He willingly bore every burden placed on Him, even to the point of carrying for others the very instrument they would use to kill Him! Is this not reminiscent of Uriah, who dutifully bore to General Joab King David's letter condemning Uriah to death? (See 2 Samuel 11:14.)
Jesus was found "guilty" under Jewish law (as they conceived it), "condemned" by those who claimed the right and power to do so. He was betrayed and abandoned by those whom He loved, whom He had served and brought into His "inner" circle. His execution was ordained to be "justified" by those who consented to His death. By His actions, Jesus demonstrated that He would submit to them: that He would submit to all things whatsoever His Father saw fit to inflict upon Him, in whatsoever circumstances His Father ordained to place Him. Jesus not only submitted to His Father's will, but consented to cooperate even with evil doers, so long as they did not require Him to sin.
Jesus honored His own word. He gave to those who asked of Him. For those who compelled Him to carry a burden for a mile, He went with them twain. He even carried His own cross until He couldn't bear it any farther, until He collapsed under the strain, crushed by torture, fatigue and exhaustion.
He didn't stop carrying it when it became inconvenient for Him to do so or even, quite frankly, when it was utterly undesirable to continue. He didn't drop His heavy load even though bearing it was patently disadvantageous (as far as this world is concerned!).
He carried it until it nearly killed Him.
And then it did.
He bore the most awful of burdens until He couldn't bear it any more. He never gave up. He never stopped trying. He never stopped loving. He never stopped doing what was asked of Him...until it was simply impossible for Him to do it any longer.
What does this tell us about the Man? About His commitment and His determination to save us?
What does it tell us about what He expects from us?
21 Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do. (3 Nephi 27:21.)
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (John 14:15-18.)
When Jesus faced temptation, contradiction, even annihilation, He quoted scripture. He shored up His faith and resolve by reminding Himself of God's unfailing words:
4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." (Luke 4:14)
When we do anything less, or anything else, we drink damnation to our souls.
Let us "look to God and live." (Alma 37:47.)
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