The Mortal Messiah, pp. 127-128 “And as he came out of the Garden, delivering himself voluntarily into the hands of wicked men, the victory had been won. There remained yet the shame and the pain of his attest, his trials, and his cross. But all these were overshadowed by the agonies and sufferings in Gethsemane. It was on the cross that he ‘suffered death in the flesh,’ even as many have suffered agonizing deaths, but it was in Gethsemane that ‘he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him’”
John 18:11 “Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?”
Our Bible verse above can be a great tool in showing your Mormon friends/loved ones that Jesus didn’t pay for sins in Gethsemane.
If Jesus had fulfilled all things the Father had given Him to do, why would He say this? McConkie’s comment about many suffering agonizing deaths seemed to be an attempt at minimizing what Jesus did in order to take focus away from the truth that our sins are paid for because of the Messiah.
Furthermore, another reason Jesus couldn’t have paid for sins in Gethsemane is because they weren’t outside the walls of the city.
In order for Jesus to fulfill scripture as the Lamb slain for sins, this had to take place outside the walls. Sacrifices were never made inside the walls of Jerusalem – Hebrews 13:12.
“Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.”
Lastly, Paul says our sins are forgiven us, and Christ nailed all this to the cross – this certainly can’t be done in the Garden of Gethsemane. Colossians 2:13-14 reads,
‘And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.’
Also – one last thing! Romans 5:10 says we’re reconciled by His death! Our sweet Jesus didn’t die in Gethsemane. He died at Calvary beloved.
As the holiday season approaches, take the opportunity to share events about all of Jesus’ life!
With Love in Christ;
Michelle
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