2014-05-00-ensign-eng

12By Elder Carlos H. AmadoOf the SeventyChrist the Redeemer[The Redeemer’s] sacrifice blessed everyone, from Adam,the first, to the last of all human beings.Jesus Christ, the Son of God, wasborn and died in unique circumstances.He lived and grew up inhumble conditions, without materialthings. He said of Himself, “Foxes haveholes, and birds of the air have nests;but the Son of man hath not where tolay his head” (Luke 9:58).He never received honors, favors,recognition, nor preferred treatmentfrom the political leaders of the earthor from the religious leaders of Hisday. Neither did He sit in the highestseats of the synagogues.His preaching was simple, andeven though multitudes followed afterHim, His ministry always consisted ofblessing people one by one. He performedinnumerable miracles amongthose who accepted Him as the Onesent from God.He gave His Apostles authority andpower to do miracles “and greaterworks” than those He performed( John 14:12), but He never delegatedto them the privilege of forgivingsins. His enemies became indignantwhen they heard Him say, “Go, andsin no more” ( John 8:11) or “Thy sinsare forgiven [thee]” (Luke 7:48). Thatright belonged only to Him becauseHe is the Son of God and becauseHe would pay for those sins with HisAtonement.His Power over DeathHis power over death was anotherdivine attribute. Great Jairus, a rulerof the synagogue, pleaded “that hewould come into his house: for he hadone only daughter, . . . and she laya dying” (Luke 8:41–42). The Masterheard his plea, and while they werewalking, a servant came to Jairus andtold him, “Thy daughter is dead; troublenot the Master” (Luke 8:49). Afterentering the house, Jesus asked foreveryone to go out, and straightway,taking her by the hand, He said to her,“Arise” (Luke 8:54).On another occasion, while Hewas traveling to the city of Nain, Hecame upon a funeral procession, awidow weeping for the death of heronly son. Full of mercy, He touchedthe bier and said, “Young man, I sayunto thee, Arise” (Luke 7:14). Thepeople, upon seeing the miracle,exclaimed, “A great prophet is risenup among us; and . . . God hathvisited his people” (Luke 7:16). Thismiracle was even more noteworthybecause they had already declared theyoung man legally dead and were onthe way to bury him. With two youngpeople brought back to life, theevidence of His authority and powerover death astonished the believersand filled the defamers with fear.The third occasion was the mostimpressive. Martha, Mary, and Lazaruswere siblings whom Christ wouldoften visit. When people informedHim that Lazarus was sick, Heremained two days before leavingto come to the family. In consolingMartha after her brother’s death, Hecategorically testified to her, “I amthe resurrection, and the life: he thatbelieveth in me, though he were dead,yet shall he live” ( John 11:25).When the Savior asked for themourners to remove the stone fromthe sepulchre, Martha timidly whisperedto Him, “Lord, by this time hestinketh: for he hath been dead fourdays” ( John 11:39).Then Jesus lovingly reminded her,“Said I not unto thee, that, if thouwouldest believe, thou shouldest seethe glory of God?” ( John 11:40). Andhaving said this, He cried out with aloud voice:“Lazarus, come forth.“And he that was dead came forth”( John 11:43–44).After Lazarus’s four days in thegrave, the enemies of the Son of Godwere faced with irrefutable evidencethey could not ignore, diminish, ordistort, and they senselessly and maliciously“from that day forth . . . tookcounsel together for to put him todeath” ( John 11:53).The New CommandmentLater on, the living Christ celebratedin Jerusalem, along with HisApostles, His last Feast of the Passover,established the ordinance of the sacrament,and gave them the commandmentto love one another throughsincere service.His Agony in GethsemaneAfter that, in the most sublimeshow of His love for humankind, and