Talk:Alma 14:11-15

Exegesis

Elements Prefiguring Christ

I brought the following paragraph here because I have a question and a suggested revision.

Several elements in this narrative prefigure Christ's trial, execution, and resurrection in the New Testament Gospels. They include the chief judge "smote them with his hand upon their cheeks" (v14), being mocked by suggesting they use God's power to save themselves, being forced them to witness the suffering of others, and their period of grief and silence that lasts three days (v18) prior to their dramatic deliverance from the prison, symbolic of triumph over death.

• My question is what moment you have in mind from Christ's atonement where he was forced to witness the suffering of others? Perhaps you mean in performing the atonement he saw our suffering, or that he was crucified with two thieves, or do you mean Peter cutting off Malchus' ear?
• Regarding their three days in prison (v18), v22-23 make it clear that they spent much more than three days in prison before being delivered. That being said, I do think their dramatic deliverance from prison is reminiscent of the resurrection.

--Mike Berkey 20:03, 24 June 2011 (CEST)

I did not write this paragraph, but I like both the original reading and the questions that follow. I find comparisons with Christ within this chapter both plentiful and yet problematic. When was Christ forced to witness suffering? This is a great question. I suppose from the time that he was born. He witnessed more suffering than any of us ever could since his earthly mission was the ultimate mission of healing. Perhaps then Alma 14:10-11 was how Christ felt on a daily basis? Of course, I have no idea if this is true, I am just thinking off the top of my head here.