you see yourself as Little Jim with a “bony little crippled body,” and Christ as Big Tom. “After five strokes across Christ’s back, the rod brakes. All God’s creations sob. You reach up and catch Christ with both arms around his neck. “My Lord and my God, I’m sorry that I caused you such great pain, but I was awful weak. My Lord and my God, I will love you till I die for taking my licking for me! Yes, I will love you forever!”’”
My heart aches and my eyes weep, as I think of this scene. What great love our Lord and our God has shown to each of us individually and all of us together.
And then we “may obtain a resurrection, according to the power of the resurrection which is in Christ, and be presented as the first-fruits of Christ unto God, having faith, and obtained a good hope of glory in him before he manifesteth himself in the flesh.”
Again look closely at the words that Jacob used, for those that MAY OBTAIN or receive a resurrection as “the first-fruits of Christ unto God,” HAVING faith and “OBTAINED a good hope of glory in him, BEFORE he manifesteth himself in the flesh.”
For those who desire to be the “the first-fruits of Christ unto God” must not wait till He comes or in other words, must gain sufficient faith and obtain such a hope in Him now, and not delay. This is made abundantly clear in the next verse.
12 And now, beloved, marvel not that I tell you these things; for why not speak of the atonement of Christ, and attain to a perfect knowledge of him, as to attain to the knowledge of a resurrection and the world to come?
In essence, Jacob is telling us not to marvel or just wonder about all these things, but on the contrary, we should go to work and obtain for ourselves “a perfect knowledge of him,” and a “knowledge of a resurrection and the world to come.”
A perfect knowledge of Him is very specific language and can’t easily be dismissed as less than it implies. In a previous post titled, “Ye never knew me,” I quoted the following quote by, Jeffrey M. Bradshaw, that helps us understand what this perfect knowledge means more fully.
“How is it that the Lord has not known them? The Hebrew word “know” [yada] has a broad range of meanings. One of them is covenantal.” The Lord knows and is known by only those individuals who have received and kept all of His ordinances and covenants. Elder Bruce R. McConkie further explains: Jesus is saying: “Ye never knew me so fully as to be sealed up unto eternal life with your callings and elections made sure, and since you did not magnify your callings in the priesthood, you shall be cast out and be as though I never knew you.” (He That Thrusteth in His Sickle with His Might … Bringeth Salvation to His Soul”: Doctrine and Covenants Section 4 and the Reward of Consecrated Service, pg 198) http://www.templethemes.net/publications/160811-Bradshaw-D&C%204.pdf
So, to sum this all up, you and I must act now and not delay and “be reconciled unto him through the atonement of Christ,” and have faith, and obtain for yourselves “a good hope of glory in him,” even “a perfect knowledge of him,” and a “knowledge of a resurrection and the world to come.” Reach up and catch Christ with both of your arms around His neck and exclaim, “My Lord and my God, I’m sorry that I caused you such great pain, but I was awful weak. My Lord and my God, I will love you till I die for taking my licking for me! Yes, I will love you forever and ever!
Craig
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