In a previous blog, I mentioned how Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of my faith. And yet, when I was a youth I barely knew who He was.
I remember as a child belonging to another denomination, another faith, and being so terrified of God. During that time, I had a little turtle. He would crawl around on his rocks in his terrarium, helpless and defenseless. I was fully aware of my size and that this tiny turtle could never defend himself against my monster-sized child’s fist.
I was only five at the time, but was amazed that I held such power in comparison to the tiny little being of my turtle. I never did hurt him, because I adored him. But even as a young girl, I knew that my ability to harm or destroy was far greater than that tiny turtle could defend against.
And thus was my perspective of God. I sometimes wondered if He looked down upon us puny mortals, toying with the thought that He could crush us with one blow, instantaneously. The thought unnerved me. Yet no-one existed in my young life to teach me otherwise, to teach me that both God and His Son Jesus Christ contained a fulness of love, of sweetness, of tenderness.
It wasn’t until my family began attending the Mormon church that I began learning a clearer understanding on the true character of Jesus Christ and that of His Father who sent Him.
Now my understanding has been broadened. Not only is Jesus Christ patient (think of Him on the cross forgiving those who nailed Him there), but He is tender.
In fact, one of my most favorite scriptures illustrates so beautifully the tender nature of the Savior of this world:
“Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus…
“…when Jesus came, he found that [Lazarus] had lain in the grave four days already…”
The scriptures then describe the following scene, when Jesus arrived at Lazarus’ tomb:
“When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
“And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
“Jesus wept” (John 11).
Jesus wept, even knowing He was going to momentarily raise Lazarus from the dead! He is so in tune with the feelings of His friends that He weeps with them. Is this not tender?
How could anyone not worship this perfect Lamb of God?
Indeed, the Character of Jesus Christ inspires me to reach to Him and to reach out to others. I only hope some day I can be ever more like Him than I am today.
To learn more about Jesus Christ and His church, feel free to visit Mormon.org.
