The Condescension of God

Since Easter is coming up, it should be on everyone's mind to further consider the ultimate sacrifice that our Savior, Jesus Christ offered to us. An angel of the Lord inquired the Prophet Nephi with this question, "Knowest thou the condescension of God?" After Nephi's response of not knowing, he was shown the birth of Jesus Christ. So what does this mean? It means that, Jesus Christ, the creator of the world, the Great Jehovah, the God of Israel with all power, knowledge, love, etc became a mortal man; subject to all the frailties that mortal beings would suffer through.

He further went below all things by giving up secular passions to fulfill two things, his Father's work of preaching his Father's plan and practicing true religion.

This condescension was more evident in the Garden Gethsemene; where all sins, transgressions, any form of harm imposed upon others, weaknesses, and other acts, feelings, or thoughts that wouldn't permit eternal happiness and salvation were suffered. In that though, consider within your own self all the sins you have committed, all the weaknesses you have, any harm that has come upon you, or loneliness you may have felt. Then consider all of Heavenly Father's children in the same types of situations. The mere glimpse of that tremendous burden from both yourself and all of our Heavenly Father's children should render deep appreciation of what the Savior went through.

The Savior went through a great deal of suffering in our behalf; however, the evidence of the condescension was not over. The great Redeemer had two more acts to solidify the great Atonement. The first was to suffer death as any mortal would have to suffer. This time, however, the fullness of his glory would be manifested when Christ was resurrected to ensure that all would who gain mortality would not suffer from Adam's transgression.

The Savior went below all things and suffered for everything that would require reconciliation between God and mankind. A simple scripture that I have always taken to heart is this: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me." He truly is the way toward salvation and happiness.