The following answers questions of those with concerns from the last post: “basic doctrine to be lived / understood in order to be saved…”
Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: “Since God uses disease as a metaphor for sin throughout the scriptures, it is reasonable to ask, “How does Jesus Christ react when faced with our metaphorical diseases—our sins?” After all, the Savior said that He “cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance”;[i] so how can He look at us, imperfect as we are, without recoiling in horror and disgust?
The answer is simple and clear. As the Good Shepherd,[ii] [iii] [iv] Jesus Christ views disease in His sheep as a condition that needs treatment, care, and compassion. This shepherd, our Good Shepherd, finds joy in seeing His diseased sheep progress toward healing.
The Savior foretold that He would “feed his flock like a shepherd,”[v] “seek [out] that which [is] lost, … bring again that which [is] driven away, … bind up that which [is] broken, and … strengthen that which [is] sick.”[vi] Though apostate Israel was depicted as being consumed with sinful “wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores,”[vii] the Savior encouraged, exhorted, and promised healing.[viii]
The Savior’s mortal ministry was indeed characterized by love, compassion, and empathy. He did not disdainfully walk the dusty roads of Galilee and Judea, flinching at the sight of sinners. He did not dodge them in abject horror. No, He ate with them.[ix] He helped and blessed, lifted and edified, and replaced fear and despair with hope and joy. Like the true shepherd He is, He seeks us and finds us to offer relief and hope.[x] Understanding His compassion and love helps us exercise faith in Him—to repent and be healed.
The Gospel of John records the effect of the Savior’s empathy on a sinner. Scribes and Pharisees brought a woman caught in the very act of adultery to the Savior. The accusers implied that she should be stoned, in compliance with the law of Moses. Jesus, in response to persistent questioning, finally said to them, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”
The accusers departed, “and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
“When Jesus … saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
“She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”[xi]
Surely, the Savior did not condone adultery. But He also did not condemn the woman. He encouraged her to reform her life. She was motivated to change because of His compassion and mercy. The Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible attests to her resultant discipleship: “And the woman glorified God from that hour, and believed on his name.[xii]-see below
While God is empathetic, we should not mistakenly believe that He is accepting and open-minded about sin. He is not. The Savior came to earth to save us from our sins and, importantly, will not save us in our sins.[xiii] A skilled interrogator, Zeezrom once tried to trap Amulek by asking: “Shall [the coming Messiah] save his people in their sins? And Amulek answered and said unto him: I say unto you he shall not, for it is impossible for him to deny his word. … He cannot save them in their sins.”[ixv] Amulek spoke a fundamental truth that to be saved from our sins, we must abide “the conditions of repentance,” which unleash the Redeemer’s power to save our souls.[xv]” For complete talk (do yourself a favor! read/listen to:) ‘Our Good Shepherd’, Ensign, May 2017 pg 29.
[xii] see Joseph Smith Translation (in John 8:11, footnote c)
