50And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. 51And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear. 52Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
53Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
54But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? 55In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. 56But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
Legion is a military term of the roman army. The number of soldiers/legionaries in a legion varied during the times of the roman empire but it was always in the order of several thousands. Therefore 12 legions of angels may represent ten thousand or even more angels.
I love gospel songs, especially when sung by the Gaither Vocal Band. I listened to this one the other day. I get chills as I listen to the lyrics. "He could have called ten thousand angels... but he died alone for you and me"
53Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
54But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? 55In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. 56But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
Legion is a military term of the roman army. The number of soldiers/legionaries in a legion varied during the times of the roman empire but it was always in the order of several thousands. Therefore 12 legions of angels may represent ten thousand or even more angels.
I love gospel songs, especially when sung by the Gaither Vocal Band. I listened to this one the other day. I get chills as I listen to the lyrics. "He could have called ten thousand angels... but he died alone for you and me"
Ten Thousand Angels
They bound the hands of Jesus in the garden where he pray
They led him through the street in shame
They spat upon the Savior so pure and free from sin
They said crucify him he's to blame
He could have called ten thousand angels to destroy the world and set him free
He could have called ten thousand angels but he died alone for you and me
Upon his precious head they placed a crown of thorns
They laughed and said behold the king
They struck him and they cursed him and mocked his holy name
And all alone he suffered everything
He could have called ten thousand angels to destroy the world and set him free
He could have called ten thousand angels...
Elder James E. Talmage tells us that what Christ suffered was not merely a physical pain, nor a mental anguish, but “a spiritual agony of soul such as only God was capable of experiencing.” This becomes all the more unfathomable when we recognize that the Savior had the ability to stop His suffering at any moment. He says to Peter after the mob comes to get him, “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and He shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53) Those legions of angels were ever available to Him. The crowd taunts Him about his powers, about destroying and building the temple. In saying so not only do they not understand His meaning, but they are mentioning only the smallest part of what He is capable of. The God whose creations include this world has infinite power and glory. As Christ later tells Pilate, “Thou couldst have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above.” (John 19: 10)
Here love and power come together in an incomprehensible way. It is because of His power that He can suffer the sins of mankind, that He could literally defeat death. It is because of His love that He is willing to do so.
The Book of Mormon prophet Abinadi taught, “The grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ. He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death” (Mosiah 16:8-9)
He is risen! It is an ending that is endless, a love that knows no bounds, suffering that ends in the ultimate triumph over evil and death.
~Mary P. Clyde
They led him through the street in shame
They spat upon the Savior so pure and free from sin
They said crucify him he's to blame
He could have called ten thousand angels to destroy the world and set him free
He could have called ten thousand angels but he died alone for you and me
Upon his precious head they placed a crown of thorns
They laughed and said behold the king
They struck him and they cursed him and mocked his holy name
And all alone he suffered everything
He could have called ten thousand angels to destroy the world and set him free
He could have called ten thousand angels...
Elder James E. Talmage tells us that what Christ suffered was not merely a physical pain, nor a mental anguish, but “a spiritual agony of soul such as only God was capable of experiencing.” This becomes all the more unfathomable when we recognize that the Savior had the ability to stop His suffering at any moment. He says to Peter after the mob comes to get him, “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and He shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53) Those legions of angels were ever available to Him. The crowd taunts Him about his powers, about destroying and building the temple. In saying so not only do they not understand His meaning, but they are mentioning only the smallest part of what He is capable of. The God whose creations include this world has infinite power and glory. As Christ later tells Pilate, “Thou couldst have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above.” (John 19: 10)
Here love and power come together in an incomprehensible way. It is because of His power that He can suffer the sins of mankind, that He could literally defeat death. It is because of His love that He is willing to do so.
The Book of Mormon prophet Abinadi taught, “The grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ. He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death” (Mosiah 16:8-9)
He is risen! It is an ending that is endless, a love that knows no bounds, suffering that ends in the ultimate triumph over evil and death.
~Mary P. Clyde
