1 Nephi 15

(January 13, 2015)

                The rejection of Christ is an interesting phenomenon – it seems like it must be necessary (extremely necessary) or it would not have happened.  I think I understand at least a portion of why it happened the way that it happened (if Christ had reigned in glory, there would be a decrease in our agency and the testing would be void), but Nephi points out that it also happened because that was necessary or else the Gentiles would not be converted.

                Historically, as I consider that, it seems to be true.  After all, Judaism was a provincial religion – and most of the problems with Islam in the world today is that it is conflated too often with nationalistic identity or political ambition.  But Christianity escaped that trap precisely because it is a religion displaced from its roots.  The Gentiles became able to be converted in large part because the Jews crucified Christ.