Mosiah 15

Abinadi said that God would become human in order to save the human race. Astonishing. “We’ll call him the Son of God because he walks and breathes and sleeps and eats and defecates and on and on, like every other mortal being. He’ll seem just like anyone else. He won’t stand out, except for his power and his teachings.

“To describe him further becomes a mystical act of faith: He is the Father and the Son. Find ways to explicate how. But the real how is in the mystery. Because God has to prove that our linguistic juggling is a poor man’s game. Father = Son = Anointed One = Lamb = Christ = Jesus = Son = Father and on and on.

“One God and one only. Worship him and leave the details of his incarnation to the angels. The best we can do is make up explanations: He’s the Father because he has the power, he’s the Son because he has a body, which the spirit overpowers, making him both the Father and the Son, etc. A mystery. Just know that he is God.

“And people will mock him, discount his healings, rib him with late-night humor, and eventually out of frustration and contempt, take him to that roman cross for torture and execution. That killing allows the Son’s will to be swallowed up by the Father’s.

“Through that mystery, God breaks death’s hold and allows the Son to side with sinners who beg for grace. The Son ascends to a higher sphere where compassion trumps vengeance and he pours all justice through this new divine nature. This is only one way of explaining what remains a mystery.

“In this land we speak of seeds (for planting) and of seed (descendants). We talk of olive trees as symbols of growth. But when we talk about ‘seed’ in the present sense we speak of Christ’s children. They inherit all his wealth because they believe in prophets before and after him, stake their lives on that belief, give up what others treasure for that belief. They are his children just as much as the greatest prophets or the severest martyrs. They all publish peace. Then, now, and forever. And that is beauty.

“If Jesus didn’t follow through on agreements we all made before earth began, all men and women would die forever. The Son releases them from that fate.

“Mankind’s general return-to-life comes in waves. The first wave consists of all those who believe and follow Jesus— prophets, followers of prophets, any who obey God’s rules. It makes no difference their earthly stature. It’s about something far deeper. Their knowledge base or chronological stature also makes no difference. The least educated person centuries ago may be more worthy of God’s kingdom than the most informed person of today. Toddlers can join in. Even people who never heard a decent sermon can.

“But the more you know, the more evidence on your mental desk, the more God expects. Any who rebel against good evidence face eternal death. Shudder that it might be you. The fix is in. The rules don’t change. This message has to go to the whole earth, in all languages.

“As it does, agreement and consensus will increase. So sing and laugh at that prospect, at least. Even the worst news is only wrapping for the best news. Tear it off and throw it away.

“God always flexes his muscles. And he’s really on your side.”