"And they did all, both they who had been healed and they who were were whole, bow down at his feet, and did worship him; and as many as could come for the multitude did kiss his feet, insomuch that they did bathe his feet with their tears."
I read this scripture the other night, and I fell in love. It's beautiful. In classic literary critic fashion, I will break it down and explain the reasons I love it so dearly.
"And they did all... bow down and worship him" I love this part of the scripture because it teaches an essential gospel truth. Through Christ's Atoning sacrifice, everyone can be made clean. Everyone can be allowed to be put on a level playing field. there are so many things in life that separate us from one another: whether it be level of education, economic status, occupation, physical limitations... but one act was the great equalizer, that act was the Atonement. The Atonement provides the same opportunities and affords the same privileges to every woman, man, and child regardless of race, social class, or any other defining characteristic. The Atonement works for everyone. The Atonement brings people from all walks of life, and no matter their circumstances, it lifts them to a higher place, a place they could never hope to reach by themselves.
Along with that, is the next part of the scripture "both they who had been healed and they who were whole." This too teaches important truths. First, there is the phrase "they who had beenhealed" it's in past tense! We have evidence in this scripture of Christ's healing powers. Now the people in this scripture who had been healed, had been physically healed. This scripture is taken from the account of Christ's visit to the Nephites in the Americas. But because this scripture is referring to the physical ailments that Christ healed, that does not mean that he is only able to heal those who are physically wounded. He can heal the soul. He can heal hearts. He can heal any sorrow, any grief, any pain. As it is, he can heal those who are afflicted in any manner. Why can he heal those who are afflicted in any manner? Because he has gone beneath it all. He has felt every individual pain, both emotionally as well as physically. He has been there. And he knows how to heal us as individuals.
The other notable part of that phrase is the part that says the ones who were "whole" also bowed down to worship Christ. How humbling it is to be reminded that we all need Christ. There is not one among us who is whole without the help of our Savior. Those who have never had a need to use the forgiveness and mercy that is offered through the Atonement in large ways still need Christ too. He is the redeemer of all mankind, not just the redeemer of the sinners, or the outcast and down trodden. It pains me to see those who have embraced the process of repentance and forsaken their sins, and yet still feel as though they will never be worthy of someone who has never sinned in a large way... because everyone needs Christ. No one would be able to receive exaltation without him. We all need our Savior, those who are broken, those who are in the process of mending, and those who have been made whole.
The other lesson that I learned from this scripture was about expressing thanks to God. First, after Christ had healed sick, those who had been healed, as well as those who were already whole, "bow(ed) down at his feet, and did worship him." This reminded me of the importance of being thankful for the wonders and miracles that have been preformed in our behalf. Miracles don't have to be large. They don't have to be life altering. But we do need to express thanks for them.
Another thing to take notice of is the fact that the people bowed when they worshiped and were giving thanks. Usually, I am opposed to anything that signifies inequality and or servitude, but not when we're praying. Here, in this case, it is of vital importance to remember who is the master and who is the servant. The act of kneeling signifies that the one worshiping acknowledges their master, and accepts Him and His power; we come to our Heavenly Father in a physical state that symbolically represents our humility. The scripture then continues on to describe the manner in which it is appropriate to worship Christ... and, I would add, our Heavenly Father. "As many as could come for the multitude did kiss his feet, insomuch that they did bathe his feet with their tears." Notice that they did kiss his feet and bathe his feet with their tears. These were not casual worshipers. These were not people who took lightly the miracles that they had witnessed.
I love this scripture. For so many different reasons, but I think underlying theme that I fell in love with was the notion that we all have need to worship our savior. It doesn't matter who we are, where we have been, what we have done, or what has been done to us. Because of Christ, and through his Atonement, we are all made equal. We are all made clean. And that is why we worship him.
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